By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

With four years as a teacher to his credit, Jimmy Price was named Guideway Elementary School’s teacher of the year for 2007-08.

“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen by my colleagues as teacher-of-the-year, considering the reality that many others are well-deserving of such a title,” said Price, who teaches all subject areas in a self-contained fourth-grade class. “I am humbled by their recognition of my endeavors.”
He said that as a senior in high school, he contemplated which career path to pursue.

Through school programs he was able to work under many professionals for a day – pharmacists, businessmen and bankers.

“However, when I shadowed a fourth-grade teacher, I was hooked,” he said. “Before lunch, I knew this was for me. I had an immediate connection with the students. Since then, I have reflected upon that day many times. I remember that same spark of energy I had then and it never ceases to rekindle the love I possess for teaching and learning. I live; therefore, I teach.”

Price said the best part of teaching is the rapport developed between students and teachers.

“Today’s students need more than mere presentation of knowledge and skills,” he said. “They need inspiration to reach their maximum potential. This can only be achieved through a personal relationship between the student and teacher.

“The bond between the two holds the power to transform a child’s entire perspective of their world. I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom.

“My personal approach creates a climate. My daily mood makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be the tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor. Hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized. This is the most powerful aspect of teaching.”

And the worst part of teaching?

“Jumping through the hurdles of federal mandates of unrealistic expectations, which have been set forth by individuals and entities not aware of the realities of today’s students and intricacies of today’s education sector,” he said.

“Education today is in desperate need of more parental involvement and accountability,” Price said. “As a teacher, I can teach my heart out all day, assign tasks of the highest quality, and assist the students with these; however, if the students’ parents do not value my efforts and labors, very often, only minimal results will be reaped.

“Children learn what they live,” he said. “If a home values education, then very likely the children raised therein will as well. However, very sadly, many homes do not see it as a valuable asset. In turn, many children have learned what they have lived. Education is the key to open new door. I pray many students will take this golden key and open the doors of opportunity set before them.”

Born and raised in the Crusoe Island community, Price graduated from South Columbus High School. After earning is associate degree from Southeastern Community College in elementary education, he earned his bachelor’s degree in the same discipline from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a minor in history.
From East Carolina University, he earned his master’s degree in education.

“Throughout high school, I worked at Shoe Fair in Whiteville as a sales clerk,” he said. “I worked as a remediation teacher and as a substitute teacher throughout my college years.”

His wife of five years, Denise, teaches exceptional children at Old Dock Elementary School. They have a daughter and a son.

He said his interests include God, church, family, music and reading. He enjoys North Carolina History, vacationing in the mountains and Duke Blue Devils basketball.

He serves as the president of the Columbus County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Nominated for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2004 and 2005 and named to the National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers in 2005. Price has been awarded a number of grants regarding the integration of technology into the processes of teaching and learning.