Connie Sulfridge 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 teacher is Connie Sulfridge. She teaches 4th grade Math and Science at Jacksboro Elementary School and is in her 12th year as an educator there.

Sulfridge is originally from Williamsburg where she attended Pleasant View Elementary school. She graduated from Whitley County High School in 1997 and afterwards attended the University of the Cumberlands, (formerly Cumberland College.) She graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in 2001 with a degree in Early Elementary Education and an emphasis in Mathematics.

When she’s not teaching, she enjoys “spending time with her family and being outdoors.”

“I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Greg, for 26 years. We have two wonderful boys, Zachary and Isaac and a beautiful daughter-in-law, Gracie,” Sulfridge said.

Math is her favorite subject to teach “because every problem has one answer, but there is more than one way to get the correct answer.”

She said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher.

“While all the other girls were playing with Barbies, I was sitting up my dolls and stuffed animals in my room and playing school,” Sulfridge said.

Her second grade teacher, Ms. Ruby Jean Lee at Pleasant View was her “biggest inspiration” and helped her know what kind of educator she wanted to be.

“Ms. Lee was ahead of her time; her teaching style was not the norm. Her class was energetic, full of movement, and rhythm. Ms. Lee had high expectations for all of her students, and every one of us felt loved and cared for in her class. She showed a genuine interest in each one of us and pushed us to excel,” Sulfridge said.

She also said she loves working with her coworkers at Jacksboro Elementary School. 

“I cannot say enough about the ladies I work with; they push me everyday to be better,” Sulfridge said.

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 – 10/12/2023-6AM)