Veterans High School Teacher of the year, Dave Gibbs

This week’s featured educator did see the forest for the trees right out of college. Dave Gibbs was born in Rome, raised in Cherokee County and graduated from Sequoyah High School in Canton. He has a bachelor’s degree in forest management and a master’s degree in forest business and finance, both from the University of Georgia where he was a UGA student ambassador and was named Most Outstanding Forestry student. He worked for Weyerhaeuser Corp. in Oglethorpe, and after the company sold its timberlands in Middle Georgia he decided to pursue teaching through the TAPP program. He has a specialist degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in educational leadership, both from Valdosta State University.

He is a TAPP ambassador, a STAR teacher at Veterans High, a National Math and Science Initiative Lead math teacher and statistics consultant, a Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Math nominee, a Georgia Department of Education Content Area Expert (algebra and geometry), and a College Board Advanced Placement presenter.

Why teaching? I love to inspire young people to do more than they ever thought they were capable of and recognize the vast application of mathematics in critical thinking and problem solving. I work with a fantastic group of people at Veterans High School. My administration is dedicated to supporting teachers and doing what they know is best for students. My math department members are like family and make going to work each day a joy.

What brought you into the field? My mother was an educator. She was always highly involved in her schools, which meant that we were. When Weyerhaeuser sold the majority of is timberlands in Middle Georgia, I decided to pursue a career in education through the Georgia TAPP program.

Inspiration from past teachers: I thank Mrs. Brenda Campbell for hiring me with no teaching experience and believing in me enough to give me a chance. Also, Mrs. Mamie Caldwell, Dee Williams and John Hatten who served as mentors through my first couple of years of teaching. My high school math teacher Mrs. Francis Warren gave me the freshman math award which built my confidence and motivated me.

Best part of teaching: Seeing former students transition to productive members of society.

Most challenging part of teaching: Adjusting to curriculum changes and the constantly changing educational legislation.

If not teaching, what?: I would either be a hunting guide or a farmer.

Advice to students: Be aggressively curious, get passionately involved with social justice, go above and beyond what is assigned, and seek out opportunities to serve.

Advice to parents: Know your student’s teachers and be supportive.

Home life: I am married to Dr. Natalie Gibbs, an audiologist at Warner Robins ENT, and we have six children – Heather, 14; Gabriel, 11; Nathan, 11; Jenny Lu, 10; Jessica, 9; and Mary Ruth, 2. We have served as foster parents in Houston County, opening our home to approximately 30 children from our community. I live on and operate a small farm south of Perry, raising beef cows, dairy cows, pigs, chickens and a donkey named Jack. We plant a large garden and try to raise most of our food. We attend Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins were I serve as a deacon and teach adult Sunday school classes. I enjoy spending time hunting and fishing with my children.

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