In the month of January, the Linsly Line is recognizing some of our veteran teachers at Linsly! These teachers have been teaching at Linsly for a long time and deserve recognition for the time they have served at our school! One teacher to recognize is Mrs. Jennifer Loudermilk! Mrs. Loudermilk teaches multiple classes for 5th and 6th grade Language Arts. She has been teaching at Linsly for 18 years and is eager to share some of her favorite things about her experience at school!
What’s been the most rewarding moment in your career here?
The most rewarding part of my career is when a student has that “lightbulb moment” and gets a concept I am teaching. That may sound cliche, but it is honestly the most exciting thing. Also, I love it when kids come back to my classroom and tell me how they’ve used a skill I introduced to them when they were in middle school. That is very rewarding!
What’s your favorite part about teaching here?
My favorite part? That’s easy! The kids! I love working with the age group I teach, and I love teaching them new things each day.
What changes have you seen at the school over the years?
Well, I’ve been here for 18 years, so I’ve seen many different daily schedules or variations on the schedule. When I began here, we had seven 45-minute class periods each day. Then we had a rotating schedule with all seven classes. Next, we tried longer 90-minute classes. We then slowly transitioned to what we have now. I’ve also seen three different Headmasters (4 counting an interim). That said, there are many things that haven’t changed. Some things that have remained unchanged are: high expectations, excellent educational opportunities, hard-working students, caring teachers, and strong leadership.
What do you enjoy most about working with your students?
I enjoy seeing students learn and grow. We talk a lot about “growth” here at Linsly, and it is truly awesome to see the academic and behavioral growth students exhibit throughout their time here. I wanted to become a teacher ever since I was in 2nd grade, so I am very fortunate to get to do the job I love each day!
What’s one thing you’ve learned during your time teaching at this school?
I’ve learned so much in 18 years. The most important lesson I think I’ve learned is to relax and be confident in myself. The most fun lesson I’ve learned is that kids are kids, no matter what! You can count on them to say the funniest things. That is just part of life!
The Linsly community thanks Mrs. Loudermilk for everything she has done for her students and the school; her passion does not go unnoticed!
By: Claire Carson
