February is Black History Month and Monday we want to tell you about an educator who's been making a difference in the community her entire life.

It's here in the hallways and classrooms Linda Asberry spends most of her days.
She's been the Principal at Robert C. Neal Elementary in Bryan since it opened in 1997.

"I was given lots of opportunities, I was was given lots of support, my environment was nurturing and challenging and I wanna do the same thing for kids," said Linda Asberry.

She's celebrating her 40th anniversary in education this year. Born and raised in Bryan, she never, left, never wanted to.

"The nurturing started early, the expectations started early, the opportunities started early when I was in middle school and in high school. I had teachers who allowed me opportunities to be leaders."

Now she is setting the bar high for the leaders of tomorrow while giving the school a fun feel. Kindergarten teacher Karen Townsend has worked under Asberry for 20 years.

"It's just like a family here... She's very opening and welcoming to the kids and they love her. Just as all the teacher's do," Townsend said.

"I want kids to know there are no limits to what they can become, what they can do," Asberry said.

She has suffered some setbacks along the way. Her mother, husband, and sister passed in recent years. Her sister Ruby Toliver lived with her for more than a year while recovering from ovarian cancer and a stroke.

"My faith, my family, and my friends are kind of what I'm about.
It strengthened my faith, brought us closer together as sisters. It let me know that life is precious," Asberry said.

She also said it taught her how to better balance her school duties and times away from work.

But Linda's passion for teaching transcends hallways and classrooms

She also happens to be the Music Director at Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

"I grew up with a singing mamma, ok and went to church all the time. She took me to everything; missions, choir rehearsal, all of those things. So I started singing way back there with them," Asberry said.

A gift she takes back to school with her.

"I do that, I do alot of singing with my kids around here, they know when they have programs, I, I'm a part of that anytime I can be I am," she said.

Brenda Owens teaches at Neal.

"As a friend I don't think they come any better because she's very supportive and a good listener and I kind of see those same qualities in her as a professional.," Owens said.

"Make sure you surround yourself with good people, because that's important. You might need that one day, you never know," Asberry said.

For Linda Asberry, she may never realize the impact she's making on her students, teachers, and church family, but they sure do.

Under Asberry's leadership Neal Elementary School was rated an Exemplary campus for 2008 to 2009 by the Texas Education Agency.