Linda Noorda – Gramercy Elementary School

Linda Noorda has been a very dedicated teacher at Gramercy Elementary in the Ogden School district for 25 years. She has taught third grade, fourth grade and she is currently teaching kindergarten. She loves the children and shows them love by using her kind and gentle voice. Always reaching out to her students, she never fails to create a relationship with those dealing with learning disabilities or emotional stress. She is also able to interact and bond with students who come to school with little or no understanding of the English language. Her countless hours spent nurturing and instructing her students have been apparent over the years. With her open and loving heart, Linda is able to craft a sweet and understanding friendship with each student she teaches.

Linda has chosen to work in a very low socio-economic area where she is able to help children who truly need an exceptional teacher. She has a positive outlook on life that is contagious within her class. To know Linda is to love her, and her students adore her. They look forward to coming to her class each day and feeling her love and acceptance. Still in touch with former students, many come back as adults to thank her for the impact she had in their lives. Linda never gives up on her students as she lovingly watches them grow through mutual hard work. She has a great love of books and through fun and interesting lessons, she passes on this great attribute to her students. Her vigor for life and knowledge becomes instilled in each student as they discover a love for learning.

She quietly goes beyond the boundaries of ordinary teaching by helping the families of her children. Her humble work behind the scenes often goes unnoticed, her constant charity only being perceived from time to time by her coworkers. She helps the parents on an individual basis with uncritical advice on discipline or how to better care for their kids. She gives so freely of herself, buying diapers, food, and often Christmas presents for families who can’t quite make ends meet from time to time. Never asking for praise or acknowledgment for her actions, she simply goes about helping her students purely because she sees the need and her love for them will not allow her to overlook the comments of a hungry student or a mother at a loss for Christmas.
Her ability to teach social skills is also one of her great skills as a teacher. Her games and activities encourage and educate her students on making and keeping friends, responsibility, and honesty. However, the greatest lessons she teaches them are taught silently, through her kind and gentle ways. Her thoughtful manner is a huge part of her who she is and all those around her, student, parent, or coworker are influenced by her care.

Her ability to teach social skills is also one of her great expertise as a teacher. Her games and activities encourage and educate her students on making and keeping friends, responsibility, and honesty. However, the greatest lessons she teaches them are taught silently, through her kind and gentle ways. Her thoughtful manner is a huge part of her who she is and all those around her, student, parent, or coworker are influenced by her care.

Linda is a master teacher and an inspiration to all of those who teach with her. She has always been a great mentor those teaching alongside her. Forever coming up with solutions to problems her coworkers come to her with, she is never overly critical, always offering kind words of confidence in their abilities. For all her love and kindness, for her example, and for her enthusiasm for life and learning, I would like to nominate Linda Noorda for the KSL/Zion Bank Teacher Feature.

-Katherine Passey