Howard School Teacher Henry Billen Uses Tough Love to Help His Kids Succeed

In high school often it's the lessons you learn via tough love...that matter the most.

At Howard School of Academics & Technology one student says teacher Henry Billen wouldn't let her side by, and that's why she's succeeding today.

Mr. Billen is this week's Golden Apple Award winner...

9th grade geometry is no laughing matter in Henry Billen's class...but as long as you learn your lessons, a little joking is allowed, "Everyone of us as human beings, period, there are times when we need a pat on the back. There are times when we need pushed and encouraged in a stronger manner."

Mr. Billen feels like an adopted parent to the kids in his classroom...he wants them to be comfortable enough to learn from him and to come to him with whatever problem they have.

In his 13 years of teaching a few thousand kids have been added to his extended family, and sometimes he's hard on them...

Sophomore Melissa Owens reads from her Golden Apple Award nomination letter, "He kept me in line."

Melissa had Mr. Billen for Geometry last year.

She says if he hadn't pushed her...she wouldn't have made it through, "At first I was failing his class miserably and he just encouraged me to really want to do better."

In fact, while the other kids thought Mr. Billem was cracking down too hard, Melissa says he prepared them for the real world.

Melissa's letter continues, "He was persistent in making me excel."

That's something Mr. Billen takes to heart.

He likes to see his kids succeed, and he says a Geometry class is a good place to learn the skills to do it, "If you can go through your steps of: diagnose, decide, do, discuss, have some plan with how to address a math problem... I can use those same skills in life with other problems."

To nominate your special teacher, pick up an entry form at your local Bi-Lo and send it to:

Golden Apple Award
P.O. Box 2438
Chattanooga, TN 37409

Then watch WDEF News 12 Tuesday night's at 6:00 to see if your teacher was chosen.