Dr. Linda Curtis Retiring After 33 years of service

Dr. Linda L. Curtis

Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director of Academics

33 years of service

Friday, September 20, 2019, our school system bida warm farewell to Dr. Linda L. Curtis, an educator and leader who has had a lasting impact on the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Dr. Curtis has served military-connected students and the Department of Defense for the last 33 years. For more than three decades, she has served as a classroom teacher, administrator, Curriculum Chief, Superintendent, Regional Director, and finally as the Principal Deputy Director and Associate Director of Academics at DoDEA HQ in Alexandria, Virginia. She is a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Early years

Her story, and love of education, began in her home state of Indiana, where she grew up in Fort Wayne with her twin sister, Cinda, and older brother, Dan. Her parents were both working people. "My mother was a keypunch operator, which most people don't even know what that is now. And my father was a tool and die maker with General Electric, and very active in the union."

Dr. Curtis was influenced greatly by her elementary school years. "I had wonderful teachers, and I knew by second grade that I wanted to be a teacher because I just loved school. I can name every teacher I had in elementary school to this day. In fact I still correspond with one, my kindergarten teacher." She remembers her principal, Mr. Dugood, who helped her and others grow and become more aware of the world. "Every year was a great experience."

Teacher influence

Like most people, Linda Curtis has great appreciation for a special teacher who really stood out in her school career.

"My seventh grade English teacher, who now lives in Hawaii, was that teacher for me. She was a wonderful English teacher. She was tough but she was very caring about her students. And I was so looking forward to her the following year in eighth grade, but she went on a visit to Hawaii, loved it, got a job offer, and so she never came back. It was very disappointing. Middle school years are tough and students go through many different things. She was always there, was such a good listener, and we connected so well. We still correspond. I know about her grandkids. I visit her in Hawaii so we still see each other every three or four years."