Teacher Appreciation Week: Kyndall Vaughn
Kyndall Vaughn has been shaping young minds at Ooltewah High School since 2017, teaching 11th-grade American Literature, ACT Prep, and AP Language and Composition. A proud product of Hamilton County Schools, Vaughn attended Harrison and Wallace A. Smith Elementary, Hunter Middle, and Central High before earning her degree in Secondary Education of English from UT Chattanooga and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University.
"I knew pretty early on, in kindergarten, I wanted to be a teacher," she said. A shadowing experience during her senior year confirmed that teaching English was in her future. "I got to take over a lesson and realized, oh, I'm good at this!"
Vaughn is known for making learning engaging and relevant. One of her favorite AP Language lessons uses Disney songs and McDonald's Travis Scott meal commercials to teach rhetorical analysis. "It helps them see that this is all around them,” she said. "Then later, they can apply this to anything else they read. It's so fun. I always look forward to it and am excited for next year.”
Another classroom favorite is The Crucible. "We read the ‘gossip of English 11,’ and their reactions are great. They’ll gasp, smile, or whisper, and it makes it all worth it, to get them involved in a story or a plot.”
Beyond academics, Vaughn has created a comfortable, welcoming space for students. Many often come by her room during lunch or simply to stop by and talk. “I always wanted to be a part of that stepping stone journey for students,” she said. “We’re all headed somewhere. Why not make that path a little more kind? It makes me smile to help them feel that comfort where it's okay if today isn't the day, but we’ll try anyway, or maybe we’ll try next time.”
Vaughn has won 2018 Teacher of the Week from News Channel 9, Best Decorated Classroom, and Best Taste in Music– all nominated by her students.
Thank you, Ms. Vaughn, for your passion, creativity, and support. We are so grateful for all that you do!