Dustin Crane, Bible Teacher & Chaplain

B.S. – University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

Dustin has lived in the Chattanooga area for most of his life, graduating from Ooltewah High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 2005. He returned to UTC to earn a post-baccalaureate K-5th teacher certification in 2022. Before joining Brainerd Baptist School, Dustin taught 4th grade ELA and Social Studies at East Brainerd Elementary for the past two years. 

He and his wife, Melissa, have been active members at Brainerd Baptist for over 10 years. He was involved in the Children's Ministry at Brainerd in a variety of ways including shepherd, life group leader, and worship leader for several years. He has worked with youth at several Brainerd Kid's Camps and has been the VBS emcee for over 5 years. It was during this time that he fell in love working with children and felt led by God to go back to school to become an elementary school teacher. Dustin has loved teaching 4th grade but is even more excited to be teaching God's word to students. His desire as a teacher is to give students a feeling of value and worth and there is no better way to do that than by understanding God's word and how He loves His creation. 

Dustin is married to his high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children. Jack and Emma are currently in 8th and 11th grade at East Hamilton Schools.  Along with being proud parents of their children's academic achievements, they love spending most of their weekends attending soccer matches for Jack or rock climbing competitions for Emma.  Aside from being a teacher and a dad, Dustin likes to play basketball, run, read books, and nap in his hammock. His favorite verse would be the first verse he memorized after coming to faith in Christ at age 30. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8:1-2