PARKERSBOURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – During a presentation Tuesday morning in the school gymnasium, Sheila Mays, a kindergarten teacher at North Christian School, received the Jan Dils Golden Apple Award for the month of May.

Mays is completing his 48th year of teaching, including 23 at North Christian School.

She was known for her compassion and love for two things – her faith and her students.

Mays comes during the summer to make sure the students get extra help and are prepared for the school year ahead. She stresses the importance of giving back by asking her students to collect shoes for the Friendship Kitchen in Parkersburg.

Mays wants future teachers to have the same love for teaching.

“I guess you teach because you love it, and you love kids and you love teaching them,” Mays said. “To see that learning unfold when it clicks in their mind, to have a parent thank you for it, that’s important and it’s wonderful.”

Mays is the latest recipient of the Jan Dils Golden Apple Award for the 2022-2023 school year. Nominations will still be accepted in the Jan Dils Golden Apple section of WTAP.com.

WTAP will resume Golden Apple presentations in August.

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