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Wlaf1450By 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.
Brooke Honaker Goddard is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the week. She currently teaches 11th grade U.S. History, AP Human Geography and AP Psychology at Campbell County High School. She is in her eighth year as an educator.
“I spent my first three years teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade social studies at LaFollette Middle School and moved to CCHS in 2021 to teach Freshmen world history,” Goddard said.
She is from Campbell County and has lived here her “entire life minus the two years she spent in Johnson City for college. She graduated from Campbell County High School in 2010, Roane State in 2012, East Tennessee State University in 2014 with her bachelor’s degree and Lincoln Memorial University in 2018 with a Master’s Degree.
She had many educators that inspired her when she was in school and “many who continue to inspire her.”
“My kindergarten teacher and lifelong second mom Dr. Suzanne Bryant, my own mother Cindy Honaker who has been an elementary teacher for nearly two decades, my 5th grade teacher Linda Heatherly, my middle school teacher/current mentor Ann Browning, and my awesome History Professor at Roane State Casey Cobb. All of them have shaped my education experience in such a profound and positive way,” Goddard said.
Goddard “started out working in a multitude of nonprofits.” Before going back to obtain her master’s degree, she worked at Community Health of East Tennessee.
She attributes her inspiration to become a teacher to her parents.
“My father and I have a shared love for history dating back as far as I can remember. We spent many vacations and car rides quizzing each other about US History trivia even at a young age. I also think seeing my mother being such an excellent example of an exceptional teacher played a major role in me wanting to pursue my love of history and making it into a teaching career,” Goddard said.
Her favorite part about teaching is “that every day is something new.”
“Nothing is ever mundane or boring and there is a lot of creativity and self-expression that come along with it. It’s also super rewarding getting to know all of my students and getting to play a part of their journey onto greater things and getting to be a mentor to them and what they want to achieve after they graduate,” Goddard said.
She also enjoys working at Campbell County High School and “the camaraderie with the staff.”
“We take care of each other, celebrate each other, cry with each other, etc. My coworkers have become a second family to me, and I have made such wonderful friendships with them. We have all worked really hard these past few years to do things to play a part in helping our school and students and it has been truly special to watch. I feel like I have support every way I turn, and it has been super refreshing to see that,” Goddard said.
She had one bit of advice to offer “anyone looking to become an educator.
“Do it! The career gets a lot of flak, especially lately, but don’t ever let anyone talk you out of your dream. Teaching is 100% a calling and even after abandoning the idea of it myself for a while, I knew it was what I truly wanted and felt like I needed to do. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else because I get to take my personal passion and share it with hundreds of students year after year.”
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-07/03/2025-6AM)