Jessica Gill, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity of NW Metro Atlanta, mentioned that it took a lot of teamwork to make this home dedication happen. She stressed that living near your workplace is important for a strong community.

“It took a lot of partners to bring this accomplishment to fruition today,” Gill told WSBTV. “Living where you work is a key component in building community, and partnerships like this one are fundamental to make local homeownership achievable, as well as thanking the public servants who serve us and our children.”

Thornton isn’t just an ordinary teacher. She’s a Social Emotional Learning Teacher and a Cheer and Lacrosse coach at Marietta Middle School, where she has been working for over 6 years.

Before this wonderful turn of events, her family resided in Cartersville in a townhouse without a yard. Now they’ve moved into a more spacious home and she is just minutes away from her work.

On her special day, many of her students came together to express their support and appreciation for her unwavering dedication. Thornton describes her passion for “paying it forward” as a teacher.

“Thank you for all that you do in the community for people like me,” said Thornton. “You truly are God-sent, and I pray that as you continue to bless others, God will bless you even more.”