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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 Jill Hembree, an Early Interventions teacher for grades K-2 at Franklin Forest Elementary School. We asked her 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Jill Hembree has been in education for 16 years. The entirety of that time has been with Franklin Forest Elementary and the Troup County School System.

Jill has been married to Jake Hembree for 17 years.  They have 2 boys. The oldest is Brady who is 15 years old and a freshman at LaGrange High School. The youngest is Maddox who is 11 years old and a sixth grader at Gardner Newman Middle School.

Hembree is also a coach for the Greenpower Racing Team at Franklin Forest. She has coached Greenpower for 3 years and really enjoys working with the Greenpower team, helping the students learn teamwork and how to work on a car. The Falcon Racing Team has finished within the top 10 at all of the races that they have attended over the past 2 years. Last year they finished in the top 20 for the nation.  Hembree looks forward to continuing to work with the Greenpower Team and hopes to place first at an event in the near future. 

Outside of teaching, Hembree has volunteered and helped out with different events at First Baptist Church for over 20 years. Two of the big events that she helps with are Vacation Bible School and Gift of Love. She has also been a part of the Alpha Kappa Delta teacher sorority for two years. 

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

“My mother and my grandmother were teachers and both of them inspired me to become an educator. I always loved going to my mother’s and my grandmother’s classrooms and pretending to be a teacher with my siblings. Both of them were amazing educators and I loved the relationships that they built with their students and their families. Watching them throughout my childhood made me realize that I wanted to be able to have an impact on children like they did.” 

What are your career aspirations? 

“I am currently enrolled to complete my leadership certificate at the University of West Georgia. I would love to be able to make an even bigger impact on children and families in our community by becoming an administrator one day.”

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

“If I were not a teacher I would love to be a zookeeper and work with animals.”

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

“I do not have a hidden talent. However, I have a twin sister who is also a teacher for the Troup County School System and our students are always so amazed when they see my twin in town or at the school.”

 What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style?

“I would have to say the fictional character that represents my teaching style would be Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus because I enjoy having my students explore and think outside the box. Mrs. Frizzle always likes to have fun while teaching and I think if you can find something that students relate to then they remember what they are learning.”

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

“My most unique project that I enjoy doing with my students each year is creating kindness stockings. Each year at Christmas I have my students each bring in a stocking and a bag of treats to share. Each day I have students take the time to write something kind about a fellow classmate and then they place it in each other’s Christmas Stockings. When students leave for Christmas Break I send home their stockings with each student. They enjoy reading all the nice things that their classmates had to say about them.”

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

“If I could invite one historical figure to speak to my class, I would love for Helen Keller to come speak to my class. Helen Keller was resilient and determined despite her challenges of being both blind and deaf. She overcame her obstacles and became an author, activist and speaker. I would love for her to speak to my students and show them that no matter what challenges they face they are capable of overcoming those challenges and can do anything.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job? 

“The relationships that I build with my students.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

“I wish I had more time with each of my students.”

What’s the most unusual excuse a student has given you for not completing their homework? 

“I once had a student turn in their homework half chewed up. His mom wrote a note and said his baby brother ate it.”

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

“It is a true honor to represent Franklin Forest Elementary School as the teacher of the year. I have been a part of the Franklin Forest family since the school was opened in some capacity. I have always enjoyed working at Franklin Forest and the atmosphere and people here are amazing.” 

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

“When I am not at school I enjoy reading books and watching both of my boys play travel baseball.” 

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? 

“One thing I want my students to know when they leave my room is that I am always here for them even once they leave my room. I always want them to know that they are capable of doing anything they want as long as they put their heart and mind into it.”