Degree of hardship

NEA Today, Oct 1998

Oklahoma history teacher Linda Arnett has a history of her own with some of her students at Fort Gibson Middle School. They know her from her days as a custodian at their elementary school.

A teacher since 1996 and a custodian for 14 years before that, Arnett had always dreamed of going to college. She became interested in teaching after leading Sunday school and watching faculty colleagues at Fort Gibson Elementary.

After her husband fell ill in 1989, her need for a bigger salary finally prompted Arnett, at 40, to pursue a bachelor's degree.

When she became a full-time student, Arnett did her custodial work in the evenings.

"In the morning I got on a roller coaster, and I couldn't get off the ride until 10:45 at night" she says.

Harder than her hectic schedule, though, was spending so much time away from her husband. He died in 1996, but not before Arnett had moved them into a more comfortable house, thanks to her teacher's salary.

"I loved being a custodian because I enjoyed the people I worked with," Arnett says. But the switch to teaching has been a good one.

"I don't regret all the sleepless nights," she says. "Education has brought me to a place where I am very happy."