Golden Apple Award: Ramona DeLay, Ringgold Middle School

RINGGOLD, GA (WDEF) – Romana Delay cares about all her Ringgold Middle School students past and present. Her dedication extends far beyond school hours. Her tireless dedication earned Mrs. Delay this week’s Golden Apple Award.

Principal Shelley Pritchard explains, “Missionary DeLay has the biggest heart. She loves her children unconditionally and she is always there. She wants to teach them, but she also wants to care for them and love them.  So, she treats the children completely. It’s not just academic. It’s everything; the whole child.”

Mrs. DeLay says, “I am first and foremost, a wife and a mother grandmother of three and a middle school science teacher. I would probably have to say my father my father is always one, to learn. He was always caught reading and encyclopedias as a little child. And, as an adult. He was always learning. He loves space he loved science and he always encouraged us to learn. And to never give up on our dreams. And, and I didn’t. I always wanted to learn and… where my heart is. I love education and I love knowledge. I love learning and I absolutely adore seventh grade students. Seventh grade children.”

8th grader Bentley McClemore explains, “Ms. DeLay changed my life. I probably wouldn’t even be in eighth grade without her. I was failing on my classes since seventh grade. And then she came in and then she just started helping me, and it really changed my life.”

Mrs. DeLay concludes, “I love them. I love them. They keep me coming back every day every day they keep me coming back into my classroom. And, doing what I do. My students are not just my students during the class for the hour and five minutes that they sit in my classroom. They’re not my students just for that time block. They are my students this year. They’re my students next year. They’re gonna be my students when I see them out in public in five or 10 years. It’s family and they’re always gonna be my students. They’re always gonna be my student students even 30 years down the road they’re still always gonna be my students.”