Kent Chambers earns ‘Teacher of the Year’ award at Bob Jones
MADISON – Kent Chambers has worked his entire career at Bob Jones High School. He started teaching when he was 21 years old in 1986. For the 2025-2026 school year, Chambers has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year.”
When he graduated from college, he applied to almost every school system in North Alabama. “I got a call from Bob Jones Principal, Ross Thomas, for an interview. I didn’t even know where the school was located,” Chambers said. “I had to look it up.”
Chambers’ interview with Thomas was his first interview and his first offer. “So, I took it and have never left,” Chambers said.
In that timeframe, Bob Jones was part of the Madison County Schools district. “And we had about 130 in the senior class,” Chambers said. “Things have changed a lot since then.” (This year, Bob Jones had 506 seniors to graduate, and James Clemens’ senior class had 511 students.)
When Chambers learned that he was “Teacher of the Year,” he was shocked. “This is my 40th year teaching, and I have never received this honor. I am so appreciative of the staff at Bob Jones who voted for me. I didn’t even vote for myself,” he said.
For Chambers, success as a teacher happens when you get a ‘Thank you’ from a student. “Or when I have a student tell me that they understand math because of the way I teach it.”
When a school day ends, Chambers can look back and realize he has had a good day “when my students succeed at the next level . . . whether that be their next math class or in college.”
Chambers was born and raised in Eva and still lives on the family farm there. He graduated from Brewer High School in 1982 and Athens State College (now Athens State University) in 1986. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary math.
His wife, Pat Chambers, works in the computer hardware industry. His son, Dustin Hill, lives in Huntsville. His daughter, Caroline Hill, live in Denver, Colo. In recent months, Kent Chambers was elected mayor of Eva after serving 23 years on the Eva Town Council.
He is the youngest of eight children in his immediate family. “My mom was one of 10, and my dad was one of 12. I come from big families,” Chambers said.
During the summer, he enjoys working in his garden and playing golf. “Pat and I love to travel to different places,” he said.
