Golden Apple Award: Geoff James, Chattanooga Valley Middle School
FLINTSTONE, GA (WDEF) – Geoff James has a great sense of humor. He mixes that with a healthy dose of caring to make sure that every student in his Chattanooga Valley Middle School class is on the same page. It’s working. See for yourself in this week’s Golden Apple.
“On behalf of Food City and news 12, I would like to present you with this week’s Golden Apple teacher award! Awesome! Thank you so much. And on behalf of Food City and News 12 here’s a $25 gift certificate to Food City. All right! Thank you so much! Thank you.”
“Mr. James has been here for a couple of years. He’s willing to do pretty much anything you ask him to do. Just like today, he actually called in sick. And I asked him if he could come in for something, to be presented, not even be presented, but to come in. And I needed him to do something, and he decided to come in and stay for the day. So, I really appreciate that kind of effort and that kind of attitude,” said Wade Breeden, the principal at Chattanooga Valley Middle School.
“So look today, all you’re doing, you have a Generation Genius video on Thermal Energy; what we’ve been going over. You’re going to do that. You do the before questions, the after questions.”
“I am a physical science teacher at Chattanooga Valley Middle School. I have a wife named Hannah. And my daughter’s 18 months old and her name is Parker. I wanted to be an actor and that didn’t work out too well. And then I decided I like teaching, when I went back to school,” said Geoff James, this week’s Golden Apple Award winner and 8th grade Science Teacher at Chattanooga Valley Middle School.
“It’s just the heat. Is the thing of heat, like… Yeah it’s just measuring thermal energy. Just okay just measuring the heat? Mhm.”
“I like the students. The relationships with them. I’m definitely not the best science teacher in the world. But I do enjoy the interaction with the students. They’re the best part,” said James.
“Mr. James is the best teacher. He’s so nice to every student. When he comes in he’s just happy every morning. You don’t ever see him sad. He laughs all the time having fun with everyone,” said Gauge Christian, an 8th grader at Chattanooga Valley Middle School.
“He tries his best to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible, which has really helped me learn. And he’s just overall one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” Erin Young, and 8th grader at Chattanooga Valley Middle School.
“Did anyone influence you to want to be a teacher?’ asked News 12’s Chief Photographer David Moore.
“My parents, my brother, for sure. They are a lot to live up to. Probably will never get there. But, them for sure,” replied James.
“What do you want these kids and other kids like the young lady that wrote the letter, to remember about you when they become parents themselves,” asked Moore.
“Oh, I guess just… try to, if the teachers care, you know sometimes they might not be the best at what they teach, but if they care, then your student is definitely going to be okay. They’re going to look after them,” said James.
