A Career and More on Team ISEA Is Coming To A Close

The first person you connect with when calling the ISEA office is that of Betty Linn and after nearly 30 years on Team ISEA, she is about to retire. Just as in our school buildings our "first line of defense" is our school secretary, so too at ISEA, our gate keeper, that calming voice, our ISEA receptionist, who helps members connect with just the right person to help them through an issue...our receptionist/"school" secretary, Betty Linn is retiring next Thursday.

Betty started her working life as a teacher in Pella, IA. Betty taught both Senior English and Junior & Senior High Art. The birth of her two children interrupted her years of teaching--after Pella, Betty taught Elementary Art for the Des Moines Public Schools. She taught at Nash, Bird, Adams, Brooks, and Douglas elementaries before leaving her full-time employment with DMPS. Betty even spent some time working as a substitute teacher in Des Moines.

She first connected with ISEA when our offices were located in Salisbury House. Betty started as a tour guide, giving 90 minute tours in order to earn her salary. Betty later substituted at the reception desk, then cataloged collections within Salisbury House. Betty compiled some 12-13 years with those early positions before becoming a full-time employee 18 years ago.

Betty's job has been so much more then answering the telephone and connecting members to staff. One of the many jobs I asked of Betty was to make "magic wands" for me to present to school secretaries in my visits to Iowa's schools.

Today Betty and I did lunch together at Noah's on Ingersoll for my way of thanking Betty for all her years as being a critical member of Team ISEA. Betty shared how she will now have more time to spend with her two children and six grandchildren who all live in the Des Moines metro area. We wish you Godspeed, Betty!