Kim Hatmaker, Eagle Tire Pros “Teacher of the Week” with Eagle Tire Pros Owner Brandon Johnson

By Charlotte Underwood 

JELLICO, TN (WLAF) – Teachers make a difference in their students’ lives 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 Kim Hatmaker. She teaches third grade math and social studies at Jellico Elementary School.

Hatmaker lives in Jellico with her husband and their golden retriever/lab mix named Tex.  When not teaching, she enjoys camping and she and her husband bought their first camper last summer. Other hobbies include “spending time with family and friends, swimming, and reading James Patterson novels.”

This week’s featured teacher is Kim Hatmaker.

Hatmaker is originally from Corbin, Kentucky, where she attended Whitley County High School and graduated as valedictorian in 1999. 

She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Eastern Kentucky University and completed her Master of Arts Degree in Teaching in elementary grades at the University of the Cumberlands.  Last summer, I completed my Education Specialist Degree in Principalship. 

Hatmaker just finished her fifth-year teaching in Campbell County Schools. 

“I taught kindergarten at LaFollette Elementary School for my first year.  Since then, I have taught third grade for four years,” Hatmaker said.

She didn’t always know she wanted to be an educator and “worked in other jobs before teaching.”

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

“I always had the desire to have a career that would help others and would also help me learn new things.  I felt teaching was an opportunity to help kids and help myself learn and grow at the same time,” Hatmaker said.

Her favorite part of the job is “watching kids learn.” 

“It is the greatest thing to see a student realize they have learned a new skill, like their multiplication facts.  Also, I love to see the excitement and kindness when a student who struggles in math understands a lesson and volunteers to help others in their class.  Third-grade math, in particular, teaches students new kinds of math they have not experienced before.  It is exciting to see them learn new things and gain confidence at the same time.”

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 – 07/04/2024-6AM)

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