I eessons: Teacher shares story to help others On March 24, 1998, Lynette Thetford's life changed forever. Thetford, an adjunct teacher for the College of Education, was shot byone of her students while teach– ing at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark. Th etford \aught at Westside Middle School for 16 years before the school shootings changed her perspective on life. Thetford said the only thing that got her through the experience was her faith in Jesus Christ. Although some might have quit teaching after such a tragedy, Thetford felt an obligation to stay and teach until the children that were directly affected moved on to high school. Thetford's involvement in the Westside Middle School shooting opened doors that she neve r thought possible.She spoke across the southeastern Un ited States about her experiences and had the opportunity to help others in– volved in school "J think there was a purpose for me living,'t Thetford said. liTthink of all the times I was needed and co uld he lp. I think that is s hootings, in– cluding st u – dents and teach– ersatColumbine High School. "I went to Columbine and we had meet– ings to ge ther where we talked about the prob– lems and what to do next time "I have learned so much from my students. Ithink that I have learned more from them than they have from me." why J was saved." Thetford or i g in a ll y wanted to at– tend Harding, but never had the opportu– nit y. She fi– nally came to Harding as a n in stru ctor and -Lynette Thetford , adjunct in the College of Education it happened ," Thetford said. " It was a healing experience for [all] of us." Thetford believed that if Christ touched one person from her ex– perience, she would be happy. semester class Middle School." · taught a Mon– day night fall e ntitl ed, "The In her teaching, Thetford tried to emph asize how teachers cou ld still be Christians while teaching in the public school system. "We have allowed the court systems to keep us from being w ho we are," Thetford sa id . "While you cannot teach re li gion, you can be who you are and Christ will sp ill out of you into the c1assroom." Thetford sa id she enjoyed teac hin g at the university . "1 h ave learned so much from my students," Thetford sa id . " I -'think that I ha ve learned more from them than they have from me." H er students said Thetford's class was fun and educational. "I was impressed that she con– tinu ed to teach after the shooting and espec ially took on teaching at Harding," senior Shelby Kempf sa id. " I have learned so much from her. " -Heidi Walden Senior Misti Jones, who student taught at Harding Academy in the fall, helps a student write in a reading journal. All education majors certifying to teach were required to spend a semester student teaching before graduation. (Photo by Ben Simpson) Lynette Thetford, adjuct instructor of education, explains to her fall semester Monday night class called "The Middle School" about the implementation of a new literacy lab program. Thetford was a survivor of the 1998 Westside Middle School shooting in Jonesboro, Ark. (Photo by April Clem) college of education 171 ~Iml .
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