Caudle plays many roles in the classroom
Caudle (far right) stands in Orlando, Fla. with Discovery Middle cheerleaders after the team's win.
Tamara Caudle, fourth grade teacher at Horizon Elementary School said in the classroom, one must not only be a teacher, but a nurse, a parent and a guardian to students.
“It’s so much more beyond teaching when the kids come in the classroom,” Caudle said. “I take that challenge to heart.”
Caudle has taught fourth grade at Horizon for the past seven years. It was her first job after graduating from Athens State University with a degree in elementary education. She’s currently working on a master’s degree at Alabama A&M University.
The Huntsville native is a military child who has lived in Texas, Washington and Germany. She graduated from Butler High School.
“I did student teaching for third grade, but fourth grade was the best,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade fourth grade for anything.”
Caudle has also served as cheerleading coach for Discovery Middle School for the past four years. She recently gave the girls a huge reason to cheer when she coached them to the top spot at the National High School Cheerleading Championship, which was held Feb. 12 and 13 in Orlando, Fla.
“This was the toughest year for us,” Caudle said. “We had the smallest team, so changes had to be made, lots of trials. We suffered some major injuries that were tough, but we managed.”
She said she got into education because she loves to see students learn.
“I’m very structured,” but when I see them having fun and their faces light up, that’s what makes my day,” she said. “I’ve learned that kids are funny and teachers should laugh with them.”
“Mrs. Caudle is an enthusiastic teacher who understands the needs of every child,” said Horizon Principal Rodney Richardson. “She goes over and beyond to make sure that all students are successful.”
Education was Caudle’s calling. She said she’s known from an early age that this was the profession she wanted to pursue.
“All my life, I knew I would be a teacher,” she said. “Ever since I was a young kid, I knew that what I wanted to do. I think I’ve learned that every child is unique and finding a way to meet that child’s needs is the way to success.”
