Golden Apple Award, Lydia Thornton, CCS
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – A healthy knowledge of geometry helps students see the world in a whole new way. At CCS, Lydia Thornton uses physical demonstrations and activities to make complex geometric principals easy to understand. Bottom line, she makes math enjoyable That earned Ms. Thornton tonight’s Golden Apple Award.
“Miss Thornton. She cares deeply about students. She cares about meeting them where they’re at and teaching a different learning styles and she also cares about finding new and engaging ways to incorporate her subject into various real life lessons just as you’re saying today,” Landon Gray, High School Principal/ Upper School Head, CCS said.
“I’m a mom and a teacher and a wife and member of my church,” Lydia Thornton, Geometry and Accelerated Geometry Teacher, CCS said.
Thornton says, “Geometry is one of my favorites because we can look around the world. We can look at things that people have built and we can see it all over the place. And while we do do notes in class, we do example problems. We also go outside.”
“I teach well it’s really fun to interact with students who have energy and ideas. It’s fun to do different activities and see different ways that you can make math which can sometimes be dry. Make it come alive. See how it applied,” Thornton said.
“She is very intentional about her students and I know I ever need to help on my assignment I can go to her,” Jada Jean, CCS Sophomore said.
“Thornton is very kind and patient teacher. A lot of people don’t understand and she’s very good at explaining and helping,” Elli Welch, CCS Sophomore said.
“I feel like I get to learn a lot more than my other math classes because she’s very directed about what she teaches and she’s good about going one on one with people. I really like that class,” T.J. Crutcher, CCS Sophomore, said.
“Did somebody influence you; somebody influence you?” David Moore, Chief Photographer, said.
“I would say my mom in a big part, she was also a math teacher and she would spend time with me at home when whenever I was struggling and so I have this foundation not just of like of spending a lot of time with her and learning it but also this idea that even if you’re good at math, you can still ask questions. My uh… I think you call ever statement is on the wall over over there. It says we are growing, so that’s our big word. We are growing as mathematical thinkers and problem solver we are growing as lovers of God and each other and we are growing and responsibility for ourselves in our world. So this is a place of growth and safety and that they can trust me,” Thornton said.
