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Sunlight filters through paper-crafted displays and color-coded lesson plans taped to the walls.
Teacher Gracie Freeman sits behind her desk, adorned with handwritten notes, vivid markers and a carved sign bearing her name.

At Hampton Elementary School, she feels right at home.
The East Tennessee State University senior is finishing her final semester, graduating in a matter of days, and is already working full time as the fourth-grade instructor of record in a rural school that shaped her upbringing.

It’s safe to say that the position is deeply personal to her.

“I grew up here. I went to Cloudland Elementary and Cloudland High School,” Freeman said. “The teachers I had — the way they believed in me — inspired me to want to do the same for the next generation of kids. It’s really a great experience, and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.”

That kind of Appalachian impact is exactly what ETSU is primed to deliver.
Founded in 1911 as a normal school to train educators, the university has aimed for more than a century to uplift the region, especially through public education, workforce development and leadership training.

Freeman’s work and success is part of a larger initiative.

Through ETSU’s Rural Initiative for Talented Educators, teacher candidates are matched with local school districts, helping to combat teacher shortages in hard-to-staff areas. While researchers have pointed out that teacher shortages vary by district in the United States, rural America has been hit especially hard. In Appalachia, teachers are more likely to leave the profession.

“I came in as a substitute and transitioned into the full-time teacher role,” Freeman said. “It was a little intimidating at first. But Hampton’s staff, along with my professors at ETSU, made me feel confident and supported. The kids have grown so much. I’ve grown so much.”

It’s all part of what makes ETSU the flagship institution of Appalachia.

“Gracie’s journey is a testament to the power of investing in our local communities,” said Dr. Janna Scarborough, dean of the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. “Through innovative programs and partnerships with rural school districts, ETSU is preparing educators who understand the unique strengths and challenges of Appalachia. These are the teachers who go on to change lives.”

ETSU’s commitment to preparing the next generation of educators includes the launch of the Center for Rural Education and Development, a new hub for research, leadership training and community-based solutions. The goal is straightforward: build a stronger education pipeline across Appalachia.

For Freeman, those efforts have made all the difference.

“ETSU has helped me prepare for my career by providing amazing professors who truly care about making us great teachers,” she said. “They’ve given me guidance, encouragement and practical advice that I’ll carry into every classroom I enter.”

ETSU is set to celebrate its spring graduates on Saturday, May 10, in the Ballad Health Athletic Center (Mini-Dome) with ceremonies set for 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Learn all about the day’s events at etsu.edu/commencement.

When Freeman crosses the stage, it will be a full-circle moment.

“I wanted to come back to the community that always supported me,” Freeman said. “Now it’s my turn to support the kids.”