Trion High and Middle School has welcomed a substitute art teacher during the fall 2026 term. Ms. Tate Campbell is very excited to have the opportunity to substitute at Trion, especially coming back as a staff member rather than a student. “As a Trion graduate, it’s a pleasure to give back to the community that poured into me when I was a student. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with students and staff while continuing to grow as an educator.”
During the 2026 fall term, Ms. Campbell is currently filling in for Mrs. Allen while she is on maternity leave until October 26th. For the rest of the academic year, she will substitute for any class that needs her. As the substitute Visual Arts teacher, she is working with both middle and high school art classes, including all 4 levels of Visual Art.
Mrs. Campbell has loved art for as long as she can remember and has always been creating something from a young age with any materials she could find. Despite always knowing about her passion for art, Ms. Campbell didn’t always know she wanted to be a teacher, but says that looking back, it was always a part of who she was. “I’ve always been a social butterfly, and I’ve never really met a stranger, so I’ve naturally enjoyed connecting with and helping other people.” It wasn’t until later that she realized she could turn something that was always natural to her into a career.
Once she merged her love for art and her newfound passion for teaching, becoming an art teacher felt like the right fit for her. During her senior year at Trion High School, she began to realize how meaningful it would be to create the same safe space for students to be creative and expressive just as she had felt in the classroom. Ms. Campbell states that “I want my classroom to be a place where students can be themselves, explore their creativity, and discover something they didn’t know they were capable of. I think that’s what ultimately made me realize that teaching art was where I belonged.”
Ms. Campbell received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of West Georgia in 2024. She then began the verification process to become a licensed teacher in March 2026 and officially received her teaching certificate in August 2026. Now, she is excited to continue her education and skill development as an art educator by pursuing a master’s degree in Art Education, where she is looking forward to growing further in her field.
During her final year of undergrad, Ms. Campbell completed her teaching experience at Model Middle School, where she taught Visual Art. There, it was her first time being a substitute, declaring, “I have had so much fun being here and getting to know everyone. It has been a great first experience!”
When asked if she enjoys substitute teaching, Ms. Campbell replied, “It truly has been such a great and fulfilling experience. I’ve really enjoyed getting to work with the students, share my love of art with them, and experience what it is like to be in the classroom as an educator. Being able to come back to the school where I was once a student and now get to teach has made the experience even more special.”
Ms. Campbell eagerly hopes to eventually become a full-time teacher, mentioning, “I would love to teach art, as it has always been my passion and the career I have worked toward.” She is very excited to gain experience through substitute teaching while she looks for the right opportunity to have her own classroom, expressing, “I’m really looking forward to seeing where this next chapter takes me!”
During her short time at THS, Ms. Campbell hopes to have a positive impact on her art students. She hopes that she can contribute to a student’s experience and that “ years from now, even if it’s just one student, they can remember me and remember the time I taught them as a positive and meaningful experience. I think sometimes the smallest moments can become the memories students remember the most.”
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Campbell enjoys going outside with her dog on walks, playing The Sims 4, and making coffee for herself and anyone who will let her! Her favorite book is The Sunrise on the Reaping, coinciding with her favorite movie series, The Hunger Games. She loves listening to Miley Cyrus and has been a fan of her since a young age.
Ms. Campbell is very grateful for the opportunity to be back at THS in a different role than she once knew. “ I spent my entire school career here, and being able to come back and now be part of the staff is something I don’t take for granted. Trion has always felt like home to me, and I’m excited to give back to the community that helped shape me into the person and educator I am today. I’m looking forward to seeing where this new chapter takes me and hopefully making a positive difference along the way!”
