A biography for this teacher will be added soon. Please check back later to learn more about this member of the Tharptown Elementary School faculty.

A biography for this teacher will be added soon. Please check back later to learn more about this member of the Tharptown Elementary School faculty.

Kendall Owens is a 2nd Grade teacher at Tharptown Elementary School. She began her teaching career in 2023 and joined the TES family in 2025. Mrs. Owens earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama. Prior to teaching second grade, she served in Tier II Reading Intervention for two and a half years and taught 1st grade for one year. These experiences strengthened her ability to support students at varying levels and provided her with valuable insight into early literacy development. Before entering the classroom, Mrs. Owens worked for more than eight years in an elementary school lunchroom. During that time, she realized she wanted to make an even greater difference in students’ lives, beyond meeting their daily needs, and decided to pursue a career in education. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in love, encouragement, and commitment. She treats her students as if they were her own children and works diligently to ensure each one receives the support they need to succeed. Mrs. Owens grew up nearby in Flat Rock, attended church at Tharptown Baptist as a teenager, and graduated from Hatton High School. She loves the family-like atmosphere at TES, where everyone feels welcomed and valued. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have two daughters, a son, and a granddaughter.

Brenda Sprague is a 2nd Grade teacher at Tharptown Elementary School and began both her teaching career and her time at TES in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work, as well as a Master’s degree in Education. Mrs. Sprague graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 1998, the University of Arkansas in 2001, and the University of West Alabama in 2021. She is LETRS trained and brings a strong literacy foundation to her classroom. Prior to becoming a full-time teacher, she served as a substitute teacher from 2016–2020, worked in 21st Century After-School Care and Summer School programs with Colbert County, and completed an internship and full-time substitute position at Hibbett in Florence. Mrs. Sprague has always known she wanted to be a teacher as she fondly recalls teaching her baby dolls and stuffed animals as a child. Although her career path first led her into social work, she ultimately returned to her true passion in education. Her teaching philosophy is simple and heartfelt: “I might not be able to teach them today, but I can love them today. Perhaps I can teach them tomorrow.” She believes her first responsibility is to love her students, her second is to keep them safe, and her third is to teach them. Mrs. Sprague deeply appreciates the positive leadership, supportive staff, and wonderful families that make Tharptown such a special place. She has been married for 25 years to her husband, Matt, and they have two sons, Nathan and Anthony, who attends Tharptown High School. She considers it a true blessing to serve the students of TES and is passionate about giving her very best each day.