Kari Fields remembers playing teacher at a very young age.

“I’ve never really wanted to do anything else,” says Kari, who has taught third grade at Rogersville Elementary for several years. This year, she will serve as media specialist.

Kari enjoys watching her young students grow as the school year progresses.

“It’s not just academics. I see them grow as individuals, and I watch them mature emotionally and socially, all the aspects of growing up.”

Kari first thought about coming to Walters State while she was still in high school, when a representative of the college had a table of brochures in the cafeteria. She applied and received a scholarship. She was able to transfer that scholarship to East Tennessee State University, lowering the cost of her four-year degree significantly. She eventually went on to earn her master’s degree and her Ed.S. degree.

“I really liked Walters State. I recommend it to students who are graduating. It’s a smaller campus and I always had great instructors.

“I definitely felt prepared when I got to ETSU. I really felt like I was a step ahead.”

Learn about other students who invested in themselves