Chris Dodson is not only October's's Golden Apple Award winner, but a passionate man with a great heart for what he does. He is Spotswood High School's girl's basketball coach and teacher for students with multiple disabilities. "I'm a health PE and biology major, and just fell in love with the guys and at that point I never left." says this month's Golden Apple winner Chris Dodson.

"He treats our kids like he treats his athletes like he treats his own children, just cause they are special needs doesn't treat them like they are special, he treats them like anybody else." Tim Leech is one of coach Dodson's teaching assistants, and not too long ago he was one of coach Dodson's athletes. "Watching him in the classroom and on the field, he had the same passion and the same enthusiasm in all aspects of his life, you know just seeing what he did in life, and making an impact on people, you know I didn't know what I wanted to do in life, but then when I saw this guy acting the way he did and doing the things that he did, I said you know, that's what I want to do."

Even with state cutbacks Dodson has managed to organize fundraisers with reality TV stars, wrestlers and bands to raise money to buy his students the adaptive equipment they need. When we asked him what motivated him to do these things, this is what he had to say. "I truly love what I do and I love the people that I work with each day and you know that's the big thing"

"If you ever want to see a guy passionate about his job, see someone, you know at the top of their field, come by a see Chris Dodson because everyday we see the best around," says Tim Leech.