When Billy Jones was to begin seminary training, he realized the children he was to minister to were spending the majority of their time across the street at the high school.
“That made me realize my ministry may be more effective if I was around them more often,” he said. “It was a financial struggle to go back to school, but from day one I realized it was the right decision.”
That was 45 years ago, and Jones has turned teaching into a ministry of sorts. Instead of expounding Scripture, he’s turning chemistry, physics, German and mathematics into conduits for life lessons.
Those lessons about academic subjects, as well as more philosophical ones, have been so powerful that 31 kids who’ve been chosen over the years as top students have picked Jones as the teacher who influenced them most.
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators recognizes high school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class with the highest SAT score each year as STAR students. Those students are also allowed to acknowledge the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic development.
“It’s such a joy keeping up with the students over the years,” said Jones, whose influence has gone beyond the schoolhouse walls. He’s officiated student weddings, been part of baptisms and just about everything in between.
At the awards luncheon Friday was Mountain View High School senior Adam Hordines, the 31st student in 45 years who named Jones as an influence for academic success. They joined 28 other student-teacher pairs from every public and private high school in the county including Buford City Schools.
Gwinnett Chamber President Dan Kaufman congratulated all the winners, saying, “They are the ones who ensure Gwinnett continues to be great.”
Each school system has a districtwide STAR Student and STAR Teacher who will advance to compete for the regional honors in April. Gwinnett County Public Schools had a four-way tie for districtwide honors. Those students and teachers are: Brookwood High student Thi Dao and teacher Amber Simmons; Duluth High student Aidan Donelan and teacher Jonathan Roy; Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology student Alex Kim and teacher Laura Gray; and Peachtree Ridge student Shawn Im and teacher Ann Rodgers.
Next, STAR student winners will move on to the region competition where winners will then move on to the state level, where one pair will be named Georgia’s 2019 STAR Student and Teacher.
For a complete list of Gwinnett County winners, go to: publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/news/all-news/featured/2019-star-student-teacher-award
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