As she is known to do on the last day of the school year, Linda Mantua plans to perform a cartwheel at Arno Elementary School in Allen Park. Only this year will be different.

After 30 years of making a difference in the lives of so many children, Mrs. Mantua plans to retire from her job as a media center tech, which will no doubt surprise and sadden those whose faces she has put smiles on since her first day at Arno.

So why now?

“My mom always used to tell me you should always go home while you’re having fun,” Mantua said. “I’m listening to my mom. You know when it’s time.”

Mom Elizabeth passed away last October at age 93. A homemaker, Elizabeth “was a lot of fun” – and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree when it came to daughter Linda.

“I wake up every day and I am a happy person,” she said. “I don’t even know what to attribute it to, except the life I was given.”

By all accounts at Arno, Mantua’s mission has been accomplished. Anyone touched by her good deeds, kind words and hugs will be left with fond memories.

Mantua has provided books and promotes reading at the school library, but her role has expanded way beyond the library doors. She has kept the company of youngsters in the early breakfast program and at lunchtime, greets first-graders with a smile and a hug when they are dropped off curbside and has a kind word for parents and grandparents, too.

She seems to know everyone’s name, dresses in costumes regularly to commemorate a holiday, national day, reading character or to show support for a local sports team. She chuckles, sings, dances, makes children laugh and cheers them up when they’re down.

“I love the positive energy that she brings to the building,” said Arno Principal Steve Zielinski. “With everything that goes on in the world, a nice positive start to the school day is what kids really want. She kicks off their day in a special way.”

Zielinski, who has worked with Mantua for nine of her years at Arno, called her a “role model.”

“She goes into the lunchroom and talks about being kind and spreads an anti-bullying message,” he said. “It runs the gamut about what she says to the kids. She’s not only positive, but has positive messages for the kids. She’s definitely an example of being yourself and letting the world see you.”

Mantua attributes her joy for life to her father’s encouragement of her to play sports by saying “get into the game and not sit on the sidelines.” She excelled in softball, basketball and bowling and developed confidence and self-esteem along the way.

“Sports taught me a lot about life,” she said. “It helped me learn how to get along with others.”

Mantua was taking nursing classes at Wayne County Community College when her grandmother became ill and she helped her mother care for her. Instead of nursing, she chose to work in the Allen Park School District, saying that decision has made a huge positive difference in her life.

“The position has allowed me to enjoy children and their lives,” she said. “Now that my children are older, I’ve been able to take on more responsibilities… while having the same enthusiasm I learned while active in sports.”

Mantua’s 2023-2024 school year has been one for the record books. For the fifth time, she was honored at the annual founder’s dinner, this time for lifetime achievement. At the daddy-daughter dance, she received a tiara and was named the “queen of Arno” by the Parent-Teacher Association. During a teachers’ recognition day, children wrote their love for Mantua in chalk messages. Lengthy threads on Facebook sing her praises.

“On my son’s first day of first grade at Arno Elementary,” recalled PTA President Kristy Varkoly, “we arrived at the school, both of us nervous in our own way for this new journey ahead. As we walked up to the front doors, we were happily greeted by a ray of sunshine in human form, Mrs. Mantua. She was wearing a hot pink furry vest, red sunglasses, a donut headband and funky earrings and you could just feel the love and warmth radiating from her as she enthusiastically greeted the kids. I immediately thought, ‘I want to be her when I grow up’ and I suddenly felt more at ease about leaving my son at school for the first time.”

Retired Arno Principal Sue Vokal said just hearing Mantua’s name still brings a smile to her face.

“Her effervescence was seen in whatever position or assignment she undertook,” Vokal said. “She loves the kids and wants to have fun with them, but maintains a high expectation for them as well.”

Co-worker Katie Jensen said Mantua knows the importance of “ensuring a safe and fun environment for students attending latchkey, bringing music and dance to breakfast and lunch and greeting students and families with exuberance each morning at the main doors.”

Another co-worker, Cathy Anderson, called Mantua “a bright and shining light at Arno” and “a one-of-a-kind lady.” Anderson said Mantua has been “known to ride a bike in the halls to get the kids moving along or stopping to read to a child who is feeling blue.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mantua missed the children coming to school so she delivered donuts to their homes and wrote chalk messages on the sidewalk.

“Her love for books and learning is undeniable,” Anderson said, “and she accentuates to the kids how books and knowledge open up your mind and heart to the world. She is very loved here at Arno and will be very missed when she retires. We are all blessed to have had the privilege to work with her and are very happy she will be starting a new chapter in her life and taking life at a leisurely pace. I do suspect, however, she will not be still for long.”

Mantua, who turns 66 in June, did not disagree.

“I never really even paid attention to how I impacted kids,” she said. “I just take it for granted this is how life is supposed to be. I didn’t think I was going out of my way. It’s me being me. It’s time with kids. Nothing is more rewarding. They make my day every day.”

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