Teacher of the Month
The Alabama Public Television Excellence in Education Award is a monthly recognition program for kindergarten through 12th Grade educators across the state of Alabama.
Carin Rains loves her job. “32 years,” she says, “and I love it just as much as I did the day I started. I truly love all of what I teach.”
Rains in the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Cullman High School. “Cullman has a small-town feel while still offering numerous community events attended by people from all over the United States,” Rains says.
Last year, Cullman ranked 3rd in a 2024 USA Today list of the best small-town cultural scenes, hosting a national music festival and a state-wide Christmas attraction—to name a few. But the best part of her job isn’t the location. It’s the relationships she’s built with her colleagues and students.
Learn more about Carin Rains' day-to-day below.
How did you get started in education?
My father and grandfather both taught for over 40 years. My mother is also a retired teacher. My sisters both teach as does one brother-in-law and my husband. I guess, you could say it is a family thing.
What’s the most important purpose a teacher performs?
I care for and connect with my students to make learning meaningful. My grandfather's motto that I still use today is, “Be firm, fair, and friendly.”
What is your approach to teaching students?
Constantly evolving lessons and re-evaluating what I do to stay relevant.
Do you see similarities between APT’s mission and your own?
I like to create innovative ways to teach my subject matter so that they make real-life connections they can take home with them to teach others.
What inspires you?
My subject matter inspires me. My students choose to take my classes and all the things I love outside of school are also the things I get to teach them.
How do you encourage student curiosity?
I offer a myriad of courses for my students and within those, I create various hands-on activities that fit different learning styles.
What do you do outside of work?
I love to spend time with my family, paint, sew, cook, and search for new recipes for home and for school.
How do you cultivate curiosity in yourself?
I don’t have to cultivate it. I love my subject matter and all the things I love to do outside of school are the very things I get to teach my students. And I get to instill my love of it in them.
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