Rusty Fields is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the week

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.

This week’s featured educator is Rusty Fields. He works at the guard shack at Campbell County High School and is also the head tennis coach at CCHS. Fields is the first friendly face you come to when you go to Campbell County High School and he is the first line of security, so to speak as well, asking visitors what their purpose is and who they are there to see.

Fields was born and raised in Caryville and has lived in Campbell County “all his life.” He attended Caryville Elementary School and graduated from CCHS in 1977. He spent his first three years of high school at Jacksboro High School and then when the larger consolidated CCHS opened up, he spent his last year there. At age 20, he began working for the Coke-a-Cola Company here locally and had a 36-year career there, before retiring in 2015. For 20 of those 36 years, he was the account manager here in the county for Coke and was mostly in sales.

That retirement didn’t last long.

“I took two years off and didn’t do anything, then Jamie Wheeler (former CCHS principal) hired me for this job, and she is the one responsible for me being here,” Fields said.

He started the job at CCHS in 2017. This is his eighth year in this position at the guard shack and his first year as head tennis coach.

“I didn’t plan on staying this long, but I have enjoyed it so much, that I have continued with it,” Fields said, adding that he had no plans on retiring.

“I meet so many fine people here, you see everybody that comes through Campbell County in this job,” Fields said.

His favorite part about his job is “getting to know the kids” and seeing them come and go.

“I get to know all the seniors here, I feel like I am a teacher sometimes, because the teachers, they really miss their seniors when they leave, and I am like that, and I get to know a lot of them. I am fortunate to be the tennis coach and that makes my job even better. I had a good year this year and just love it so much and plan to continue doing it unless otherwise something happens,” He is both the boys’ and girls’ tennis coach at the school and said this was a great year.

“We had one boy reach the regional tournament and the boy’s tennis came in third in the district, we’re going to be even better next year,” Fields said.

He said that he enjoys teaching the children the fundamentals of tennis and that they have responded well and listened attentively.

“They are easy to coach and just fun to be around. I enjoy trying to help this program and I am hoping in the future to get tennis courts at the school and make the program even stronger,” Fields said. An avid tennis player, fields has played the sport his whole life and has competed in many tournaments and played in tennis leagues in Oak Ridge. He is 66 and still plays tennis very well.

“It keeps me healthy and keeps me moving. It’s a great sport for the kids to keep them active and also there are lots of scholarships and opportunities available for these kids,” Fields said.

Another favorite part of his job is the work environment. He said it was an interesting experience to now be working at the school he graduated from and that time had flown by.

“It seems like the blink of an eye, and I cannot believe it has gone that fast, now I am here, and I see people I went to school with, I see people that are older than me, before I did not have as much connection as I do now. I like meeting people, this is right up my alley, I enjoy being around the kids and seeing the teachers…to graduate from here and work here now, it’s so good, I didn’t expect this, but it’s been one of the best experiences,” Fields said.

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-06/05/2025-6AM)