Coach Henry Gantz has been an integral part of the CHA family since 2015. Henry grew up in the delta town of Inverness. After getting his degree in Marketing Communications from Ole Miss, he spent seven years coaching in Louisiana before coming to CHA. On becoming a coach he says, "I started coaching because Briarfield offered me a job when I was waiting tables at the time. I never planned on being a coach. I was a boys coach for my first 11 years before switching over to girls." Henry currently not only serves as our Athletic Director but also coaches girls junior varsity and varsity basketball teams and teaches a senior economics course. When asked how he found his way to CHA Henry says "Hugh Webb was working here and I had worked with Hugh in the past. He convinced me to give it a try for a year. 10 years later...". Henry also says, "Working with CHA girls basketball players has been the best honor of my coaching career. The daily practices with my Varsity Girls [are my favorite responsibility at CHA]. I look forward to every second of their practices and it's my favorite time of the day. It's my favorite responsibility because the girls practice intensely and their efficiency is unlike most programs. It's beautiful to watch." Some of his most fun memories from his years here are also centered around girls basketball. He mentions "Maddie Maw making the free throws to win South State, my JV girls going 74-1 over three seasons, and beating Jackson Prep in triple Overtime to make the Final 4." Coach Gantz has been rewarded for his hard work on the court by being named All Star Coach 5 times and being named MAIS Coach of the Year in 2023. In the classroom his efforts have also been rewarded by being named STAR teacher twice by students Shelby Spracklen and Lexi Lomax. On an interesting note Coach Gantz says "In 2001, the state tournament was held at CHA and for the last high school game I ever played in we used the current CHA girls locker room. My career as a player ended in the same locker room my girls currently use." Outside of school Henry stays very busy as the owner and head coach of the Mississippi Jazz travel basketball organization. He says, "We are a top 25 program in the country per size and in 2019 we won the Nike Platinum National Championship." When he talks about his family, his pride is evident. He says "I just had a son, Beau Beckham Gantz and Shelby Gantz is the best mom to our awesome baby boy." He also has one cat fur baby Elveria Tay, and has spent time traveling to four of the six continents. We are so blessed to have Coach Gantz as part of our staff at Central Hinds Academy. Please be in prayer for him as he works diligently to make our school better.

Colton, a 2024 CHA graduate and Alpha Omega student, has recently enlisted in the Coast Guard and completed basic training at the Coast Guard Training Center at Cape May, New Jersey. This training will allow Colton to pursue his desire to attend college and work towards a Criminal Justice degree so that he can eventually seek out a job in federal law enforcement. His experience with the Coast Guard will also be great hands-on experience for his future career. While at CHA, Colton mentions teacher Jerry Craig as a cougar staff member who impacted his time on campus and since. He says that Mr. Craig was someone he could go to, throughout his senior year especially, for life advice and for any help that he needed. Colton is currently stationed in Vicksburg with the coast guard. We want to thank Colton for his service as he begins this new phase of his life serving our country. Please join us in celebrating Colton and his recent accomplishments. We hope that more cougar alumni will fill out our alumni forms so we can find more alumni to celebrate.

Amanda is a life long cougar attending CHA from 4K until her graduation in 2007. She says "I have a long history of family at Central Hinds. My Aunt Jean Bonner (1977), my cousins Leonard (1978) and Libby Condia (1980) all went when it opened in 1970 until they graduated. My dad, Mark Bonner went there from 1971-80. My Uncle Richard Elam taught history and coached basketball from 1975-1978. My brother, Joseph Bonner (2005) is also an alum." Amanda says, "I have 14 years of memories at Central Hinds. A few of my favorite memories from elementary are the end of the year Rocky Springs trip with Mister, making the solar system and bug collection in 5th and 6th grades, and picking blackberries through the fence at the bottom of the playground. High School is memories of cheering on Friday nights and geometry with Coach Granberry (we spent the majority of the time on the visitors side of the football field hunting turkeys)." While at CHA, Amanda was involved in FCA as a class representative, National Honor Society, cheerleading, track, basketball, and softball. She was also a Top Ten Cougar and hinir graduate.
