Linda Shekita (Miss Shekita)

Linda was raised in the Hudson Valley. At the age of 16, she volunteered tutoring struggling learners in an after-school program. From that time on, Linda wanted to teach young learners.  After graduating from Arlington High, she studied Psychology and Elementary Education at Vassar College, earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education and an Advanced Certificate of Administration at SUNY New Paltz. In 2011, Linda achieved National Board Certification in Literacy.

Linda worked in education for 35 years in several school districts and in many capacities. Most of all, she loved teaching literacy to emergent readers and writers. Since retiring in June 2015, Linda has been active with the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew. She had her partner, Artie Enrique Hidalgo Espinosa, to thank for drafting her into the Rovers. One day he invited her to tag along with him on a crew trip near a lake. Book in hand for a peaceful day by the lake, somehow Linda found herself with a hard hat and glove on listening to her first “safety talk” as a new recruit. She finds making crush especially appealing with its Zen like aura. When she is not making crush or handling Rover business behind the scenes (like cooking and paying the bills), Linda volunteers at the Dutchess ReStore for Habitat for Humanity and the Trail Builders at Mohonk Preserve. After retirement, Linda took up yoga again for the first time since her 20’s, began practicing Tai Chi and tries to meditate daily using the Healthy Minds app.