Graysville Elementary's Jan Nayadley Wins Golden Apple Award

Sometime a little crazy is a good thing...

One Catoosa County parent says her son's crazy teacher is the first teacher to actually get through.

Graysville Elementary's Jan Nayadley is this week's Golden Apple winner.

Welcome to Jan Nayadley's 2nd Grade class. Right now everyone is listening attentively...but sometimes, things get a little crazy...

The classroom cheers and applauds as Ms. Nayadley turns a cartwheel.  She says, "We like to have fun."

That's Ms. Nayadley's philosophy of teaching and one of the main ways she connects with her students.

In this classroom keeping the lessons fun and relaxed not only makes for better learning, it makes her kids feel like family, "In the classroom, on the playground, where ever they go they kinda look out for one another."

For at least one student that kind of caring environment works wonders.

Danielle Hooper reads from her Golden Apple nomination letter, "Ms. Nayadley...gets William. She understands him makes him laugh and stays on top of him, even when he doesn't want it."

Hooper says her son Will has bloomed under Ms. Nayadley's care.

The 2nd grader has Asperger's Syndrome and social situations can be very difficult.

Danielle says thanks to Ms. Nayadley fun attitude and extra attention Will is coming out of his shell, "For a teacher to go above and beyond like that is just incredible."

What's more....she says Ms. Nayadley takes that same special interest in all her students, "I know what a good teacher is. I know what a good teacher should be. I see good teachers all the time and that's what I think she is."

Ms. Nayadley says it's all part of preparing her kids for the future.

She says it feels like her students are her children, and she takes pride in watching them grow, "If it's just one child that's one person that you helped."

To nominate your special teacher, pick up an entry form at your local Bi-Lo or print one from our website, it's WDEF.com and send 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.