Golden Apple Award: Patrick Parris, Heritage Middle School
Ringgold, Ga. (WDEF) – A positive attitude can be contagious. That’s just what Patrick Parris brings to Heritage Middle School each and every day. It’s one of the reasons why kids love his social studies class.
Melissa Travillian is the Principal at Heritage Middle.
She says, ” Mr. Parris came to us four years ago. He’s an incredible educator. He inspires his students to learn and love social studies, but beyond that he’s also a wonderful cross-country coach. He gives his time to his students through a gaming club that he does every month and is just an all-around great teacher.”
When asked to describe himself, Mr. Parris says, “Just a normal guy. A guy that likes spending time with his family. He loves college sports but he’s passionate about young people and that was instilled in him by not only his parents but also some coaches that he had growing up. I think it’s important. I mean our future is the kids, right? So, they need to know and have positive role models and hopefully I am that because positive role models had a big impact on me.”
Student Karlie Ward chips in, “He’s funny and he makes stuff more fun.”
And get this, Mr. Parris teaches right next door to his mother.
He says, “It’s a change. This is the first year she’s been here. I always grew up with her teaching and she was at Ringgold for I think 30 years if I remember correctly. I think this is maybe her 31st year. But it’s been good. It’s different than I expected.”
Patrick’s mother is quite proud of him, and he admits that he was not quite sure what to expect from her.
He says, “I definitely didn’t. Just getting to interact every day with people that are going to ultimately be our future.”
About his passion for teaching he concludes, “That you want to positively impact them and make those relationships and make them know that there’s people that they can trust and people that are good out there. Ultimately, I just want them to know that I did care and that I will continue to care.”
