April 21, 2025 — When students walk into Sharee Thomas’ classroom at Pope High School, they walk into a space where they’re not just learning about anatomy, physiology, and biology—they’re being seen, heard, and celebrated. 

“I’m very big on teaching the whole child. I teach science, but I also see an individual,” Ms. Thomas declared. “I see a person. I see someone who is trying to find themselves, someone who's trying to make sense of the environment and friends and family.” 

The relationships she has built with her students and the way she empowers them led them to nominate their beloved teacher for FOX 5’s High 5 Teachers contest. Now, her students—and all of Cobb—have a chance to say thank you by voting for her to win the top teacher recognition. Voting runs through April 25 at noon.

💙 Ready to support a teacher who truly makes a difference? 

👉 Click here to vote for Ms. Thomas now!

From the Medical Field to the Classroom 

Ms. Thomas didn’t choose the education profession lightly. In fact, she didn’t start off as a teacher. She started in the medical field. 

She worked as an EMT in New York and aimed to be a doctor, and at one point, worked with patients who had traumatic brain injury. 

However, she was then pulled toward education when she learned there was a need for teachers, specifically science teachers and minority teachers. She comes from a family of educators, which, combined with her background in science, led her to decide she could make a difference in the lives of students. 

“I did it, and I never turned back. I love it,” Ms. Thomas said. 

Teaching Science—And So Much More 

Ms. Thomas understands that high school can be stressful for students, given everything else going on in their lives, so she looks for ways to help them with more than just their science lessons. 

“You have kids who are coming in from different backgrounds, have different levels of education. So, you have to be able to see that student beyond your content. I teach science, but I'm also teaching someone's child,” she explained. 

Her philosophy is grounded in authenticity, empathy, and connection. 

“I'm also teaching an individual who has a voice. I'm also teaching an individual who may be struggling outside my class. So I make it known that I see my students.” 

Why She Joined the Cobb Schools Team

After teaching in several different states, Ms. Thomas made her way to Cobb County for a reason. 

“I heard that this was the best district for teaching. I’m so excited that I'm teaching for Cobb County,” she insisted. 

She’s especially inspired by Cobb’s focus on technology and innovation. 

“There’s a lot of new innovative technology and strategies being brought into this county, and I really wanted to be a part of that.” 

She’s already putting that innovation to use—leveraging virtual reality headsets to take learning to a whole new level. 

“By having these VR goggles, it’s allowed me to teach my students on another level and not just teach them, but for them to actually experience the content,” the Pope teacher explained. 

Humbled and Thankful 

Ms. Thomas's nomination as one of metro Atlanta's top teachers has been a humbling and heartwarming experience. 

“It feels awesome. Very humbling… just to know how much I'm loved in this community and how much the kids really see the difference that I'm trying to make. I’m making a change. I’m making a difference,” Ms. Thomas shared. 

Her students are the reason she comes every day. She loves watching them grow. 

“I love the energy that [my students] bring to my classroom… I also try to encourage them to be themselves. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to be unique.” 

💙 Let’s show our appreciation for a teacher who shows up for every student, every day. 

👉 Click here to vote for Pope’s own Sharee Thomas in FOX 5’s High 5 for Teachers contest!