Tracy Sammons is WLAF’s teacher of the week

By Charlotte Underwood

CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – Tracy Sammons is WLAF’s educator of the week. Sammons is originally from Jacksboro, and has lived in La Follette for the past 21 years with her husband, Mark and their two boys, Jake and Cooper.

Sammons has been an elementary librarian/educator for 24 years. She has been the librarian at the Caryville Elementary for 13 years and has also worked at Valley View, West La Follette, the old Caryville, and Wynn schools. 

According to Sammons, she had many talented teachers that inspired her to be a “lifelong student and educator with a passion for reading.”

“Science teachers Bill Russell and Rick Claiborne gave their students the opportunity to do many experiments and demonstrations that instilled in me a love for science and hands on learning,” Sammons said. 

She said her love for children’s stories was inspired by Mrs. Jones, her elementary librarian, who read stories by Judy Blume, allowed her to check out books, and shop from the book fair.

“My dad, Don Marlow, a fun and inspiring teacher, helped me see the happy, satisfying career I could have as an educator. He also helped contribute to my passion for reading fantasy stories with early bedtime tales of The Jabberwocky and The Hobbit,” Sammons said.

Her favorite part about being an elementary librarian is reading stories that make the kids laugh.

“I love to see their smiles and hear their giggles. My hope is that my students will fall in love with at least one book they hear or read with me and love and cherish that book memory for as long as they can remember,” Sammons said.

She also said when days are long and hard the students’ smiles, hugs, high fives, laughter, “I missed you when we didn’t come to library,” and the “Oh I love that story” comments are what keep her going. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/14/2021-6AM)