Kayla Rains is Eagle Tire Pros teacher of the week

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Teachers make a difference in their students lives each and every day. For many students, having a teacher who cares and goes that extra mile can be the difference in a successful education and graduation. We’ve all had that teacher who inspired us or helped in some way. That’s why WLAF and Eagle Tire Pros salute all of our hard working educators with a weekly feature.

This week’s featured educator is Kayla Rains. She teaches fifth grade English Language Arts and Social Studies at Jacksboro Elementary School and has been an educator for ten years. 

Rains was raised in Caryville and is married to Josh Rains. They have two “beautiful daughters named Kimbree and Avery.”

She graduated from Lincoln Memorial University in 2011, and in 2015, she attained her Master’s degree in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands.

 She said she was “blessed” with her first job at Elk Valley Elementary School. 

“This school has and always will have a special place in my heart. I met some of the most amazing people there. They helped me become the teacher I am today, ” Rains said. 

After she had children of her own, she decided to move to Jacksboro Elementary School to be closer to home and currently teaches fifth grade ELA/Social Studies “with an amazing bunch of teachers.”

According to Rains, she has had many people who have encouraged and inspired her career in education, including her parents. 

“I will forever be grateful and appreciative to my mom and dad for putting me through school and encouraging me to be what I am today. My mom and dad saw something in me that I did not at the time,” Rains said. 

Her parents encouraged her to try a few education classes while she was in college. 

“After taking a few classes, I realized this was God’s plan for me,” Rains said. 

She also credits Freda Branam, Sharon Perkins and Kim Fairchild as being huge inspirations.

“They all instilled a love of reading in me at an early age. They are the reason I am so passionate about teaching ELA,” Rains said. 

According to Rains, two other teachers Christy Llewellyn and Tracy Morgan both mentored her for the first few years of her teaching.

“They were huge inspirations to me. They were so encouraging and uplifting to me they helped me become the teacher I am today,” Rains said.

One of her favorite parts about teaching is when she “sees students who struggle or dislike reading change their mind set and become excited about reading and writing.”

“This is what I love most about it. I love watching students dig into books with the same passion and excitement that I have. It is very rewarding knowing that I helped change their perspective about ELA,” Rains said. 

It’s also rewarding and encouraging for her when she sees students she’s taught in the past.

“It’s like seeing one of your own babies all grown up. I always tell my students that they will always be “my kids” no matter how old they get.

She said knowing she makes a difference in the lives of children keeps her going, even on the hard days. 

“I try to find the good even on the days that are hard, because I might be the only smile or loving face that some of these students see. I want to be known as the teacher that loved, prayed, encouraged, and instilled a love for reading.”

Every Thursday, WLAF’s Charlotte Underwood features the WLAF – Eagle Tire Pros teacher of the week. That educator also receives a free oil change from Eagle Tire Pros. To nominate a teacher for teacher of the week honors, please send your nomination to  wlaf@1450wlaf.com (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/13/2023-6AM)