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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 Frederick Neuberts, an International Business Pathway instructor at THINC College and Career Academy. We asked him 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Frederick Neuberts has worked in education for six years with the Troup County School System at THINC College and Career Academy. 

Frederick and his wife Joanna have been married for 35 years. They have three grandchildren in Troup County Schools, one is a senior at LaGrange High School, one is an eighth grader at Garner Newman Middle School and one is a fifth grader at Franklin Forest Elementary School.

Neuberts has served as Advisor to the THINC College and Career Academy Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for the last five years where he enjoys watching the students mature in their ability to compete with other Georgia FBLA members. 

Neuberts is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and enjoys supporting the LaGrange community through food drives, chili competitions and other community services.  Through FBLA he helped support the MS Bike Rally earlier this year.

What or who inspired you to become an educator?

“I retired from working in the IT Services Industry establishing start-up companies in England and within the European Union (Belgium and the Netherlands) also had the opportunity to be a consultant in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.  My daughter worked within Troup County School Systems and mentioned that there was an opening at THINC Academy for an International Business Instructor and felt led to pass on the legacy of my experiences to the next generation of business leaders.”

What are your career aspirations? 

“To help grow our youth to be competitive in the International business arena.”

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

“One that supports others to achieve their goals in life.  I have led a blessed life and want to pass it forward to those who need a nudge toward excellence.”

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

“I am a man of faith and know that we can impact many through one individual.  Sounds kind of sappy, but absolutely believe this.”

What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style? “Vladimir Kuilch as Bullwyf (the leader)  in The 13th Warrior (1999)”

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

“We use a business simulation that is hosted out of The Netherlands. This European Company, Edumundo provides practical skills for running a competitive international business (teams of four students – CEO, COO, CFO, VP of Sales and Marketing)  against fellow student companies.”

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

“Paul – who wrote the Acts, Galatians, Corinthians, etc. (again sappy response) but it would be great to infuse a spirit of mutual respect and love for one another.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

“Since I teach three courses in my pathway, I have the unique opportunity to see my students grow in maturity and business acumen.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

“Since having a prior career where I either led soldiers (retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, Army) or as a Global Delivery Director for an international privately held business, I made the mistake of treating my new 9th graders as senior leaders and had to learn classroom management.  I’ve gotten better over the years, but still have to remind myself that these students are emerging into adulthood and are in transition from being a child and acting like a child.”

What’s the most unusual excuse a student has given you for not completing their homework?  “Most students turn in their homework on time, if they do not, I accept them with a maximum of 70% so I haven’t had any unusual excuses.  They either complete their work or don’t get full credit for what they turn in.”

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

“I am humbled to think that my peers and THINC leadership thought enough about me to feel that I should be recognized for this honor.”

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

“I enjoy traveling with my wife to places we’ve never seen.  We have been privileged to see parts of the world, that not many people experience, like four years in England, visiting Iceland, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Greece, Montana, Utah, and the states between Georgia, the West Coast, and north to Canada.”

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 and pray that they feel confident that they can compete in a world that is ever getting smaller and more interconnected and be properly prepared to become the best they can be.”