Linda Chambers Domin ’57 grew up in State College. For 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades she attended Fraser Street School, now the post office building. “I loved my 1st grade teacher, Frances Collins, and still have a note from her!” she shared.
For 4th grade through 6th grade, Linda went to Nittany Avenue School, which was next to Memorial Field and is no longer there. “Mrs. Waite was my 6th grade teacher,” Linda said. “She was so creative and did a unit on Africa that I will never forget.”
At Fairmount Avenue High School where Linda attended grades 7th-12th, she recalls her favorite teacher Eleanor Ley who taught Latin and kept in touch with the students in Linda’s class for over 50 years, attending their 50th reunion in 2007. Linda also remembers Biology teacher Wilbur Bolton and the hands-on experiments in class. “He encouraged and loved every student and had a great sense of humor,” she said. Linda’s class was the last to graduate from Fairmount Avenue High School. With 174 members, Linda said everyone was close and they remain so today, keeping in touch and enjoying get-togethers and reunions.
Linda knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in teaching and often played school with her friend Betty Mae Reeder. “I think our schools here were probably very good, we just didn’t realize it then. We had library, art, and music, and we all loved Phys. Ed. with Miss Betty Springer. She wrote a booklet of her games, which I kept and used to teach my own students,” she said.
In her yearbook, Linda stated that her future ambition was “to teach kindergarten in State College.” Her wish came true in 1974 when she began teaching kindergarten at Lemont Elementary School. Linda majored in Elementary Education at Penn State and graduated in 1962. In college, she met her husband Tony who graduated from Penn State in 1960 with a degree in math. Tony passed away in 2012. The couple moved to Rockville, Maryland, where Linda taught preschool. In 1965, Linda and Tony returned to State College.
After working at a nursery school and co-founding Grace Lutheran Nursery School, Linda joined SCASD in 1974 as a kindergarten teacher at Lemont Elementary. She retired in 2002. In 2003, she worked with local nonprofit Smart Start to author Babies Rock with Books, giving parents tips and techniques for reading to infants. The name was inspired by a favorite photo of her infant granddaughter Sarah flipping through a board book in a rocking chair.
Linda and Tony’s sons are also State High and Penn State alumni: David, State High ’79 and Penn State ’85; and Bruce, State High ’86 and Penn State ’91. Bruce and his wife, Kim, have a daughter, Sarah Domin Baum.
Today, Linda makes sure to cherish every single day, spending time with her family and being active in her church, her AOPi alumni group, and the State High Class of ’57 alumni group. “I also continue to stay in touch with my dear kindergarten alums!” she shared.
“I am honored and full of gratitude to be inducted into the Maroon & Gray Society. Best of all, sharing this honor with my dear friend Gwen Bunnell and representing all the wonderful kindergarten teachers we taught with over the years in this outstanding school district. Each and every one of them brought their love of children and their gift of creativity—and patience—to school every day!” Linda said.
Reflections on State High:
“I have so many wonderful memories of my years at State High. Senior Week we got out of school in the mornings to write a pageant and in the afternoons we headed to Whipple Dam. Graduation was on June 7th on the football field. We presented our pageant, changed into caps and gowns at the Fairmount school, and attended an all-night party afterward.”
Friends, family, and community service:
“I am most proud of my family and my ‘forever’ friends. Over the years I have been a member of the State College Jr. Women’s Club, a volunteer for the Central PA Festival of the Arts, the State High Alumni Association board, and the Centennial Education Committee to help plan the Elementary Centennial Pageant in 1996. My husband Tony and I also delivered Meals on Wheels. Of course, being a co-founder of Grace Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten was a big and meaningful accomplishment.”
