Lisa Copeland 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.

Lisa Copeland is Eagle Tire Pros Educator of the Week. She teaches English Language Arts at Campbell County High School. She has been an educator for 28 years.

According to Copeland, she wanted to be an educator from a very young age.

“My mom used to say that she always knew I would be a teacher because when I started school, my favorite play time was to pretend I was a teacher and collect ice cream and lunch money from my stuffed animals. For me, it took a little longer to realize,” Copeland said.

 When she was in high school, she had to teach French to middle school students as a requirement of her French III class. After “taking the lead in her group one week”, one of the middle school teachers said she should think about teaching.

“I was confused because I was convinced, I had done the worst job anyone could possibly do as a teacher. It took me another three years before I understood what she might have meant. After a few jobs as a tutor and working with others on English papers, I decided that maybe teaching was for me,” Copeland said.

She is currently teaching her 27th year with Campbell County Schools, and her 28th year total.

“After a year in Claiborne County schools, I have spent my entire teaching career at Campbell County High School, teaching ELA. Honestly, I became a teacher because I always enjoyed being a student. I enjoyed school and the predictable unpredictability of so many people coming together day after day to get a job done,” Copeland said.

 Her career in education was also “inspired by her first-grade teacher as well as some of her high school teachers who treated her with respect and valued her questions and thoughts.” 

“I had a passion for reading from a young age, so it made sense that I would major in English in college and teach English as a teacher. I started my career teaching Special Education to high school students who had been suspended from school for smoking, so in addition to teaching English I also taught whatever other classes they were enrolled in at the time of suspension. As my first teaching position, I learned to adapt and continue learning,” Copeland said.

As a teacher, she said she always tries to keep this early lesson in mind, which encourages her to “try new strategies and activities in class.”

“I also keep this lesson in mind for myself. As a teacher it is very easy to do the same lessons, read the same literature, and write the same essays every year. But after a while I like to make changes to a class or two just to remind myself that there is more out there to learn and try. This variety keeps my job interesting and reminds me what it is like to be a student,” Copeland 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-09/10/2026-6AM-PHOTO SUBMITTED)