Nozomi Wade says running before teaching each morning gives her energy for the day.
LAWRENCEVILLE -- To get ready for day teaching first graders at Gwinnett County's Jackson Elementary School, Nozomi Wade gets up early.
"I actually get up at 4 in the morning to run five miles before work, so that when I come here, I have all the energy," Wade laughed.
It's energy, enthusiasm and effective teaching that has made her popular with students and their parents at Jackson and why four moms nominated Wade for 11Alive's Class Act award.
"She has a passion for everything she does," said Jill Strange, whose daughter Sidney was in Wade's class last year. "She instills a love of learning in her students."
"She's absolutely the most dedicated teacher I've had the experience to have my children taught by," said Julie Lewis, the mother of Caroline, a student who has Wade for first grade.
Her former students still think of the things she did for them, even though they're now in second grade.
"She gave us big things from fake money," said Casey Beelen. "We had (an) auction."
In addition to the class auction, the students still fondly remember, "She taught us about a Japanese poem called a haiku," said Isabella.
That led to studying Japanese poets and more...
"They just loved it. They were creating these poetry clubs, and they wanted to write poetry during recess and I'm like 'You guys you can play'," Wade said.
Wade is Japanese and attended schools in both Japan and the U.S.
"I had a teacher who just didn't like me," Wade said. "I wanted to be the opposite."
"I try to use empathy with my children and with my parents because I'm a mom and I was a kid, and I try to put myself in the other person's shoes," she added.
"She created an environment that respects and values individual differences," said Principal Ruth Markham.
"She's just so versatile and she loves the kids so much," Lewis said.
"I'm so happy that I am teaching. They are so much fun. I want to come to school all healthy and alive," Wade said.