Navy Veteran Named Houston County Teacher of the Year

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Navy veteran Jade Thomas just earned a new badge of honor for her hard work: Houston County Teacher of the Year.

“I really put my all into everything I do, I just want to do the best I can,” she said. “I’m extremely passionate about teaching. So when you’re extremely passionate, the work takes care of itself.”

It’s a job Thomas has always wanted to do, and it’s what she’s been doing for the past seven years. She’ll be teaching reading, writing and social studies to fourth-graders at Lake Joy Elementary School this year.

Fellow teacher Trinity Cox also sees his passion.

“She has a great personality,” Cox said. “When she comes in every morning, with her positive attitude and vibe, it reverberates throughout the hallway.”

But before setting foot in teaching, Thomas dedicated her life to another mission: she served for eight years in the U.S. Marines.

“I was serving the United States, but now I’m serving students,” she said. “The transition has actually been easier than I thought it would be, thanks to time management, a positive attitude and remembering that even the worst day is not a worst day in the Marine Corps, so I always keep it in perspective. I have a great job changing and impacting the lives of students.”

With this in mind, she decided to take her career to the next level. Thomas and two other teachers created the Military Kids Club at Lake Joy Elementary School. The club provides an opportunity for students from military families to meet each other.

“I’ve never done anything where I think I’m going to do this because I’m going to get an award,” Thomas said. “I do it because I really love the job.”

Earlier this year, the public school superintendent presented Lake Joy Elementary School with the Military Flagship School Award for the Military Kids Club. Another badge of honor Thomas will wear along with the Teacher of the Year title.

Thomas, along with other top teachers in the county, will be considered for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

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