Rachelle Gwathney serves her community
Growing up, Rachelle Gawthney had an aunt who was a teacher and would always write her letters of encouragement, and it was one of the main reasons she decided to go into teaching.
“I felt like it was something that would help me give back to my community,” said Gawthney. “I didn't grow up in the best home environment and there were teachers who really made me feel like I was special, regardless of my homelife; that made me want to give back to other children. It's definitely a calling.”
Gawthney can confidently say she is giving back to her community since she is a teacher at Church Hill Elementary School. For her, there is no place she'd rather be.
“I love the environment and the people I work with at Church Hill,” said Gawthney. “We have a great staff – we all work well together and support each other. I love the age group of first and second graders. They all just have so much love. It's just a great environment to work in.”
While she loves what she does, Gawthney said she is retiring after the end of this school year, calling the curtain on a 28 year career.
When asked how it feels to be retiring soon, she says it's emotional in a way.
“I love the kids, but my father passed away this year after battling with cancer. I had to miss a lot in the beginning to be with him, and it just made me realize that although I've loved what I have done and I feel like it is a calling from God, I also feel like God has a different path for me now. It's time for my family to be the priority,” said Gawthney. “I really had planned to go 30 years but after he passed away, I just realized I needed to focus more on my family.”
A lifelong native of Clay County, Gawthney grew up in the Una community, which she described as a great place to grow up.
“I grew up right next door to my grandmother, my aunt was next to her, and another aunt was next to her. All of my family lived on the same road, so it was a good experience to grow up in that environment,” Gawthney said.
Gawthney is married to Anthony and together they have three children: Megan Hudson, Matthew, and Maggie.
Megan is a labor and delivery nurse at North Mississippi Medical Center, Matthew