Even with the school year being digital this first quarter (and let’s hope it’s only the first quarter), there are still new teachers who have yet to be introduced. The new seventh grade English/Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Diamond Linn, tells us a little about herself by answering the following questions . . .

Where did you go to high school?

“I went to DuBois Area High School. My mascot was actually a beaver, so it’s funny how this sort of came around full-circle!”

Where did you attend college?

“I went to Clarion University and received my B.A. (bachelor's degree) in English, and I went to Point Park University downtown and received my M.Ed (masters degree) in Secondary Education.”

How long have you been teaching English?

“This is my sixth year teaching ELA. I have taught every grade from 6-12, except for eighth grade.”

Is this the job you have always wanted, or did your original path change and lead to teaching?

“I always wanted to be a writer, but then I realized that it required much more money than I had, so I decided I would really love to teach people how to write and, hopefully, how to love writing! But I actually started college as a social studies education major!”

What is something you want your students to know about you?

“I always want my students to know that when they come into the room, it is our classroom. It’s not just Mrs. Linn’s room. It is their classroom where they are free to learn how they need to and that they are safe and respected.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“My favorite part about my job is being able to learn from my students just as much as they learn from me.”

Where did you grow up and did that have an effect on your occupation?

“I’ve bounced around a lot. I lived in Hawaii, California, the state of Washington, Michigan, and the eastern part of Pennsylvania all before I was 12. One thing that stayed constant, no matter where I lived, was that I always had at least one amazing teacher who went beyond the curriculum and taught me about life. That is what affected my ultimate career choice.”

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

“The most satisfying part about my job is being able to support my students outside of the classroom too. My husband is also a teacher, so we’ve been to all kinds of chorus concerts, talent shows, art shows, athletic events, and even a few confirmation ceremonies. If it’s acceptable for a teacher to be there, we’ve probably been there supporting our kids.”

If you had the chance to teach another subject, what would it be?

“I would love to teach FACS or social studies! I think they both would be awesome to learn about. You would never, ever want me to teach you math or science.”

Who is your biggest inspiration?

“I know it’s clichéd, but my parents are definitely my number one. While I haven’t always appreciated them as much as I should, I definitely do now that I’m a parent. My husband is also a major inspiration to me because he’s sort of like me, but on a larger scale. He’s been teaching for 12 more years than me, and he is the head coach of two sports where he teaches. So I am always leaning on him and growing as a teacher and a coach because of him. Lastly, everything I do is for my sons. They help me strive to be the best version of myself every single day.”

What is one thing you wish your students would take away from you?

“I hope that my students can take away the idea that no matter what they are going through, everything will be okay somehow or some way! They may not be able to see it now or within the next ten years, but one day they will be able to say that Mrs. Linn was right!”

What’s the hardest part of your job?

“The hardest part of my job, and not in a negative way, is that teachers can rarely leave work at work. It’s hard to explain, but I’m not talking about physical work. What I mean is that I don’t walk out of the building and never think about my kids again until I walk back in. When I go home, if there is something negative happening with a student in his or her personal life, it will sometimes keep me up at night. Whether I’ve had a student experience a death in the family or homelessness or heartbreak, I always worry about that student and what I can be doing to ease some of those worries or anxieties that he or she may be feeling.”

What is a common misconception about your job you’d like to set right?

“Many times in my life I have heard that “Anyone can be a teacher.” Sure, maybe anyone can stand in front of a classroom and spew out facts, but not just anyone can inspire, encourage growth, embrace creativity, have true passion for writing and reading, and truly love what he or she does. That’s saved for the best of the best.”