Coach Charlie Goss Spends His Career Teaching East Ridge Kids To Do Right

There's something to be said for the teacher who's dedicated his life to one school.

East Ridge Coach Charlie Goss has been a fixture at the Middle School for decades.

This year is his last and there's a family who wanted to say 'Thank You!'

Coach Goss is this week's Golden Apple Award Winner....

Walk into 8th Grade U.S. History at East Ridge Middle School and you'll hear Charlie Goss' booming voice...

The wrestling, football, and track coach not only graduated from East Ridge Schools, he's spent nearly 30 years teaching the kids.

Coach Goss says, "I just tell people I get lost in the parking lot and I can't get out. 29 years later I guess I go home."

For Coach Goss it's the impact he makes that matters.

He says sometimes what you teach outside the classroom is more important than the lesson plan.

Ali Fugatt and her family agree...

She reads from her family's nomination letter, "He is a champion and teaches his students to be excellent and live excellent."

Nearly everyone in Ali's family has had Coach Goss for a teacher and this year Ali gets to be in his classroom as a Student Aid.

Ali says, "He'll always help somebody if they need help. He's just a good teacher. He's nice to everybody."

Ali says Coach Goss is a no nonsense kind of teacher who doesn't let kids get away with bad behavior, instead he teaches them to do right.

She says he's been a positive influence at East Ridge Middle, "Teachers have just come in and out, but he's stayed here."

Coach Goss says he's just fulfilling his purpose.

Twenty-nine years in one school means he's seen a lot of things, hauled a ton of kids, coached a bunch of matches...and changed generations of lives, "If I just help, or save one person a year, I mean it's worth it."

Every one has made his investment more special... He retires at the end of this year and, he says, he'd do it all over again.

He laughs as he says, "You gotta have somebody on your side."

To nominate your special teacher, pick up an entry form at your local Bi-Lo or print one here at WDEF.com.

Mail it to:

Golden Apple Award
P.O. Box 2438
Chattanooga, TN 37409 

Then watch WDEF News 12 Tuesday nights at 6:00 to see if your teacher was chosen.