“I’ve been working at Grady for 26 years and I’ve taught the same subject, social studies, the whole time. I’ve taught every social studies class except for Economics,” Mary Van Atta says. Over the 26 years she has been at Grady, she’s seen the school grow.

“It was almost 800 students when I arrived, and now it’s almost double.”

Despite the increase in students Grady still has the same culture, Van Atta notes. She is “hanging on” for the 30 year mark.