Jones notes

that the word quickly spread around the school about Seabolt's ability

to make math understandable and that she would often spend her mornings

before school assisting with homework or explaining concepts to students

from other classes.

"She has

even had parents call her both at school and at home to ask if she could

tutor their child or work with him or her before school because they too

had heard that she does well explaining concepts to students," said

Jones.

Not only is

she a hit with students and their parents, but Seabolt has also won the

respect of her colleagues. During the academic year, Seabolt was always

one of the first teachers to volunteer for the most difficult assignments.

In addition to teaching math, Seabolt coached soccer and softball at Sandy

Creek High School as well as basketball at Flat Rock.

"Ms. Seabolt

has shown herself to be a hard working professional who exhibits creativity

in her classroom instruction and concern for her students. She has all

of the qualities that make an outstanding teacher," stated Jones.

It is obvious

that Seabolt has a love for teaching math but she did not always warmly

embrace the subject. Her mother, Kay, remembers that she did not like

math in elementary school but that all changed when she became a student

at Flat Rock.

"Her eyes

were opened to the beauty of mathematics and she loved the subject beginning

with pre-algebra in the 7th grade," said Mrs. Seabolt. "She

had three well-versed teachers, Gayle Higley, Peggy Leonard and Laurie

Townsend. She wanted to return to Flat Rock Middle to hopefully give to

some students the love and appreciation for math that she gained while

a student there herself."

As the 2002

Teacher of Promise, Seabolt received a lifetime membership to the Georgia

Council of the Teachers of Mathematics, a $350 cash award to be used for

classroom materials, a certificate of merit and an all-expense-paid trip

to Augusta to learn how math is used in various industries.