Bailey Bunch is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the Week

By Charlotte Underwood

CAMPBELL COUNTY, 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.

Bailey Bunch is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the Week. She currently teaches 2nd grade at Jacksboro Elementary and is in her second year there. She has been in the Campbell County school district for five years but has been teaching for eight years.

“I started with the Head Start program teaching 3- and 4-year-old students,” Bunch said.

Bunch is from Jamestown, Tennessee, and graduated from York Institute. She obtained an associate’s degree in elementary education from Roane State, her bachelor’s degree from King University, her master’s degree from Tusculum University.

She said both her mother, along with one of her own teachers helped inspire her in an educational career.

“One of my favorite teachers was my 6th grade ELA teacher Mrs. Janice Lacy. She was strict but you knew she loved you and would do what was best for her students. My mother is also an inspiration. She worked in my elementary school for 20 years to be close to us, when she could have used her own degree,” Bunch said.

Teaching was not what Bunch had planned to do as a career, but the Lord had other plans.

“Honestly, I never thought I would be in education. I started off with engineering and wanting to be a surgeon, but God had other plans for me. I met my husband and found a love for teaching his nephews and being around them. I changed my degree and it has been a blessing to teach ever since. Seeing a child connect the dots when they are learning to do something that they never thought they could, brings a joy that is unspeakable,” Bunch said.

She said she loves teaching at Jacksboro Elementary School, as well as the previous ones where she has taught.

“Everyone is supportive and just wants the best for me and my own family. All my coworkers know how to lift each other up when we are down and they also have an open ear. The administration has been some of the best leaders.”

Her “favorite part of the job is watching students learn new things that they have never done before.”

“Even if I don’t teach it to them. They look at the world with such hope and magic when they learn new things that it makes me look at the world the same way,” Bunch said.

She said that by far, her “biggest supporter and inspiration” is her husband, Dustin.

“He has been there when no one else has been. We have been married for seven years and have a sassy, beautiful little girl. If it was not for them, I could not do what I do.”

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 8/20/2026-6AM)