Cherished Potomac Teacher Retires

POTOMAC - Nancy Linnell always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout her childhood whenever she was asked about what she wanted to be when she grew up her answer remained the same, to be a teacher. She did so for 24 years including 21 years at Potomac School before retiring.

Nancy was born on a farm in North Dakota, seventh out of 13 children. During the 1950s her family moved to Missoula because her father was looking for different work opportunities.

When Nancy was in eighth grade she was inspired by her teacher Miss Tupper.

"She was caring, strict and knowledgeable," said Nancy.

During the early years of her marriage, Nancy went with her husband Bill while he worked burying telephone cable from Texas to Kansas to Oregon and between.

When Nancy was 31 with a young family she decided to pursue her education and made her teaching dream a reality.

Nancy completed her schooling in education, receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and her master's degree from Lesley University in Massachusetts.

The first year out of college found Nancy working as a teacher's aide at Bonner School in Bonner, Mont. From there she went on to Browning and taught for two years. In 1995 she was living in Missoula with her family and began teaching at Potomac School for the rest of her career. At Potomac School she taught English, kindergarten and junior high.

Through the years Nancy said she has learned a lot from teaching.

"Most importantly don't underestimate the capacity of engaged students to work hard and learn," she said.

Nancy's teaching career was not without adversity. "Giving up family was a hardship that is more visible in hindsight," she said. "At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing by my students and their families, and I still believe I was; I just didn't realize what I was missing out with my own family."

In creating her curriculum, she found that within small districts like Potomac a consistent hardship is finding certain resources to enhance teaching by providing different programs to enrich all students.

Nancy made her mark at Potomac School through teaching and introducing programs including Shakespeare in the Schools, Poet in Residence, Poetry Out Loud and Dr. Seuss Day. She also ran a book club for middle schoolers and provided a variety of reading material and books for her students.

Nancy considers the years she taught very successful. "I count the relationships with fellow teachers and workmates, individual students, parents and the greater Potomac community as my greatest triumphs."

In the fall of 2014 Nancy found out she was sick. At that time, she was teaching the combined fifth/sixth grade classes.

For the lesson one day, the students and Nancy were reading "Petey", a book about the friendship of a 14-year-old boy and an elderly man who had a challenging life. In the story, the man was in the hospital and he and the boy were having a heart to heart conversation.

While reading aloud, the content of the story hit home. Nancy and her students struggled to keep their composure. They were losing the struggle, Nancy remembers.

Nancy persevered through the reading and then came to a spot in the book where she could not continue. She sat on her stool with tears falling down her face.

"The students were stunned and didn't know what to do," Nancy said. She knew she could not go on until she got her emotions back together.

After many silent seconds she heard Buzzy Bennett, a sixth-grader say, "Oh, come on you guys."

He stood up and went to the front of the class and gave Nancy a big hug. With that simple touch of humanity, they were ready to continue on with the story, said Nancy.

Nancy loves the teaching relationships that were built and maintained through the years. Every August to June Nancy loved getting to know students and see the contrast in their individual abilities.

Potomac School staff, students, school board and audience honored Nancy's retirement during graduation and an assembly. Principal Angie Williams presented Nancy with a plaque honoring her years of teaching amidst a standing ovation at eighth-grade graduation.

At the last day of school assembly, Potomac students and teachers gave Nancy a treasure box of memories that had been collected on her behalf.

"Every student has touched my life in myriad ways," Nancy said. "I deeply appreciate the love and support of the Potomac community, one and all."