Greenfield teacher a finalist in national contest; efforts will restore school playground

McClain High School teacher Chris Dodds' desire to "make a difference" has earned him $3,000 worth of Craftsman power tools and a chance at

winning additional supplies and labor to revamp the Greenfield Elem entary playground.

In June, Dodds, a shop teacher at McClain, and his wife, Michele, found out about Sears' "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making  a Difference"

contest. They submitted an essay, picture, and video explaining Dodds' love of helping the community and his desire to improve the elementary

school's playground equipment to make it cleaner and safer for local children. A panel of judges selected Dodds, as well as another Ohioan,

Glenn Minney of Frankfort, as top 10 finalists, and Sears called Dodds at the beginning of July to let him know that he had been selected.

"I was pretty excited," said Dodds.

As a top 10 finalist, Dodds will receive $3,000 worth of power tools, which he has already decided to donate to McClain's shop program.

Dodds hopes that the tools will help him and his students to achieve his goal of re-staining, power washing, and repairing the elementary school playground.

"We'll use the tools to help start doing a project," Dodds said. "The idea is that if we can get donations for supplies, we will supply the labor as a class project."

If Dodds wins the contest, he will have much more than $3,000 worth of tools; he will also win $30,000 worth of materials and labor and the

help of Ty Pennington and the Sears Blue Crew to re-do the elementary school playground.

"How cool would it be to have Ty Pennington come to Greenfield?" Dodds joked. "They do a first class job. But if [we don't win], it's great to have community support and awareness."

The "Unsung Heroes" contest is not Dodds' first successful entry in a national contest. Dodds was named a 2008 Time Warner Teacher of the

Year in a national contest. His lesson plans will be featured in the A&E Network's "The Big Ideas Book," which will be distributed to

school districts across the country, and have been published in the book "What Award-Winning Teachers Do."

Dodds credits his wife and his daughters, Shelby and Courtney, as well as his parents, John and Betty Dodds, for being his best cheerleaders

as he constantly tries to raise awareness for the Greenfield community's needs and works hard to help in any way he can.

"They support me in all the projects, like the contests, and Greenfield has, too," said Dodds.

Supporters can vote for Dodds daily through July 30 by visiting www.searsunsungheroes.com.

McClain High School teacher Chris Dodds' desire to "make a difference" has earned him $3,000 worth of Craftsman power tools and a chance at winning additional supplies and labor to revamp the Greenfield Elementary playground.

In June, Dodds, a shop teacher at McClain, and his wife, Michele, found out about Sears' "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference" contest. They submitted an essay, picture, and video explaining Dodds' love of helping the community and his desire to improve the elementary school's playground equipment to make it cleaner and safer for local children. A panel of judges selected Dodds, as well as another Ohioan, Glenn Minney of Frankfort, as top 10 finalists, and Sears called Dodds at the beginning of July to let him know that he had been selected.

"I was pretty excited," said Dodds.

As a top 10 finalist, Dodds will receive $3,000 worth of power tools, which he has already decided to donate to McClain's shop program.

Dodds hopes that the tools will help him and his students to achieve his goal of re-staining, power washing, and repairing the elementary school playground.

"We'll use the tools to help start doing a project," Dodds said. "The idea is that if we can get donations for supplies, we will supply the labor as a class project."

If Dodds wins the contest, he will have much more than $3,000 worth of tools; he will also win $30,000 worth of materials and labor and the help of Ty Pennington and the Sears Blue Crew to re-do the elementary school playground.

"How cool would it be to have Ty Pennington come to Greenfield?" Dodds joked. "They do a first class job. But if [we don't win], it's great to have community support and awareness."

The "Unsung Heroes" contest is not Dodds' first successful entry in a national contest. Dodds was named a 2008 Time Warner Teacher of the Year in a national contest. His lesson plans will be featured in the A&E Network's "The Big Ideas Book," which will be distributed to school districts across the country, and have been published in the book "What Award-Winning Teachers Do."

Dodds credits his wife and his daughters, Shelby and Courtney, as well as his parents, John and Betty Dodds, for being his best cheerleaders as he constantly tries to raise awareness for the Greenfield community's needs and works hard to help in any way he can.

"They support me in all the projects, like the contests, and Greenfield has, too," said Dodds.

Supporters can vote for Dodds daily through July 30 by visiting www.searsunsungheroes.com.