Rome Reporter

Seth Winstead, a teacher at Rome High School, has been named STAR Teacher by STAR Student Karly Nguyen. Known for his engaging teaching methods, such as a historical dating game where students embody historical figures to explore their interactions, Winstead has made a significant impact on his students.

During the recent ceremony at Rome High School, where the STAR Student and Teacher were announced alongside the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2025, all three students credited Winstead as an influential figure in their education.

Winstead expressed his gratitude upon receiving this recognition: “Being named STAR Teacher is really the greatest honor I can imagine. I could talk all day long about my students. So to have one of them single me out is amazing. I get goosebumps when I think about it. It's just an incredible honor,” he said.

Reflecting on being mentioned by multiple students as a favorite teacher, he added: “It means a lot. It really does blow me away. I talk all day and I'm usually good at faking being good with words, but this really leaves me speechless. It really means a lot to me.”

With 14 years of teaching experience, Winstead joined Rome High School's social studies department in 2019 after graduating from Toccoa Falls College. He currently teaches AP U.S. History and AP Comparative Government.

Winstead's innovative approach aims to foster empathy and deeper understanding among students through interactive learning experiences like the historical dating game. He explained: “I think the goal is to create a deeper understanding of history. We don't have to relive it. But if we can empathize with historical figures and learn to interact with the past, I think it helps us to be able to interact with one another more with our current situations,” he said. “So it's really just anything to make learning come alive and hopefully encourage students to become lifelong learners.”