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ALBANY, GA. -- Students at Northside Elementary School say science and social studies teacher Christopher Jones is teacher of the year because he has fun in class.  “He’s the best teacher ever” says 4^th grade student Anthony Harvey.

From the moment you walk into Mr.. Jones's classroom, you realize that he's not teaching a lesson, he's letting his students experience the lesson.  “I try to make everything hands on as much as possible because - just like I tell the students - hey I get bored too!  So I wouldn’t like to just stand in front of a group of people and just talk and lecture. I never want to do all the talking anyways - and I like to have them engaged in the lesson and get a lot of cooperation and feedback as well” says Jones.

Students say it’s easy to remember the lesson because everything is hands on and 4^th grader Kawanza Williams says he drills the lessons into them.  “He tells us to keep up with everything and we take notes.  He teaches, then goes back over everything with us” says Williams.

Jones says the combination of repetition and hands on learning makes the lessons come alive, which he says makes the students do better.  “I want to push each and every student until they can't be pushed anymore.  A lot of times they may have that potential, but they just need someone to help them realize that potential and help them meet their potential and goals” says Jones.

Students say his impact has been profound and Jones says as long as he has an impact on enhancing students lives - he'll keep teaching.  “I just like to have fun in the classroom because the way I see it - you must enjoy your job, so I try to put my all into every lesson that we deliver and just try to make it interactive and as engaging as possible” says Jones.