A Northern Lehigh School District educator retired last month after more than four decades in education.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link recognized retiree Linda Brown at last week’s school board meeting.

Link said that Brown retired last month after she served the district for 42½ years.

He said that Brown was hired full-time in August 1988 as a Home Economics teacher.

Previously, she served the district as a Family Consumer Science substitute teacher for 7½ years.

Brown obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics in Education from Mansfield University in 1979.

In 1980, she received her certification in Cooperative Education from Penn State University.

Brown obtained her Masters in Education with a concentration in Home Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1983.

In 2000, she received her certification in Secondary School Counseling from Kutztown University.

Brown began as a Northern Lehigh Middle School counselor in August 2018.

“Mrs. Brown is an excellent teacher and school counselor who met the individual needs of each and every child as she developed their special talents and interests,” Link said. “Mrs. Brown touched the lives of thousands of Northern Lehigh students over the past cumulatively 42½ years, which is absolutely remarkable, and was always able to make special connections with our middle school students.”

Link added, “She truly was a gift to our students and staff, and she will be dearly missed.”

He then referenced the Sunday’s Super Bowl, and alluded to the phrase “a coaching tree” - specifically Kansas City Chief’s head coach Andy Reid, and how many coaches he has mentored over the years.

“I kind of came to the realization that she (Brown) has a school counseling in teaching tree,” Link said. “She enlisted many of the students that are currently teachers for us, many of their children that are now our students or their grandchildren that are now our students.”

Link explained how truly fortunate the district was to have had Brown as an educator for so many years.

“Her Northern Lehigh tree, the roots run deep and the branches stretch far,” he said. “She truly was a remarkable educator for our school district.”