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EDITOR’S NOTE: The LaGrange Daily News is doing a Q&A with all of the teachers of the year in the Troup County School System. Today, we are writing about Jessica Mobley, an Exceptional Education Teacher at Gardner Newman Middle School. We asked her 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Jessica Mobley has been in education for 16 years. She began her teaching career in Troup County and was at Ethel Kight Elementary for 12 years and now four years at Gardner Newman Middle.

Jessica and her husband Craig have been married for 13 years. They have three children, Evelyn (11), who is in the 6th grade at GNMS; Graham (10), a 4th grade student at Hollis Hand Elementary; and Clayton (5) is a pre-K student at Hollis Hand Elementary.

Mobley is in her first year as a member of the PBIS team at GNMS. She and her family are actively involved in their church, Faith Baptist. Jessica and Craig lead a life group for married couples as well as a community outreach called “Feeding by Faith,” where they supply basic needs such as food, clothing, and hygiene items to people in need locally.

What inspired you to become an educator? (Or who?) 

“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout my own years in school, I was inspired by countless educators that demonstrated a passion for their content and a dedication to love and care for their students. I wanted the opportunity to impact students the way that these educators impacted me.”

What are your career aspirations? 

“During my teaching career, I have been fortunate to teach at the elementary and middle school levels in both general and special education. I would love to continue to acquire  experience with different age groups and ability levels of students and apply the wisdom I have gained to each level.”

If you weren’t a teacher, what career field would you be in? 

“If I wasn’t a teacher, I would probably work full-time in some sort of ministry or outreach to those in need within our community.”

What hidden talent do you have that might surprise your students and our readers?

“I love trivia, and for some reason my brain holds on to tons of random information that I have heard or read that doesn’t really serve any purpose in my everyday life!”

What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style?

“The character, Hermione Granger, from the Harry Potter novels immediately comes to mind when I think of my teaching style. Hermione is a rule-follower and a complete nerd, constantly taking in information and imparting her knowledge to those around her. But she is also passionate about her convictions and loyal to those who are important to her. My teaching style is very structured and organized, and I have high standards of conduct for my students. I love to help my students make connections from what we are currently learning or experiencing to other information or areas of life.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job? 

“The most rewarding part of my job is by far getting the chance to show students that they are loved and cared for. In many cases, we are with our students for more time each day than their family members are, so we have a huge responsibility and opportunity to be a positive influence for them. When a former student runs up to me out in the community with a smile on their face, or a current student stops in the hall to give me a quick hug, I know I have succeeded in letting them know they are cared for and they matter.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

“The most challenging part of my job is competing with all the other things that are filling up our student’s minds these days. Many of our students bring an overwhelming amount of media influence or trauma to school with them each day, and part of our challenge as educators is to help them sort through those things in a healthy way in order to make their minds available to intake the knowledge we are trying to give them to prepare them for their future.”

What did it mean to you to be named your school’s teacher of the year? 

“It is a huge honor to be named my school’s teacher of the year, especially as an exceptional education teacher. There are so many amazing educators that I work with daily who put everything they have into teaching and mentoring our students.”

On a weekend or a summer day when school is out, what are your favorite activities? 

“Outside of school I love spending time with my family, which usually involves outdoor activities or movie nights together at home.”

As your students transition to the next grade or graduate in May, what is one key takeaway you hope they carry forward from their time in your class? 

“I hope all of my students know that they are loved, that they matter, and that they can each be successful in their own way if they continue to put forth effort and give their best even when it seems impossible. As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout my own years in school, I was inspired by countless educators that demonstrated a passion for their content and a dedication to love and care for their students. I wanted the opportunity to impact students the way that these educators impacted me.