This Eagle Tire Pros teacher of the week feature marks the 200th and honors with Kimberly Hembree

By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- We’ve all had that teacher who inspired us or helped in some way. That’s why WLAF and Eagle Tire Pros salute one of our hard working educators with a weekly feature. 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.

This week marks a milestone for WLAF and Eagle Tire Pros with our 200th featured teacher. We thought it would be special to honor long-time educator Kimberly Hembree who celebrates 40 years as a teacher this year. She currently teaches fifth grade math and science at La Follette Elementary School.

“This is a HUGE deal of this being #200.  To my knowledge, this is the largest and longest lasting teacher appreciation program ever run in our area.  We are proud of it,” said Brandon Johnson, owner of Eagle Tire Pros. 

Hembree said first she wanted to “say thank you” to whomever nominated her for teacher of the week and for having “enough confidence” in her for this opportunity.

She is a Campbell County native and has lived in La Follette her “entire life”.

When she’s not teaching, Hembree has a few things she enjoys the most and those are “working in my church, time with my grandchildren Emma and Colton and Tennessee sports.”

“It’s Great to be a Tennessee VOL. I have to say Basketball and Track were my favorite in school. I enjoyed the opportunity in college as well,” Hembree said.

To nominate a teacher for teacher of the week honors, please send your nomination to wlaf@1450wlaf.com.

She attended West LaFollette Elementary, La Follette Middle School, and Campbell County High School. Her continued education was at Cumberland College where she earned a BS in Education, 1-8. Also, she received her master’s degree in Principalship at Berea College.

 â€œI currently teach at La Follette Elementary in fifth grade as a Math and Science teacher. With the completion of this year, I will have taught 40 years,” Hembree said.

 Her inspiration to become a teacher came from the love she has always had and still has for children.

“I wanted them to know they can be successful in life, and someone cares about their future. My goal is to influence their lives and when they look back, they can say Mrs. Hembree was effective in my experience as a student. I love teaching,” Hembree said.

Her favorite part or rather the “best part of the job” is when she gets to see the “growth that students show.”

She said she had many teachers who helped her along the way in her own education career.

“I would like to thank former teachers in Scott County where I began teaching for helping me to get an excellent start in my career. I have to say former teachers, and administrators encouraged me. I also always tried to better myself with a continuance of conferences to increase my knowledge of teaching to educational standards,” Hembree said.

Teaching over the past four decades has been an amazing experience for her and she said she can definitely say she “chose the right job.” Hembree spent nine years teaching at Fairview Elementary School in Scott County and the past 31 years teaching in Campbell County. Her teaching career in Campbell County started at West La Follette Elementary School that transitioned into La Follette Elementary School.

“I am blessed by the success of my students, and I am thankful for the opportunities presented to me by administrations as well,”

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.

PUBLISHERS NOTE: Extra special thanks to Brandon Johnson of Eagle Tire Pros for making this heartfelt weekly recognition to honor some of the smartest, hardest working people anywhere possible.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/25/2024-6AM)

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