Amy Pennell-Davis, a fine arts teacher and speech and debate coach at Granite City High School, is the latest staff member to be recognized in the Granite City Community Unit School District 9’s weekly spotlight. The district, which serves several schools in Madison County including Granite City High School, Coolidge Junior High School, and others, highlights staff who provide positive experiences for students. More about the district’s schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
Pennell-Davis has taught at GCHS for five years. She graduated from Saint Louis University with degrees in theater and communications.
Reflecting on her acting career, Pennell-Davis said: “The joy of acting comes from being a storyteller on stage and screen. It’s a gift to create and develop a character, collaborate with other artists, and impact an audience. Auditions, memorization, and improvisation are all part of the craft. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of my favorite actors throughout my career.”
She credits her training as a student at GCHS and in community theater for opening opportunities in college-level theater studies and eventually pursuing professional acting in Los Angeles.
When asked how she helps students build confidence, Pennell-Davis said: “The number-one rule in my class is kindness. We establish a safe place where students can be creative, take risks, and be vulnerable. I expect my students to believe in themselves because I believe in them. We work together as a class to ensure every student succeeds.”
Outside of school activities, she enjoys dining out—especially outdoors—and spending time performing arts activities such as acting, singing, dancing, directing, coaching actors, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Her favorite high school memory involves attending the Illinois Theater Festival while she was a student at GCHS. She said sharing those experiences now with her own students has been a highlight during her teaching career.
For advice to aspiring actors after high school she encourages: “Do it! Get into class, audition, take workshops, start writing, find an agent, and don’t give up.”
On inspiration she added: “Good people inspire me. Diversity, acceptance, and inclusion inspire me. Artists collaborating inspires me.”
Granite City Community Unit School District 9 employs 320 teachers earning an average salary of $67,898 before pension contributions; most are women according to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district reports that no teachers have more than ten absences per year.
Demographically the district serves a population that is 65 percent White with Black (16 percent), Hispanic (12 percent), and Asian (1 percent) representation based on state statistics (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
District financial records show it spent nearly $18 thousand per student for total expenditures exceeding $106 million during 2020 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Community members interested in nominating other deserving staff members may contact information@gcsd9.net.
