'An incredible surprise': Old Kings Elementary teacher receives Amazing Teacher Award
PALM COAST — Chris Knox has been a fourth-grade teacher at Old Kings Elementary School in Palm Coast for the past seven years, teaching social studies and language arts.
But last month he had one of the most memorable days not only in his time at the Flagler County school but in his 19-year career.
Knox received $5,000 for winning Gannett’s National Amazing Teacher Award for April, which he said caught him by surprise.
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An 'incredible surprise'
Knox recently received the Florida Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award, as well, so he has plenty to celebrate.
“I was honestly flattered, even just by the local award — it’s always nice to be recognized,” Knox said of the state recognition. “And then to get the national (award) on top of that was just an incredible surprise.”
He said his nomination for Gannett’s award came from the family of one of his students.
“So that means even more coming from them,” he said.
Old Kings Elementary Principal Nicole Critcher said Knox “absolutely deserves this award.”
“He is an amazing teacher who loves the content he teaches and forms great relationships with kids,” Critcher wrote in an email to The News-Journal. “Mr. Knox is one of those teachers kids never forget. He shares his personal interests with his students which gets them invested in what he is doing. He makes the content he teaches engaging and real-world relevant, which makes his students want to continue to learn. I am lucky to have him as a teacher at (Old Kings).”
Bringing the real world to the classroom
Knox has also taught the same subjects to fifth- and sixth-grade classes during his time at Old Kings, where he tries to incorporate “creativity and critical thinking” into his classes.
“Almost to the point they don’t realize they are learning, because they are having so much fun doing the activities,” he said.
He said bringing real-world application to the classroom is a way to achieve that goal.
Recently, one of these activities involved a stock market simulation “where they picked a few stocks to track for a few weeks, and then we talked about who earned the most, who lost the most," and what they learned about investing in the stock market.
“And they loved it,” he said. “When they become adults, they can start doing that.”
In another activity, his students used Canva, a graphic design website, to make infographics about Florida history as a way to review what had been taught during the year.
“They’ll be able to use that to design posters, invitations, any kind of notices,” Knox said. “Another resource they can use for life.”
Ready to travel
One of the best parts about receiving the award, he said, is the number of students and colleagues who have congratulated him on the recognition.
“The nomination came from one family, but to hear that so many others agree, it just makes me feel so good, that I’m doing a great job,” he said.
Now with $5,000 to spend as he wishes, Knox said he will keep part of it to use for his classes, while the rest he will use toward his travel budget. He said he shares his travel experiences in his classes.
He is planning a visit to Jordan in the summer, where he will “visit the Petra (a famous archaeological site in the Middle Eastern country), float in the Dead Sea,” among other plans.
“I like to travel overseas, which (students) don’t always get the opportunity to do, so I can share my experiences and some of the culture that I learn with them when I come back.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Palm Coast teacher Chris Knox receives Gannett's Amazing Teacher Award
