Social Studies Department

Christopher Burns  A 1994 graduate of UT Arlington, Chris Burns taught at Weatherford HS (1994-95), Grand Prairie HS (1995-2001), and Lampasas HS (2001-2003) before coming to Southwest.  He is currently teaching World Geography.

Tonya Braddock Hoeflein Ehret has taught at SHS for 19 years. She is currently a world geography teacher but began her career at SHS as the AP English teacher.  She has taught English for 23 years and world geography at the university level for 28 years and high school for 14years.  She is a summacum laude graduate of TCU, UNT, and Texas Tech.  She has 36 hours above her masters. She is the proud mother of two sons and two absolutely wonderful grandsons. She began at SHS in 1991.

 Trish Erwin started teaching at Southwest in 2004.  Ms. Erwin graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech in 1993 with a teaching certificate in History and English.  Monnig Middle School is where Ms. Erwin started her teaching career.  U.S. History and AP World History are the classes she currently teaches. 

Frankie Gasca has been teaching ACT and U.S. History at SHS since 2003.  He is a 2003 graduate of Texas Christian University.  Coach Gasca is a member of the Southwest graduating class of 1998.  He is also on the Baseball and Football coaching teams.

Jeoff Johnson is a 2008 graduate of Texas Christian University. While at TCU, he participated in many organizations and activities including being a Cheerleader as well as being a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity. Mr. Johnson was born and raised in Fort Worth and is a 2003 graduate of Western Hills High School. He started at Southwest in 2008. Mr. Johnson teaches World History is a Cheerleading sponsor. I am a 2003 graduate of Western Hills High School. “I enjoy being close to family as well as old friends. My favorite part of history is Latin American Revolutions and Politics. I hope to visit every Latin American country in my lifetime.”

 Adriel Jones earned his BA from Southwestern Adventist University and his MA from University of Phoenix.  Mr. Jones has been teaching geography at Southwest since 2002.

“Legend in my own mind, rebel searching for a worthy cause”

Dan Lawrence, a graduate of Emporia State University, teaches AP Government & Economics and Government.  Mr. Lawrence began his teaching career in 1979.  He has been teaching at Southwest since 2006.

 Robert Moore graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Radio & Television.  After a stint in the army, he worked at all kinds of jobs, including retail sales, insurance, and playing music.  Mr. Moore decided to return to school to earn his teaching certificate, which he received from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1992.  He has been teaching for 18 years, 13 of it here at Southwest.  Mr. Moore taught every subject in Social Studies at one time or another, and is currently teaching Economics, US Government, and AP Psychology.

 James Mott started teaching in 1977 after graduating from U.T. Arlington.  He arrived at SHS in 1989.  Coach Mott currently teaches U.S. History and coaches football and is the head coach for boys track.

 Brian Mourning started teaching Economics and Sociology at Southwest in 2006.  Mr. Mourning is a 2003 graduate of Texas Tech University.  He earned his BAS in History and Kinesiology and his MAS in Sport Management.

Michael Tennyson

 Kevin Watterson has been a Latin teacher for 6 years and started at Southwest in 2006. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Arlington.  This year he has joined the Southwest Academy of Petroleum Engineering and Technology as a World Geography teacher in addition to teaching Latin.  He also sponsors the Whiz Quiz Team.  He is a native of Arlington, TX. 

Ben Westbrook, a graduate of Texas A&M University, started his teaching career in 2005.  Mr. Westbrook has been teaching World History at Southwest since 2007.

 Samuel Wilson, a graduate of The University of Texas, with a B.A. in History, has been at Southwest High School for 8 years.  In May, he will complete his M.A. in History.  Samuel has been teaching the AP US History program for 6 years and is a reader for College Board as an AP Reader for the past 3 years.  He has traveled the world as a former member of the United States Navy, including the Persian Gulf in 1994 during Operation Desert Storm aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson.  Recently Samuel took a group of 42 students and adults to Washington D.C. to participate in the Inauguration of President Barak Obama.  Samuel has been married for 19 years and has 2 girls, Bre and Signa,  who are Juniors at Midlothian High School as well as a 14 year old son, Coty.  Samuel was the Student Council Sponsor for 7 years and has also sponsored the Chess Club, Film Club and the Rowdy Raider spirit team. class webpage  AP Summer Reading Requirements