Wallace A. Smith Elementary Teacher Wins Golden Apple for Almost 4 Decades of Teaching Special Kids

Sometimes it takes a special teacher to teach special children.

Folks at Wallace A. Smith Elementary school say not only is Connie Jones more than just a teacher... She makes her classroom fun.

She's this weeks Golden Apple Award winner.

There's never a dull moment in Connie Jones' Comprehensive Developmental Classroom...

Ms. Connie says, "It keeps it interesting for me."

For nearly 40 years Ms. Connie has spent her days with kids who need just a little more attention and help.

She says, "You don't just look at their disabilities, you look at their abilities. How can we get them to a certain place? "

Children in Ms. Connie's class face multiple challenges.

She says it's about giving them skills to overcome as many challenges as they can...

James Monroe's son Ross is Ms. Connie's former student, "She has been a mentor, surrogate parent, and friend to thousands of special children."

Monroe says, that's exactly what she's been for Ross... and since he's known her the change in the teenager has been incredible.

He says, "I love Ms. Connie."

Monroe says, "He learned that learning can be fun, that it didn't have to be repetition. And the energy that she brought with it contagious to Ross and to all the kids here in the class."

Ms. Connie's and her team use occupational, physical, and even speech and language therapy to stretch her kids to the limit.

They go to regular music, library, and even P.E. classes...some go to Science & Social Studies, and she even has one student who does regular math.

Ms. Connie says her goal is for these kids to have as much independence as they can, "They have so much to offer...we just have to get it out of them."

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 24-38, Chattanooga, TN 37409.

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