Teachers do not normally decide to enter the educational field just because they want to. In a lot of cases, they made their career choice because of a teacher that impacted their life so greatly that they want to give back to the next generation. For Christy Kelley, she had two very special teachers in her life that helped influence her.

“I come from a family of educators,” she said. “My father, David Bailey was a successful coach and administrator in both Oklahoma and Kansas before his retirement. Also, my mother, Leslie,  also worked in the school system for most of my childhood years. I guess you could say it was all I ever knew, so it was an easy decision.”

Kelley, who is a 1993 graduate of Medford High School, is a teacher at her alma mater. She teaches Physical Education to Pre-K through fourth grade and middle school reading. She also coaches basketball for fifth graders through varsity.

Along with her parents, Christy also had a number of other teachers that played big roles in her life.

“The most influential teachers I had as a student would have to be my fourth grade teacher, Ms. Bonnie Hammer and my basketball and track coach, Terry Wilson,” she said. “Both teachers always pushed me to do my best and to step out of my comfort zones. Even when things didn’t go as planned, they both encouraged me to keep pushing to never quit.”

Christy and her husband Clay have been married for twenty years. They have two children, eighth grader Cash and sixth grader Cadee Mae. When she is away from school, Kelley enjoys her time with her family.

“If I am not teaching, I enjoy exercising and  I love spending time with Clay, Cash, and Cadee,” she said. “Whether it be at sporting events, camping and fishing, or heading to the mountains.”