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Wlaf1450By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Teachers make a difference in their students lives each and 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 Campbell County High School’s Gabe Keen.
Born and raised in Decatur, Tennessee, he attended Meigs County High School. Keen attended one year of school at Carson Newman University where he played baseball. He finished his education and baseball career at Bryan College.
He and his wife Tracy have three kids; Grady, Catelyn and Lydia.
Keen teaches World History at CCHS and also serves as the CCHS Fishing Team Coach, an assistant high school baseball coach and an assistant middle school softball coach.
He is in his 10th year teaching at CCHS and has been an educator for 12 years total. Keen spent one year as a special education teacher’s aid and an assistant baseball coach at Bearden High School and one year at Fulton High School where he taught construction core and plumbing and served as an assistant coach.
According to Keen, he always knew he wanted to teach and coach as his career choice. He credits several teachers with inspiring his career.
“I had a history teacher in high school, Brian Sayne, who inspired me to want to be a teacher. He made it fun and interesting,” Keen said.
He also credits an education professor, Steve DeGeorge at Bryan College, who helped him figure out “who he wanted to be in the classroom.”
According to Keen, his favorite part of teaching is getting to play a part in the lives of his students and help “prepare kids for the next level in the classroom, on the water, or in the field.”
He said another favorite aspect of his job is his work environment and co-workers.
“One thing that keeps me going on hard days is the positive environment that we have at Campbell County High School, and remembering that everyday is not all about me. It is rare to find a work environment like we have here between co-workers.”
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 – 09/01/2022-6AM)