After 28 Years, Renee Brooks Still Loves Teaching

Renee Brooks is still excited about her profession after 28 rewarding years in the classroom! She began her career as a pre-school teacher and for the past 16 years, she has been a Reading Recovery teacher.  She first taught at Daniel Boone Elementary in Madison County before marrying her husband Roger and moving to Knox County. She has worked at Jesse D. Lay Elementary in the Knox County School District for 24 years and has also taken on numerous extracurricular activities including academic team coach, cheerleading coach, dance team coach, and serving as the vice-president of her of school's Parent Teacher Organization.

Brooks encourages the new generation to become teachers. “I was inspired to be a teacher by my own teachers and working with students at summer camp. We need amazing teachers,” she noted. “Teaching is about loving your students!”

“My biggest passion is teaching students how to read and helping them gain the love of reading,” said Brooks. “Nothing can compare with the moment when a student learns he/she can read and gains confidence and learns to love reading.” She also loves the support of her colleagues and working in a community of professionals. “The faculty and staff of a school is like your family. They are there for you in all stages of your life.” She also noted that teaching is a great family-friendly career because she has time in the summer to travel and be with her own family.

Brooks is especially proud of her children, Isaac and Emily. Isaac graduated in May from EKU and is currently a graduate assistant in EKU’s Department of Music.  Daughter Emily has been accepted into EKU’s Honors program for Fall 2021.  Their mother set a great example! She earned both her bachelor’s (1990) and master’s degree (1992) in elementary education at EKU. 

Published on March 16, 2021