Meet Our Newest Faculty Member: Raegan Rasberry
Sometimes the path God lays before us isn’t a straight line. Sometimes it’s woven together through years of faithful teachers, unexpected conversations, closed doors, answered prayers, and just the right people at just the right time. For Knoxville Christian School’s newest faculty member, Raegan Rasberry, every step of her journey has prepared her for this moment.
This fall, Raegan joins KCS as our 4th grade homeroom teacher and 3rd-5th grade math instructor, bringing with her not only classroom experience, but a deep passion for Christian education that has shaped her life since she was twelve years old.
A Student Who Found Joy in Learning
Ironically, Raegan didn’t always love school. After spending her early years in public school, she remembers feeling discouraged and disconnected. When her mother suggested transferring to a private Christian school, she says she nearly cried tears of joy. The difference was immediate.
“The teachers genuinely cared about me,” Raegan recalls. “It wasn’t just academics. It was the relationships, with teachers, friends, and families. It completely changed my experience.”
She attended Briarcrest Christian School through graduation, where caring educators helped her discover not only confidence in herself but a deeper relationship with Christ. That experience planted a seed that would eventually become her calling.
Education That Changed a Life
Raegan understands what it feels like to struggle.
She remembers needing extra time, different teaching methods, and patient educators who believed in her before she believed in herself. One teacher in particular helped her realize she wasn’t incapable, she simply learned differently.
That encouragement changed everything.
“I realized there were other students just like me,” she says. “Kids who just need someone willing to teach them with patience.”
From that moment, education became more than a career. It became a ministry.
Following God’s Direction
After graduating from Briarcrest, Raegan attended Freed-Hardeman University, following in the footsteps of multiple generations of her family. There she experienced another Christ-centered community that reinforced the importance of faith, discipleship, and meaningful relationships.
She later began teaching first grade in Florence, Alabama, while her husband, Austin, worked nearby. When opportunities unexpectedly began pointing the couple toward East Tennessee, one connection led to another. A conversation with KCS President Bobby Simpson sparked interest in the school, and what started as a simple phone call soon became something much bigger.
Then life threw a curveball. After Raegan accepted her position at KCS, Austin’s anticipated job opportunity unexpectedly fell through. With a new home purchased and an uncertain future ahead, the couple leaned fully into prayer.
“It was one of the biggest faith-building experiences we’ve had as a married couple,” Raegan shares.
Just when it seemed nothing was falling into place, another opportunity opened. Austin was offered a position with Verizon in Knoxville, confirming what they had been praying for all along.
Looking back now, Raegan sees God’s hand in every detail.
“We truly believe He was guiding us to Knoxville, and guiding me to KCS.”
Every Child Matters
One of the experiences that has most shaped Raegan as an educator involved a student facing significant behavioral challenges and a difficult home life.
Where others saw disruption, Raegan saw a child in need of compassion. Instead of reacting with frustration, she intentionally invested time teaching emotional regulation, encouraging positive choices, and showing consistent grace.
By the end of the school year, the transformation was remarkable. For Raegan, that experience reinforced an important truth: “Every child deserves to know they matter.”
She believes school may be the safest and most encouraging place some children experience each day, and she wants every student who enters her classroom to know they are deeply loved.
Why KCS Feels Like Home
One of the things that drew Raegan to Knoxville Christian School was something she had experienced before,the power of a close-knit Christian community. She loves that KCS’s smaller class sizes allow teachers to truly know their students and invest in each child’s individual success. During her student teaching, she saw firsthand how meaningful those relationships become when teachers have the time to focus on every learner.
That personal connection is exactly what she’s excited to continue at KCS.
Bright Classrooms and Bright Futures
If you stopped by Raegan’s classroom before school began, you would have probably found her with a paintbrush in hand.
She has been transforming her classroom into a bright, colorful space inspired by creativity. With periwinkle walls, cheerful colors, and plenty of personality, she hopes every student feels welcomed the moment they walk through the door.
Outside of school, Raegan enjoys singing, playing piano, guitar and ukulele, sewing, painting, reading just about any genre, and spending time with her eight-month-old dachshund, Maple.
Looking Ahead
When asked what excites her most about joining Knoxville Christian School, Raegan doesn’t talk first about lesson plans or curriculum. She talks about people.
After years of being poured into by Christian teachers and mentors, she believes it’s now her turn.
“I’ve been blessed by so many educators who invested in me. Now it’s my opportunity to pour into these students, help them grow, and point them toward Christ.”
That heart for service is exactly what makes Raegan such a wonderful addition to the KCS family.
Please join us in giving Raegan Rasberry a warm Knoxville Christian School welcome. We can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make in the lives of our students for years to come.
Now enrolling! Contact our Admissions Office today to schedule a campus tour, meet our incredible faculty, and discover why so many families call KCS home.