Middle School Language Arts, High School English, Yearbook, & Drama Workshop Teacher
Mrs. Gaines is beginning her eighth year of teaching at UCA and has been a teacher in various capacities for most of her adult life. Many ages have passed through her classrooms, from preschool music 3-year-olds to high school seniors in AP Literature. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, while focusing her studies there on performing arts in live theatre acting, directing, and music. Always an eternal student, she also completed studies in English, Art History, and Mathematics. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Creative Writing through Southern New Hampshire University.
After several years of teaching remotely at UCA, Mrs. Gaines and her husband moved from Texas to Vermont in August of 2023. Even after living in a big city for most of her life, she has realized in her move to Newport that she really is happiest in small-town life. She resides with her husband, 2 dogs (Maggie & Moose), and 2 cats (Marty & MukDuk) and is grateful to have her adult daughter, Madisyn, close by in Newport as well. Her favorite bible verse is Romans 5:3-5.