WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Marine veteran Jade Thomas just earned a new badge of honor for her hard work -- Houston County Teacher of the Year.
"I just go really over the top with anything that I do like I just want to do the best that I can,” she said. “I'm extremely passionate about teaching. So, when you're extremely passionate, the work just kind of does itself."
It’s work that Thomas said she's always wanted to do, and she has for the past seven years. She will teach fourth grade students at Lake Joy Elementary School reading, writing and social studies this school year.
Her fellow teacher Trinity Cox sees her passion too.
“She’s got a great personality,” Cox said. “When she comes in every morning, with her positive attitude and vibes, it like filters throughout the hallway.”
But before stepping into the classroom, Thomas dedicated her life to a different mission. She served eight years in the U.S. Marines.
"I was serving the United States but now I'm serving students,” she said. “So, it was actually an easier transition than I had imagined with time management and having a positive attitude and just remembering like even on the worst day, it's not a worse day in the Marine Corps so I always keep that into perspective. I have a great job just changing and influencing the life of students."
With that perspective, she took her job a step further. Thomas and two other teachers -- started the Military Kids Club at Lake Joy Elementary. The club is for students in service families to socialize.
"I never did anything to think like 'oh, I'm going to do this because I'm getting an award,'” Thomas said. “I do it because I truly love this job."
Earlier this year, the state school superintendent awarded Lake Joy Elementary the Military Flagship School Award for the Military Kids Club. Another badge of honor for Thomas to wear with Teacher of the Year.
Thomas, along with other county top teachers, will be considered for Georgia’s Teacher of the Year.
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