Leinkauf teacher is helping third graders read, and winning a Golden Apple

Mobile, Ala. (WKRG) — Inez Thomas has been a teacher for 14 years — eight of those at Leinkauf Elementary School in Mobile.

“Leinkauf is a family. From the children, the staff, and the students, their parents — we’re all a big family — the community, they’re very special to Leinkauf,” Thomas said. “They pour into the students and the staff and faculty, so, yes, it’s a big family here.”

While enjoying the family atmosphere, Thomas is working to stay on top of the state school board’s efforts to increase reading proficiency for her third graders who she says are expected to do well on their Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program or ACAP.

“And here at Leinkauf we’ve made great gains on our ACAP in reading and math, so we’re very proud of these students,” she said.

Thomas said those same third-grade students keep her coming back to the classroom each day. She added that it’s almost as if she was born to be a teacher.

“I mean since I was a little girl I used to pretend that I was a teacher so I really feel like this is what I was supposed to do,” she said.

And many of her colleagues agree. Many of them nominated her for the Golden Apple —including her principal at Leinkauf.

“She’s a great teacher, but she’s an overall good person,” said Principal Hope Belle-Payne. “And that’s what our kids need these days. She loves them, they love her — but they know she means business.”

Our congratulations to Inez Thomas and Leinkauf Elementary for a job well done.

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