Assistant Principal Has Passion for Education

Three years ago, Chad Sanders was traveling the world filming and producing nationally syndicated hunting shows such as “Monster Buck Series” and international safari hunts for Nitro Express Safaris.

He realized after he spent 250 days on the road with these shows that his children were growing up without him and his wife was being both mother and father.

“Through a series of events I realized I was not being the father God called me to be or the husband my wife deserved.” He returned to his first profession, teaching, which led him to Jasper County to become assistant principal at Washington Park Elementary School.

Mr. Sanders grew up in Forsyth, graduating from Mary Persons High School, and later receiving a degree from Georgia Southern University. He came by teaching naturally as his mother was a middle school science teacher.

His father was a “hard-working dairy farmer,” but took time with Chad and his three brothers to hunt for turkey and deer. He still enjoys hunting with family and friends and has definitely come to the right county for that. His favorite meal is his wife’s fried deer country steak, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Included on his bucket list is taking his wife to hunt elk. His favorite television show is “Duck Dynasty.”

While in college he found he wanted to be a teacher when a youth minister asked him to name the five most influential people in his life. He realized all five were teachers and/or coaches.

“They make such a difference in a student’s life and I wanted to be one of those people. I wanted to do something that really touches a lot of lives.”

Mr. Sanders met his wife on a blind date set up by one of the other teachers where he taught. They have four children, three girls and a boy. Two of the girls are in school now and the other two are at home being cared for by their stay-at-home mother. The family also has a pet Border Collie and a Beta fish to round out the Sanders household.

Since Mr. Sanders left the fast-lane life of filming television shows, he returned to teaching and was rewarded by being chosen as Monroe County 2010 Teacher of the Year, Best Teacher in 2011 and Star Teacher in 2010 and 2012.

“As I developed as a leader, I began to feel that I could make an even bigger impact in the field of education by being an administrator. As I pour my time and energies into the lives of the teachers, I feel I can help shape the culture of the classroom, so I can touch more lives.”

Even today, he has to leave home before the children get up for school in the mornings, but through modern technology he has Face-Time with them almost every morning as they eat breakfast. He does get to spend a lot more time now in the evenings and weekends with his family.

Believing that having successful students means being involved with their lives and developing relationships, Mr. Sanders said, “You will never go bankrupt with students if you invest time with them. Children know you care when you give them time.”

His philosophy and experience will add much to help Washington Park Elementary students. Welcome to the Jasper County school system!