Linda Cagle has been teaching in the Rochelle Elementary School District for a long time. A really long time. She has taught there her entire career, which began in 1970. (That is 5 different decades!) She has taught parents and even some grandparents of students. In an age where educators are sometimes easily “burned out,” she has continued to be an asset throughout the cycles of education. She has the ability to make adolescents feel special, which can be a daunting task when working with 12 and 13 year olds.
A couple years ago I was fortunate enough to visit her classroom during a unit on the Revolutionary War. I observed her students working on a project where they were each given a name of someone from that time to create a fictional Facebook profile. Yes, this “old” teacher was using social media as a way to motivate and engage students to learn about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abigail Adams (married to John Adams and friends with Thomas Jefferson), and many others. Her “kids” were actually excited to research and then share their findings.
At the end of this school year, Linda will have taught for 48.67 years. They didn’t use sick days for maternity leave “way back when,” so it’s not quite 50. However, she’s come a long way from her first teaching contract–and I’m not referring to her $7,000 salary in 1970, or the use of technology in the classroom. She has impacted many members of the community and their families by being an enthusiastic historian and life-long learner, and I’m proud to hear people talk about what a wonderful teacher she is/was. Thank you, Linda!
#WeThankTeachers #shesmymom #proudkid
