Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, December 5, 1994                   TAG: 9412290010
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

Oakland Elementary School

When Linda LeFever left the teaching field to become a reading consultant for a textbook company, she had no intention of coming back. "I was burned out," she said.

But it wasn't long before LeFever realized she belonged in school. "I learned a lot when I was a consultant, and I wanted to share it with the kids. I was homesick for the classroom."

LeFever has been back for five years now, and views her hiatus from teaching positively. "It gave me the R&R I needed to go for the long haul," she said.

LeFever describes her Roanoke classroom as "active." "We learn by doing; we do a lot of hands-on things," she said. "She shows us she cares, and she makes games while teaching so that makes learning fun," said the pupil who nominated her.

LeFever said she is a strong advocate of parental involvement. "When parents are involved, kids learn," she said. She also is a supporter of Oakland's volunteer program, which welcomes volunteers from a nearby church into the school.

Walking, reading and exercising are what LeFever enjoys away from school. She is the mother of a son who works in North Carolina.