ESL instructor Toby From retires

    As the fall semester wraps up this month, Toby From will be saying goodbye to her classroom at Phillips County Family Education Services. She’s been an instructor there since October 2000 and has seen plenty of changes in her 18 years with the program.
    At the start, From was teaching beginner English as a Second Language. As the program grew, she began to teach intermediate and advanced ESL. From there, it increased to Adult Basic Education, and From will be retiring as an ESL/ABE instructor.
    In that time, From also saw the program move from the back of Inklings bookstore to its current location at Phillips County Event Center. That was probably the biggest change, From said, as it was more of a classroom setting in the new location.
    In a typical week, From taught two 2-hour classes a day, Monday-Thursday. This year, 46 students are enrolled in the classes. With the amount of time spent planning outside of class, From said PCFES was like her second home. The thing she’ll miss most is the students and the relationships she’s formed with them. Helping them, she said, has been the most rewarding part of her job.

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