Golden Gate High’s JROTC teacher named Florida Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year

NAPLES — Lt. Col. Paul Garrah has always taught his JROTC students at Golden Gate High School about community support.

“Our students have the least of everyone, but they give the most,” he said.

Doing things for the community makes the JROTC students better citizens and now Garrah is getting honored for that.

Garrah was named the Florida Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year for ninth through twelfth grades by the Florida VFW. Garrah was nominated for the award by senior Cindy Rivas, who saw the nomination form at the bottom of a Voice of Democracy Contest form Garrah had given her so she could enter that contest.

“He deserves it,” Rivas said. “He has changed the lives of so many people. ... Since I have been in JROTC, I volunteer more. The love that he has for this nation, he gives to us.”

In addition to the recommendation from a student, Garrah had to put together a portfolio of his work with the students that reflects how he teaches them about citizenship. He had to get letters of recommendation and attach any recognition the JROTC had received for its work.

Donna Howard, president of the District 13 VFW Ladies Auxiliary, said the Golden Gate Post 7721 received the nominations and judged it against other entrants. Once Garrah was declared the winner, he went through the district selection process and then the state process. Howard said Garrah’s nomination is now at the national level to be judged against instructors from high schools around the nation.

“He is going to win,” Howard said, adding the winner would be announced sometime within three weeks. “I am positive. And he deserves it.”

Garrah said the award is not about him. He said the award is about the good things Golden Gate High School students are doing.

“They are out in the community, they are supporting others. They are doing what they can to make this nation better,” he said.

Garrah said he loved every minute of his 22 years in the U.S. Army, but said he loves being a JROTC instructor at Golden Gate even more.

“No one should be as lucky as I am,” he said. “And I don’t know if this would be the best job if I were at another school with other students. There is something special about the kids here.”

Howard said the thing about Garrah that stood out to the committee was his devotion to his students.

“He is not just their teacher. He is their friend,” she said. “He guides them. He leads them down the right path. ... He is always there for whatever. All you have to do is say his name and their faces light up. He is one of those people who always thinks of others before he thinks of himself.”

Garrah is referred to by some of his students as a “second father.”

“He has changed my life,” said senior Alex Morris, 17. “His ability to relate to the kids. He cares a lot more. I will have teachers tell me to apply for something, but if he wants you to do it, he is on your butt every day. He wants us to better ourselves as people.”

Rebecca Dolce, a senior and the battalion commander for the JROTC at Golden Gate High School, said Garrah goes beyond the hours he is paid for his students. She said he helps students more than he knows.

“If I was not in JROTC, I would be a wreck,” she said. “He is always there to listen, to give input. ... He connects with the cadets on a personal level.”

Dolce said Garrah is very deserving of the award.

“I am proud of him,” she said. “I feel he doesn’t give himself the accolades he deserves. ... He is a father-figure to 140 kids. He wants to make us better people.”

Senior Nathan Heckelman, 18, said Garrah is a role model.

“He is amazing. Because of everything he has done for his country, we see that and it is easy for us to give a few hours.”

Sgt. Maj. Bill Barchers said he has seen many JROTC programs, but few as good as Golden Gate’s. He attributes that to Garrah, who has headed the program since the school opened about 5 1/2 years ago.

“He is great to work with and great to work for,” Barchers said. “He cares. He feels about this program the same way I do. ... This job is like poetry at the end of your career. It is more important than any other work I have done. He is willing to do the work. He is willing to do whatever it takes for these kids.”