October's Golden Apple Teacher is Lamar School's Belinda Matlock

Meridian, MS - October's Golden Apple Teacher of the Month is Belinda Matlock, a Science teacher at Lamar Middle School.

"It was such an unexpected honor, I really thought when Mrs. Dulaney walked in my room I was about to have my teacher evaluation for the year, until I saw all of the children behind her. This is such an honor, but I will tell you that the biggest honor is that my former student nominated me for this. And not only that former student, he's now the parent of a child that’s who's my class. It's hard to describe, but it is a full circle. He was a nine year old fourth grader when I started and my last year to teach him was the sixth grade. It is just beyond my wildest imagination to be at this point and for the nomination to come from that way." said Matlock.

She mixes life lessons with the science lessons to help build her student's foundation.

Matlock went on to say, "I used to give them a pencil that had the messages printed on it. And the first message said, 'I like myself.' The second message says, 'I can think for myself.' and the third message says, 'There is no problem so great it can't be solved.' And I think those are life messages. I don't need to teach them things to think, I need to teach them how to think. Thinking to survive, thinking to solve problems and I think those three little messages sum up tools to help them be the best person they can be."

Though she's taught for almost half a century, you'd be surprised to learn Mrs. Matlock didn't at first want to be a teacher.

"I really didn't think I wanted to be one. You have to know I grew up in the home of teachers. My dad was a teacher-coach, he was "the" coach and then he taught algebra. So, I really vowed when I was 18 years old that I would not be a teacher. And so, God has a huge sense of humor. "Oh Yeah?" I've now been a teacher for fifty years." exclaimed Matlock.

Congratulations to Lamar School's Belinda Matlock! October's Golden Apple Teacher.