Ex-U.S. Marine Jade Thomas Named ‘Teacher of the Year’ in Houston County

Jade Thomas, a former U.S. Marine with eight years of service, has been honored as Houston County’s “Teacher of the Year.”

With only seven years of teaching experience, Thomas has made a remarkable impact at Lake Joy Elementary School, where she will be teaching fourth grade, covering subjects such as reading, writing, and social studies.

Thomas’s passion for teaching is evident in her dedication.

“I just go really over the top with anything that I do; I just want to do the best that I can,” she shared with 13WMAZ. “I’m extremely passionate about teaching. So, when you’re extremely passionate, the work just kind of does itself.”

Her colleague, Trinity Cox, commended Thomas for her infectious positive energy, stating:

“She’s got a great personality. When she comes in every morning with her positive attitude and vibes, it filters throughout the hallway.”

Thomas attributes her smooth transition from military service to education to the skills she developed in the Marines.

“I was serving the United States, but now I’m serving students,” she said. “It was actually an easier transition than I had imagined with time management and having a positive attitude. Even on the worst day, it’s not as bad as in the Marine Corps, so I always keep that in perspective. I have a great job just changing and influencing the life of students.”

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Thomas co-founded the Military Kids Club at Lake Joy Elementary, providing a supportive space for children from military families.

This initiative helped the school earn the Military Flagship School Award earlier this year.

Reflecting on her achievements, Thomas emphasized her genuine love for her job: “I never did anything thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this because I’m getting an award.’ I do it because I truly love this job.”

Thomas is also in the running for Georgia’s Teacher of the Year, alongside other top educators in the county.