A Journey That Began Somewhere Unexpected
At Knoxville Christian School, we believe God often leads people down unexpected paths to prepare them for exactly where they are meant to be. As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, we are excited to welcome Laura McCreary as our new 3rd Grade Homeroom Teacher and 3rd-5th Grade English Language Arts teacher.
For Mrs. McCreary, becoming a teacher was not part of her original plan.
“I wanted to be a costume designer,” she laughs.
She spent a year studying theater before realizing it was not the path God had for her. It was her friends who pointed out something she had not fully recognized herself: she had always been teaching, encouraging, and helping others learn. Their encouragement led her to pursue education, eventually earning both her Bachelor’s degree in Theater with a minor in Education and her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee.
Her path wasn’t decided from the beginning and had twist along the way, but looking back, she sees God’s hand throughout the journey.
Learning the Realities of Teaching
Because elementary education was not yet offered as a major when she completed her bachelor’s degree, Laura entered a program that included a full year-long internship. That experience gave her a front-row seat to the realities of teaching. “It was a blessing to see an entire school year from beginning to end,” she recalls.
It also taught her one of the most important lessons of her career.
“It really takes a village. You have your village at home, but you also have your village at school. Sometimes a friend across the hall on a difficult day is exactly what you need.”
That understanding of community has shaped her approach to teaching ever since.
Discovering a Passion for Reading
After graduation, Laura returned to the Nashville area and began teaching fifth grade. It was a challenging first year, but an unexpected opportunity soon changed the course of her career. When her principal asked if she would consider teaching kindergarten, she took a leap of faith. “It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made.”
She spent the next seven years teaching kindergarten and discovered one of her greatest passions: helping children learn to read.
“There is nothing like watching a child go from not reading at all to suddenly being able to put letters together and read words on their own. Their excitement is contagious.”
That passion led her to pursue an Education Specialist degree in Reading through Arkansas State University. Through her studies, she learned structured literacy approaches focused on phonics, letter sounds, and foundational reading skills, transforming the way she taught reading and literacy.
The Moments That Matter Most
While there was not one defining moment that inspired her love for teaching, there have been countless small moments along the way.
- A student proudly reading a billboard from the back seat of the car.
- A parent joking that they can no longer spell secret words because their child can read them.
- A reluctant reader finishing a book independently for the first time.
“Anytime something clicks for a student and you see that lightbulb come on, it still gives me goosebumps,” Laura says.
For her, teaching is built on those everyday victories that often become lifelong milestones for students and families.
Finding Her Way to Knoxville Christian School
Throughout her career, Laura has served in classroom teaching and literacy intervention roles, helping students strengthen reading comprehension and foundational literacy skills. When she and her husband relocated to East Tennessee, she began substitute teaching in Knox County while searching for the right opportunity.
She knew she wanted more than just a job. She wanted a school community where she truly belonged.
Then someone encouraged her to apply to Knoxville Christian School.
“It was a God thing,” she says. “I didn’t really feel like I had found a home yet. But KCS feels like a great fit because it’s such a small, family-oriented community. It feels like the entire school, not just the classroom, is a family.”
Creating a Classroom Where Students Thrive
As she prepares her classroom for the fall, Laura is already creating an environment where students feel welcome and comfortable. She loves bright colors, flexible seating options, and hopes to fill the room with plenty of plants to make it feel warm and inviting.
She believes students learn best when they feel comfortable, engaged, and known.
One lesson she has learned throughout her career is that teaching is about finding balance.
“You can’t do it all 100% of the time,” she says. “As teachers, we want every lesson to be perfect and every student to master every concept immediately. Sometimes you have to remember that teaching the basics well is enough for today.”
That combination of excellence, grace, and student-centered learning is something families will quickly notice in her classroom.
Learning Through Service
One of Laura’s favorite projects combined reading, writing, science, math, and service learning into one memorable experience.
Students studied animal habitats and conservation while partnering with the World Wildlife Fund. They wrote letters home, completed chores to earn donations, counted and tracked their contributions, and ultimately raised nearly $300 to support endangered species.
The project not only strengthened academic skills but also helped students understand that even young people can make a meaningful difference in the world around them.
As she begins her journey at KCS, Laura is excited to discover new opportunities for students to serve others while learning.
Looking Ahead
Outside the classroom, Laura enjoys reading fantasy and historical fiction, sewing handmade gifts and blankets, and spending time with her husband, who understands the demands of education thanks to his own mother being a teacher.
As she looks ahead to teaching third through fifth grade students, she is excited to stretch her skills and embrace new opportunities.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the kids and their families,” she says. “Every year, my favorite part is watching students learn something new and then seeing them put it into practice.”
At KCS, we know that great teachers do more than teach lessons. They inspire confidence, nurture curiosity, build relationships, and help students discover the gifts God has given them.
We are grateful that God has brought Mrs. Laura McCreary to our KCS family, and we cannot wait to see the impact she will have on our students in the years ahead.
Welcome to KCS, Mrs. McCreary!
Now enrolling for the upcoming school year! Contact our Admissions Office today to schedule a campus tour, meet our incredible faculty, and discover why so many families call KCS home.