CONTINUING A TRADITION OF AN INSPIRING AND BELOVED TEACHER - "3RD GRADE ROCKS!"

by BENJAMIN C. NELSON

Shellie Claiborne, sister of Dina Arnold, sent me information about a very special tradition that is still going on in the halls of 3rd Grade at Macon R-1 Elementary.

"Carrying on the tradition, which began in 1990 by beloved teacher Dina Arnold, Macon R-1 3rd Graders created Potato People during the months of tubers and tots. Mrs. Arnold's sister, Shellie Claiborne presented each spud with an original award. Pictured Left to Right are 3rd Grade Teachers with the potato display, Lori Nelson, Shelly Schaefer, Brenda Nelson, Abbie Farrington (Dina Arnold’s Niece), and Karen Hawkins. C&R donated the potatoes for the project."

Dina Arnold passed away November 15th, 2016 from cancer. She was loved by many and was best known for her saying at school, "3C Rocks." Daughter of Dina Arnold, Lauren Arnold is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at the University of Missouri - Columbia. She would love to teach 3rd Grade, but will take any grade K-5. No matter what, she is most definitely following in her mother's footsteps, by being a teacher. Shelby Arnold, oldest daughter of Dina Arnold, graduated from University of Missouri and now works for Cerner in Kansas City. Mike Arnold, husband of Dina, is a retired Farm Loan Specialist from USDA. Now, he works part-time at Macon Atlanta State Bank as a Credit Analyst.