Oakdale Junior High staff recently selected Linda Metcalf as the recipient of the Joyce Reed Living Memorial Sunshine Citizen of the Year Award.
Metcalf is retiring this year after 22 years of teaching at the junior high. She began her teaching career in 1995 at OJHS. She attended Chico State University, Modesto Junior College, and Stanislaus State University, where she completed her education and credential program.
She established the School Garden Program, and has been the staff coordinator of the Garden program. She has been a Science Olympiad coach, and always willing to help students and others. She has taught Science to seventh graders for the past 12 years and in prior years taught English Literature, Pre-Algebra and many Science classes, to both seventh and eighth graders. Metcalf is also active in church work in Oakdale. Her hobbies include writing, gardening, orchard care and the outdoors, and spending time with her family with grandchildren.
In retirement, she plans to write middle level (Jr. High) Science to stimulate the Science program and strengthen the standards. She will share this with other science teachers.
She and her husband, Bud, have two sons, Joe (Katrina); Brian (Kayla) and three grandchildren.
“Teaching has been the greatest honor in my life,” Metcalf said. “I love students, especially the junior high age; they are a joy and challenge. They need time in development and need positive attention. They are capable young people, their brain is developing and they are growing up.”
Metcalf said she also likes to challenge all youth to do their best.
“It is an honor to help youth,” she added.
Oakdale Junior High will miss Metcalf as she has been a beacon to youth throughout the years.
The ‘Sunshine’ award was established in 2000 with the retirement of Joyce Reed. Each year the staff at OJHS nominates and selects a teacher or other staff member, or a community person for teaching excellence, student services, campus leadership, and community youth involvement. The recipient has their name on the perpetual plaque, which remains in the office, also a memento gift, and a cash award.
