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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 Tiffany Graham, a Biology, Forensics and Physical Science teacher at Troup High School. We asked her 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Tiffany Graham has worked in education for 19 years. Her whole education career has been with the Troup County School System. For the past 3 years, she has been at Troup High School and teaches Biology, Forensics and Physical Science.

Tiffany is married to Jason Graham who is also a product of TCSS and the principal at Callaway High School. They have three children; Zoe who is seventeen and attends Troup High School, Ivy who is twelve and attends Long Cane Middle School and Jed who is eight and attends Long Cane Elementary School.

Graham is one of the Ambassador teachers at Troup High and the Science Club teacher.

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

“After I graduated high school in 2001, I started taking classes at West Georgia Tech to enroll in their Radiology program. I had a job at Emory Clark Holder Clinic in X-ray when I applied for the Radiology program. However, I was not accepted into the program. At the time, I was devastated, but now I know God was working in my life. After not getting into the program I had an immediate change of heart and set my eyes on education. My little brother at the time had quit school and was going through a very difficult time. I often wondered if a teacher could have impacted his life and changed his path. For me, Coach John Martin impacted my life significantly. He was a strong Christian man who genuinely cared about his students and their well-being. One morning Coach Martin saw me with my bible in my locker. I think that was God intervening as well. Coach Martin and I had many conversations about God and how his love can help us get through the hardest times.  Ultimately, my decision to become an educator was the call to help students like my brother by being a teacher like Coach Martin.”

What are your career aspirations?

“My next step as an educator is to become an administrator or work in a leadership position in instruction. After retiring from teaching in the public school system, I want to be a biology or lab instructor at the college level.”

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

“I would enjoy biotechnology, microbiology, or radiology. I love science and technology. A career in a laboratory would be so fun.”

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

“Thanks to my mom I can sew. I spent some time sewing dresses for my daughters when they were young.”

What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style? “My students said I am Miss. Frizzle off of Magic School Bus.”

What’s the most creative/unique project one of your classes has worked on?

“I often have students build models. I especially like doing this to be able to see their interpretations of the content. Some students go above and beyond and get very creative. I do not set limitations to allow them to get creative.”

If you could invite any historical figure to speak to your class, who would you choose and why?

“Albert Einstein!”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job? 

“Building relationships and getting to know students and who they are is by far the most rewarding part of being an educator. Celebrating milestones and accomplishments with them and having the opportunity to get to know hundreds of amazing kids who will eventually work and lead in our community is incredible. Just this week I was in the hospital with my mom. I ran into four students who are now working and helping take care of my mother. How cool is that?! She said she felt spoiled by them and that was a blessing.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

“The most challenging part of my job is when I cannot connect with a student and I see outside influences keeping the student from succeeding.”

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

“I am honored. I have been at Troup High for three years and surrounded by awesome teachers. It meant the world to me that they thought of me as teacher of the year.”

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

“Anything with my family. I love doing anything with my family. Hiking, kayaking, visiting parks, or even if we are at one of their sporting events and are all together I am happy.”

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 they have learned to care about others, give back, and never give up. I hope that they gain new respect for each other and see the beauty in diversity. We talked about diversity a lot in class. I hope that they leave my class with a new lens and how they view others. I also hope they leave my room always knowing they have me if they need me while they are students at school or even after they graduate I am here for them if they need me.”