Learning Lessons

After a 35-year career, high school Spanish teacher Linda grew so disillusioned with the education system that she chose to leave her beloved profession. Reckoning with a fractured sense of self in the wake of this upheaval, she decided to walk nearly 200 miles across Spain on the ancient pilgrim's path of the Camino de Santiago. Join Linda on the trail as she follows the Camino's iconic yellow arrows to her destination and faces obstacles both external and internal: blisters, antagonists, the fear of failure and being lost. With each step, Linda must rediscover what it really means to "learn lessons" and rekindle the guiding light within her: the passion, purpose, and spirit that defined her as an educator.

Linda Markley has been both a student and a teacher her whole (hearted) life! She has taught Spanish, French, Math, Languages for Specific Purposes and ESL to every age group, in private and public schools, in both under-served and privileged communities. Linda has also served on various educational committees as well as on the boards of many national, state and local professional organizations. She has won numerous awards for teaching and for her advocacy work in education. After retiring from the education system disillusioned and ailing, Linda authored the book Learning Lessons about her journey back to herself as she walked nearly 200 miles across Spain on the Camino Francés pilgrim's trail. Learning Lessons is dedicated to anyone - teachers, students, and everyone in between - who may need a hand to hold as they make their way forward on their path in life. Today, Linda channels her passion for teachers and students through The Spirit of Teaching, which she founded in 2020. She shares inspiration, support, resources, and a weekly newsletter, as well as a podcast called Teacher Tales, with the purpose of creating an archive of teacher stories that inform, enlighten, inspire and uplift. You can find out more about Linda and the Spirit of Teaching at www.spiritofteaching.org