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Wlaf1450
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Educators make a difference in students’ lives every day. For many students, having a school employee who cares and goes that extra mile can be the difference in a successful education and graduation. We’ve all had that teacher, or school employee who inspired us or helped in some way. That’s why WLAF and Eagle Tire Pros salute all of our hardworking educators with a weekly feature.
Anita Evans is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the Week. She teaches 7th and 8th grade math at Jacksboro Middle School.
Evans grew up in Cincinnati and moved to Tennessee when she started high school.
“I moved to Campbell County, so I’ve technically been here longer than I was there!” Evans said. She shared a little about herself, saying she is a mother of five, Mary, Kendra, Olivia, BentLee and Abby, and that she has 2 grandsons, Walker and Harvey.
“I have spent the last 37 years with my husband, Glenn. I love to spend time with my family. I enjoy watching my children play sports. If I’m not watching sports or taking care of my elderly mother, I’m reading. I’m kind of a boring person! My family is my life!” Evans said.
Before becoming a teacher, she was a restaurant manager for several years and went back to college as an adult with three kids.
She started at Roane State and finished her bachelor’s degree at Tennessee Tech. She utilized the 2+2 program Tech offers and then went on to Union College for her Master’s and LMU for her Ed.
“As an adult, I decided to go back to school to finish my degree, like many 18-year-olds I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and I had my first child at 19, I decided to quit college and join the workforce. I managed, which meant I trained and taught. I loved that part of my job. That is why when I decided to go back to school, I went back to teach. I knew I wanted to teach math, and thankfully that is what I get to do!” Evans says.
She has taught for 20 years and began at Valley View, spending her first six years there teaching several different grade levels.
“I always knew middle school math was where I wanted to teach. I’ve taught 7th and 8th grade math at JMS for the last 14 years. I’m a math nerd! I try to help my students see it isn’t as hard as they think it is. My goal each year is to have my students a little more comfortable in math and make them feel successful. Math is mental! You have to feel like you can do it to be able to do it. I see so many kids come in defeated because it just hasn’t clicked for them. I do my best to find different strategies to help them find the way that works for them and makes sense. This has helped those students that hate math learn it’s not as bad as they originally thought. I always want my students to be ready for the next grade, but I also want them to see math isn’t hard, and for them to learn we can all do hard things.”
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-05/21/2026-6AM)