Mrs. Jade Thomas is honored to serve as the current Runner-up for Georgia Teacher of the Year. She teaches fourth grade social studies and English language arts at Lake Joy Elementary School in Houston County. She is passionate about fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging classroom environment where every student feels valued and inspired to learn. Guided by a “hands-on, brains-on” philosophy, Mrs. Thomas encourages active participation and meaningful learning experiences each day.
Believing that all students are capable of success, she challenges them to think critically and creatively, providing the support they need to grow regardless of their starting point. In her classroom, striving for excellence isn’t just encouraged, it’s the standard.
Before entering the field of education, Mrs. Thomas served as an active-duty U.S. Marine from 2007 to 2015. Her military background deeply informs her work and inspired her to co-found Lake Joy Elementary School's Military Kids Club, which supports students from military families.
Mrs. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Niagara University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education from Liberty University, and an Education Specialist degree with an ESOL endorsement from Mercer University.