Darlene Campbell Retired as of Oct. 1st. We will sure miss her enjoy this article about one of our favorite teachers along with a few photos.
Darlene has worked in Adair County Schools since 2002. Before that she taught at the Kentucky Christian Academy for 10 years. During her time as a teacher, she taught 1st grade, music, writing, multi-age classes, and art. She also taught all kinds of Camp Casey classes. Pam Gieselhardt and Debbie Bradshaw were her team teachers while doing multi-age classes.
Darlene loved watching kids get excited when they discover they can do things they didn’t know they could do. She also loved seeing their eyes light up because they learned something new. She will definitely miss the kids, her co-workers, and the whole school environment. She hopes students remember that she really saw them and tried to bring out the best in each of them. She also truly loved every one of her students. She became a teacher because she loved students and wanted to impact their lives in a positive way.
One thing that Darlene will never forget is the time a student’s tooth broke off and got stuck in another student’s ear. Another time a student used the bathroom on the math carpet. There was another time she caught the shades on fire. And yet another time when her class caught a mouse in the trash can. She could keep telling more stories but those are some of the highlights.
During her teaching career a lot has changed. She saw the most change in American Culture, the impact of technology, education requirements, and societal views of families. Some of her accomplishments include: the Golden Apple Award for Teaching, inclusion in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and the Wester KY University Distinguished Educator Award Nominee in Visual and Performing Arts (P-12).
In her free time, Darlene enjoys painting, writing, and gardening. After retiring, she plans to be a full-time writer and artist. She already has a book tour underway.
Laura Marcum shared that “Darlene has spent her career sparking creativity and joy in students. As an artist and published author, she has shared her gifts in countless ways, always thinking outside the box and encouraging others to do the same. Her passion, imagination, and heart will be dearly missed but forever remembered."
Pam Phipps commented, “Darlene Campbell is one of the most authentic, sincere, and kind people I know. Like a beautiful and vivid butterfly, she has transformed and blossomed throughout her life; living and surviving and growing and loving life and being there for people. She is also the most talented person I know and has more talent in her pinky finger than most people have in their whole body. She's accomplished so much in the short time she has lived. What a legacy of fortitude and success and love she has and continues to create, friend, mother, grandmother, teacher, musician, artist, and author. Congratulations on your retirement, my dear friend!”
