1st Grade

First Grade is a fun and exciting time in your child’s life as he/she will be more challenged academically and socially. You will see considerable growth in your child as he/she becomes more responsible and independent. Our hope is to instill the love of learning.

Teachers

Alesha Ashby

I have been a first grade teacher at East Lincoln Elementary for the past 14 years. I enjoy working with all age groups, but first grade is particularly fun because you get to see such amazing growth from the beginning of the year to the end. I have a degree in Early Education and Child Development as well as an advanced degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and Administration. East Lincoln is a wonderful place to work, and I am so grateful to be here.

Caitlin Curlee

Hey! My name is Caitlin Curlee. I am a first-grade teacher here at East Lincoln, and I'm so excited about this school year! I have been teaching for 7 years, 6 of them have been in Tullahoma City Schools. I'm a native of this area and graduated from Franklin County High School in 2009. I went to college on a basketball scholarship and attended Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). While at AUM, I dual-majored in Elementary Education and Special Education. After college, I moved back home and began teaching. I met my wonderful husband Rob, and we got married in June of 2017. Shortly after we got married, Rob and I adopted a precious dachshund, Reba, who is now a certified therapy dog. In the spring of 2019, I went back to school and obtained my Masters’s degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. I am so blessed to be a part of TCS. I'm a firm believer in loving the kids first and teaching them second.Relationships are the main point of emphasis in my classroom. When I'm not at school, I love spending time with my husband and Reba, attending church events, hanging out on the beach, spoiling my two precious nieces, hanging out with my best friends, or sitting outside on my deck. I am looking forward to a great year full of love, learning, and laughter!

Dawn Kane

Wanting to follow in my mother's foot steps, I always had a passion for teaching. I spent 15 years being a stay at home mother to my three children and a preschool teacher. My dream of being a teacher did not come to fruition until 2010. I participated in the “2 + 2” program from Tennessee Technology University where I received my teaching certification. I was blessed to be hired for first grade at East Lincoln Elementary. It continues to be an awe-inspiring journey.

Lisa Layton

Tullahoma became home to my family when we moved from East Tennessee over thirty years ago. Soon after moving, I was fortunate to work at my sons’ preschool. This is where my love for teaching was discovered. I returned to school, completed my degree, and began my teaching career. After teaching Kindergarten for ten years, I have also loved teaching 6 and 7 year-olds in first grade. First grade is a year of tremendous challenges and growth in maturity and independence. My greatest reward is watching a first grader become an independent reader and develop a love of books. I have loved being part of East Lincoln Elementary for more than twenty years. While there have been many changes during that time, one factor has always stayed constant at East Lincoln-children come first!

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