SOPERTON, Ga. — This Tuesday, Junior Journalists Kamryn Stephens and Eli Rutherford headed down to Soperton to surprise this week's top teacher, Jeremy Ikner.
Ikner teaches physical education at Treutlen County Elementary School and was nominated by his son Brylan Ikner.
"His students love him, but I love him more," Brylan wrote in his letter. "He teaches us to become better students and how to try our best when things are not easy."
Ikner has been teaching for 8 years, but this is his first as a PE teacher.
"I enjoyed the classroom setting and being able to have that family and to see that growth," says Ikner. "In here, I get to impact every child in a positive way and encourage them."
Ikner teaches at Treutlen alongside his wife Amy Ikner, who teaches the second grade.
"It is nice to have that pleasant smile and just his presence here, knowing if I need something that he's always here to help me through it," says Amy Ikner.
When he's not teaching, Ikner is also a pastor at Oak Dale Baptist Church in Dublin.
"It has helped me tremendously being a pastor," says Ikner. "Having that spiritual side and being able to come back here with the kids and say, 'You're here for a purpose. You're here for a reason.'"
Ikner is able to spend time with his family and make a positive impact in his students' lives.
"To be able to do life with your family outside of the home, we've done it very well for several years," says Ikner. "It helps in so many ways and every area of life to be around each other like that."
This is the Ikner family's first year at Treutlen County Elementary School.
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