Nikki Bumgardner 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.

This week’s featured educator is Nikki Bumgardner. She currently teaches science at Jacksboro Middle School and has been at JMS for 19 years.

“Before that I was at Elk Valley for five years. I have taught for 24 years in total, and I love it.  Education has its ups and downs, but the people and the relationships are the best,” Bumgardner said.

She also taught pre-school in Clinton for one year and attended and completed auctioneer school like the rest of her family.

“Instead of working in the auction and real estate business I went into education and haven’t looked back. I have worked as a rental property manager and front desk at a hotel as well,” Bumgardner said.

She said she has had some wonderful educators in her academic career and many of them inspired her to teach. However, education was not the original career that she had in mind.

“I started out thinking that I would like to be a physical therapist and even started college classes for it.  Not long after getting into those classes I realized that it wasn’t exactly what I wanted.  A little lost like every college kid gets sometimes I took a Myers/Briggs test to help see what I was best suited for,” Bumgardner said. The results of her test “were educator, police officer, or a social worker.”

“I went into education and more specifically the science branch and the rest is history.  Science really is my favorite subject, and I absolutely love when the kids are thinking deeply about something they don’t understand and start to make connections.  That is probably my favorite part of the job,” Bumgardner said.

 Her “Potions class is also a highlight of the school year” for herself and students alike.

“We get to take learning to that fun level and explore state standards while giving it a magical feel.  Science is basically magic, right?” Bumgardner said.

Another favorite part of her teaching career is the atmosphere at JMS and those she works with.

“My co-workers on my 7thgrade hall are really the best people anyone could work with, and they are the reason why I myself, and they are successful.  The students and my hallway cohorts are the best of my school, and I am so happy to be a part of it.”

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 4/10/2025-6AM)