After high school, Amanda earned her AA degree from Hinds Community College and Bachelors in Kinesiology from Mississippi College. She is also a certified personal trainer (NAACPT), certified dance instructor, and certified strenghtening coach. When asked about her current career as a seamstress she says "I chose this profession when a job position landed in my lap. I had never thought of pursuing a career with one of my hobbies that I am most passionate about. I never wanted anything to be able to take that "therapy" away from me. My grandmother taught me to sew at a young age. The most cherished memories I have with her involve a needle and thread. When she passed, I inherited her sewing room. I started out sewing projects/alterations out of my home, such as memory quilts or alterations. My current job is at Mid South Uniforms & Supply, LLC in Jackson as a full time Seamstress. I have been there since May 2018. I am responsible for sewing and altering police, fireman, and first responder uniforms for the entire state of Mississippi. I am certified to sew in body cameras on the uniforms and I make sure patches are placed and sewed correctly and/or is corresponding to the department's color. We get the uniform pants unhemmed so that we can measure and hem them to the customer. I cannot express the emotions that take over me when I look at the men and women who serve and protect us and know that I make their uniforms. But nothing is more earth shaking, than when a fallen officer/fireman/AMR has to have their last Class A uniform sewn to wear for burial and also, the making of the mourning bands that cover the badges to show that the department is in mourning. I am honored to be part of something that is so greatly valued, but the emotional roller coaster we (the seamstresses) ride those days can be very overwhelming and exhausting." When asked about her future plans she says "I am seeking to further my career in tailoring. I am still deciding on where to get my certification from, as they are categorized and subcategorized differently at each institution. I want to become a certified dressmaker and tailor."
Currently Amanda is a patron at CHA as her children Harper (2nd grade) and Trystan (4K) Tomaszewski are both students. When thinking about her time as a student she says "I strongly believe that every staff member I've encountered at CHA has greatly impacted me. A few stand out. One is my 2nd grade teacher known as Mister. He taught me that even though I have to learn the uninteresting parts first, it doesn't mean it cannot be fun as well. I still make up fun games or sayings to learn new things. Also, Mrs. Jj Farrior, even though she did not teach me directly, inspired me to seek fulfillment in my natural gifts. She always said "you have to have a passion in what you do, or you'll always get burned out". I have never heard more truer words. Honestly, I have so many teachers and staff members that played a huge part in who I am today. It takes a special person to be a teacher, but when you are a CHA teacher you inspire and impact every student that attends the school."
When she considers going back to school she says, "I didn't understand the saying "make sure your congratulations are in order because once you are out of school, going back will be the tough" until I started the process of furthering my education in my career. Being a single mother (married and divorced) to two small children and deciding to go back to school has been a huge struggle for me. I have waited until my youngest was out of diapers to even consider it. Now I have to find the time for me to accelerate. I thank God every night that I have made it another day as a full time employee and full time mom. Adding full time student seems impossible. This is where my faith has grown the most, patience and timing. I pray that the good Lord will guide me and time it perfectly, as He always has. Patience is a virtue I have never understood, but without a doubt I know the importance. When my trials and tribulations become too heavy or my trust in Him is tested, I know that He will never hand me more than I can handle. He blesses me with these challenges and setbacks to strengthen my trust in Him, so that my gratitude, for all good and bad, is so fierce, it is undeniable."
In her free time Amanda loves to spend time at the creek or camping with her family and attending church in Bolton. When asked about thoughts to leave with future cougars she quotes "The dandelion does not stop growing because it is told it is a weed. It chooses not to care what others see and says "One day they will be making wishes upon me". We hope all CHA alumni will click the button and fill out the form so we can find more alumni to celebrate with our spotlight!