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

By Charlotte Underwood 

CARYVILLE, 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 educator is Caryville Elementary School’s Mary Cardwell. She teaches third grade math and social studies. 

Cardwell lives in Jacksboro and said she attended elementary at the “old Caryville school that was torn down.”

Mary Cardwell is Eagle Tire Pros teacher of the week. She is pictured here with her daughter Abby and her two yorkies, Dierks and Bentley.

She has been an educator for 15 years, but did not start her “education journey” until she was in her late thirties 

“I knew as a small child though, that I wanted to become a teacher. I remember my mom buying me some chalk and I would write on a wooden panel door to pretend that I was teaching,” Cardwell said. 

She also has many family members that are educators that inspired her towards a career, including her “Aunt Nancy Lynch and her late husband Paul Lynch” along with her cousin Julie Hatmaker. 

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

According to Cardwell, her favorite part of the day is “engaging her students in learning math.”

“Math is my favorite subject. I love to watch when my students accomplish a new skill that they thought was difficult,” Cardwell said.

On the hard days, she said she has “many cohorts, friends and family members” that encourage her and the “support of parents and grandparents is a blessing.”

“The hugs, notes,  and pictures from my students and past students put a huge smile on my face. They absolutely warm my heart.  And of course, prayer!!! The Lord has truly blessed me,” Cardwell 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 – 02/02/2023-6AM)