Some teachers find their niche early and stay in it for decades. Others, like Linda Tharp, embrace the ever-evolving nature of education, letting new opportunities shape their careers—and their lives. With more than 30 years in the classroom, Linda has taught everything from high school special education to kindergarten, served as a coordinator, a resource teacher, and now, as a fourth-grade teacher at Newton Elementary.

Her journey wasn’t a straight path—it was a winding road of adaptability, challenge, and growth. “I’ve taught in four different schools, across multiple grade levels,” she says. “And every time I changed roles, I learned something new—not just about teaching, but about myself.”

Linda began her career at the high school level, teaching special education for 10 years. From there, she moved into special education coordination, helping students and teachers navigate individualized learning plans. It was work that required patience, advocacy, and an ability to see potential where others saw obstacles.

But then life—specifically, love—changed her course. She married a Jasper County farmer, moved to the district, and found herself adapting once again. “My first job in this area was at Oblong, where I continued in special education,” she recalls. “Then, when a position opened in Jasper County, I took it. It just so happened that my oldest son was starting kindergarten at the time. It was perfect.”

Teaching has always been more than a profession for Linda—it’s been a calling, a responsibility, and a reflection of her belief that education should evolve with both the teacher and the student. After 26 years in special education, she felt the pull to try something different. When a fourth-grade classroom position became available, she took the leap.

“I think change is essential,” she says. “Teachers get burned out when they stay in one place too long without shaking things up. Stepping into a general education classroom after all those years in special ed gave me a completely different perspective.”

That perspective, she says, has been invaluable. “I understand what happens behind the scenes of special education, and that awareness helps me support my students in ways I might not have before.” She’s also found that building relationships is just as important as delivering lessons. “If a student doesn’t trust you, they won’t work for you. You have to establish that foundation first.”

Linda is no stranger to the power of relationships, both in and out of the classroom. She and her husband raised three boys, all of whom graduated from Newton. One son is preparing for his wedding, another is studying agriculture at Western Illinois University, and her youngest is still in high school. “They all went through FFA and livestock judging,” she says proudly. “It’s part of who we are as a family.”

Even as she approaches retirement, Linda isn’t ready to walk away from education entirely. She envisions a second career—perhaps mentoring student teachers, working in instructional coaching, or returning as a substitute. “I always said I’d teach and then find a second career,” she muses. “I just haven’t figured out what it looks like yet.”

For now, she’s savoring her final year in the classroom, knowing that the lessons she’s imparted will last long after she’s gone. “Teaching isn’t just about academics,” she reflects. “It’s about preparing kids for life, teaching them how to adapt, how to think, how to believe in themselves.”

And if there’s one thing Linda Tharp has mastered, it’s the art of adaptation. Through every change, every challenge, and every chapter of her career, she has remained a teacher at heart—one who believes that growth never stops, and that the best lessons aren’t just the ones found in textbooks, but the ones learned through experience.