Daniel Wood – Kings Chapel Elementary

Daniel Wood is the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year for Kings Chapel Elementary School.

Wood is originally from North Carolina. He graduated high school in 2006 from West Wilkes High School in Millers Creek, North Carolina. Wood then went on to Appalachian State University and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 2011. He then moved to Warner Robins, which is where his wife is from. Wood has been the physical education teacher at Kings Chapel Elementary now for four years. Growing up he played baseball, football, and basketball as well as golf, hiking, hunting and fishing. Aside from teaching, he also is a coach for high school level sports. Currently Wood is working on his master’s degree from Georgia Southern University.

Why teaching/What brought you into this field?

“I believe God’s given all of us strengths and talents. I feel mine is through teaching and the youth. I have always enjoyed investing in the youth and being a physical education teacher and coach. I love sports. Being a physical education teacher combines two things that I am really passionate about. It’s just a way for me to give back and I feel like I’m making a difference. I want to wake up everyday going to a job that I know I love and I have been to some that were not that way. But I truly do love teaching.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“There’s really not a teacher that I could look back on and say that’s the one who really inspired me. Coming out of high school, I didn’t think about becoming a teacher at first. I was more so looking at physical therapy and my mom was a nurse. I am a man of faith so I would pray about where I need to be in life. My parents gave me that motivation to look into teaching. They told me I was good with kids and patient with them. That’s why I targeted elementary school. So my parents and grandmother was my real inspiration going into this field.”

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

“Being at the elementary level, seeing kids be kids. I love getting hugs everyday, the fist bumps, excitement walking into the gym. Also seeing their reaction when they see me outside of school. They’ll run up to me, and I’ll have to tell their parents it’s ok I’m their PE teacher. Also I get to watch the students mature from Pre-K to fifth grade. I love that I get to invest in them really young the importance of physical activity.”

What is the most

challenging part of

teaching?

“Honestly I wouldn’t say it’s the teaching itself, it’s learning where the kids come from, their home life. Some kids here are legally homeless. Some come from a home that’s filled with drugs, alcohol, and violence. It breaks your heart, and we have them only for eight hours a day, so I try to do my best to give them a positive experience.”

Advice to students

“Give and earn respect. I am really big on that. We are living in a time where there is so much division in our country so we must learn to love one another. Also realize what is most important in your life and don’t let the small petty stuff get in your way.”

Advice to parents

“Get the electronic devices out of kids’ hands. Don’t let it be your babysitter. It’s ok occasionally to play a video game or watch TV, but it shouldn’t be for long hours at a time. Because of that kids don’t know how to communicate today. Make time with your children to talk about their day at school. And just sensor your kids as well because they see a lot on social media that you may not be aware of.”