(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Columbia Elementary School interventionist Abigail Arnold.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Decatur, Ala., on Sept. 18, 1979.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Lawrence County Christian School, then Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. I’m currently attending William Carey University, pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership to become a school administrator.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: I lived in Cleveland, Chattanooga, Moulton, Ala., and Columbia.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m the interventionist at Columbia Elementary School, so I help students who struggle academically that need extra support in the classroom. I pull in anywhere from one to four students at a time, and we work on reading fluency, reading comprehension or math concepts. I’m the author of “From a Whisper to a Roar,” and my thought behind the book was when life happens and we face difficult and challenging situations, if we can just whisper a prayer to God, He will step up and roar on our behalf. I’m also the worship pastor at Life Church on U.S. 98. I lead the praise of worship band, direct the music and vocals and lead the prayers and worship for the services.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I’ve known since I was in kindergarten that I wanted to be a teacher. I taught my brother and sister to read while I was a primary student before they started school. I’ve also had a love for music as long as I can remember. I started singing in churches when I was 3 years old. My dad traveled with a Southern Gospel group and exposed me to the world of Christian music.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: Seeing the “aha!” moments when they finally understand a concept they’ve been struggling with and that lightbulb comes on. When they get excited about what they’ve learned and make growth, that’s what makes my job worth it.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I began babysitting and tutoring before I was old enough to drive, but my first real job was as a waitress in high school.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: The most influential in my life would be my parents, Jake and Connie Dutton. I’m very close to both of my parents, and they really invested a lot in me. They were always there to help guide me in making decisions. As far as my ministry goes, it would be who I consider as my spiritual mentor who was a pastor’s wife, Angie Fowler. She spent an enormous amount of time pouring into me and helping me grow. As far as my career, in my first year teaching I was assigned a mentor teacher, Mary Holland. She happened to be the state Teacher of the Year for Tennessee, and she was the most amazing lady I have ever seen in the classroom. She really helped me get my feet on the ground with my career.
Q: What is your spouse’s name? What does he do for a living?
A: Greg Arnold. He is a physical education teacher at Columbia Primary School and the head softball coach at Columbia High School.
Q: Do you have any children?
A: We have two. Austin is 15 and Meagan is 11.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: It would definitely be seafood with something chocolate for dessert.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I would go on a tour of Africa. I would want to see some of its exotic animals and be exposed to the jungle, but also do some mission work.
Q: What hobbies/activities do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I love baking, I write music and I love to read.
Q: What do you enjoy most about living and working in Columbia and Marion County?
A: We have made some great friends that would be lifelong friends even if we were to move. The people here are extremely friendly, and I enjoy working in an environment where your coworkers feel like family.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: I think I would like to have lunch with Billy Graham just to get insight and wisdom from a man who made such a profound impact on our nation.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I would like to be remembered as a Godly woman that made a difference. I hope that somebody can look back and say that I changed their life.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: Becoming a mother because it changed everything about me. It changed the way I saw the world, the way I saw children, the way I viewed myself; it was the greatest thing that happened to our family. It changed our lives to become parents.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I would rather read a good book. As much as I like watching movies, I enjoy reading books more because I can create my own pictures in my mind and go back, process and think about things that were said. I like to go back and make notes in my books to reflect on. I just like the creativity that comes with being able to read a book. If you watch a movie, everything is laid out already for you.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Abigail Arnold, Columbia Elementary School interventionist and author of “From a Whisper to a Roar,” will appear at the Columbia-Marion County Public Library Oct. 24 for a book signing. The book signing will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
