WTOC Top Teacher: Chassidy Perrimon

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - It hasn’t been too long since Chassidy Perrimon was sitting in a classroom as a student herself. Now, as an 8th grade research science teacher at the STEM Academy at Bartlett in Savannah, she’s discovering that her recent experience in school is becoming one of her greatest strengths in the classroom.

This year is Perrimon’s first year in education, and she’s already making a meaningful impact on her students’ lives. She credits her ability to relate to her middle schoolers as a key part of her teaching approach.

“I think my favorite part is getting those little messages where students say, ‘I actually enjoyed this’ or ‘Before this class, I didn’t actually enjoy presenting projects, but I actually learned something today,’” Perrimon said. “That means everything to me.”

Beyond the curriculum, Perrimon wants her students to understand that she genuinely cares about each and every one of them.

“I want them to know that I truly love them,” she said. “I always try to reassure them that there is life beyond middle school, life beyond 8th grade. I try to broaden their thinking to the long term—don’t just think about right now.”

Rather than letting students get caught up in the pressures and anxieties of middle school, she encourages them to see the bigger picture of their lives.

Perrimon believes her students are capable of achieving anything if they put in the work.

“My hopes and dreams are that they become everything they want in life,” she said. “My goals for my students are to think beyond their day-to-day. I always try to come in and do better than you did yesterday. Every day that God grants us another opportunity to do this life thing, just do your best. Keep striving to do better and better each day.”