TRENTON, Ga. — A “kids camp” was Dade County Middle School teacher Matt Jelley’s vision of the future until the need for gainful employment made him look to a career in education.
“I thought I wanted to do inner-city schools,” said Mr. Jelley, Dade’s Teacher of the Year.
“In fact, I was pretty set on that coming out of college. I did an interim period at Calvin Donaldson (in Chattanooga) and loved it, and really thought that was where I was going to be,” he said.
“I’ve thoroughly fallen in love with teaching, and it is definitely where the Lord’s called me. I wake up every morning and I can’t wait to go into work,” he said.
In a visit to Dade County, he found a home for his religious and educational goals, he said.