Educator of the Week: Reyna Thomas
It’s time now to recognize our Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.
Reyna Thomas is a biology teacher at Chester County High School.
Originally, Thomas attended pharmacy school, but decided it wasn’t for her.
Becoming an educator was a spur of the moment decision when talking with her mother, Principal Renee Thomas, and Mr. Shumate.
“I loved counseling patients,” Thomas said. “I loved explaining how to deliver their medication and certain things that might happen because of their medication and, Mr. Shumate, he piped in and he said, ‘Reyna, you might actually enjoy teaching.'”
And teaching is what Thomas pursued.
“When I first got in the classroom, within the first week, maybe two weeks of teaching, I absolutely fell in love with it,” Thomas said.
This is now Thomas’ second year as an educator.
“My favorite thing about teaching is teaching the same thing in just different ways, because tomorrow we’re gonna do a virtual lab and then the next day, we do the hands on one,” Thomas said. “Everyone learns differently and at a different pace and, so, sometimes they need different formats of that information presented to them for them to be able to understand.”
Thomas finds joy in her subject as well.
“I also love biology and I think it’s so cool, and it’s fun to share my excitement about how I think it’s cool with them.”
For future educators, Thomas says don’t let one bad class discourage you.
“You show them, ‘Hey, I respect you, I need you to respect me. I’m giving you some time to decompress and then we’ll go forward.’ A lot of the times, just doing that, that simple step, can really, really turn the attitude of a class around.”
Thomas was surprised by her nomination.
“I feel very, very, like, honored and privileged because this is only my second year and it does mean a lot to me cause I really, really do love my job.”
Thomas is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award.
To vote for her or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.
To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at educator@wbbjtv.com.
