After 23 years of education, Danny Thomas, 41, never thought he would wind up in kindergarten. Thomas is the physical education teacher at Albany Elementary School for the first through third grades.
“I enjoy what I do. I love kids, and I like teaching them things,” Thomas says.
Thomas, who looks fit and has thinning, reddish hair and a wild moustache, can be found playing tag with the second and third graders in the school’s front lawn or in the gymnasium teaching coordination skills to students in kindergarten and the first grade.
He began teaching 13 years ago at Clinton County High School.
“I taught physical education and driver education there for 10 years,” Thomas says. “I moved here three years ago because I was the only one with kindergarten certification in the county.”
“He’s a bonus to the school and the community,” says Jerry Branham, principal at Albany Elementary.
First grader Tyler Sheer agrees. “Mr. Thomas is great! He understands children and what they want and need. When they get so engrossed in what they are doing or playing, you can sit back, watch and enjoy.”