Meet Lindsay Chamberlin— College Park Educator and Writer
Hi! I’m Lindsay Chamberlin. I’m from upstate NY, where it’s freezing cold and mostly cloudy. After I graduated from SUNY Brockport in 2000, I went into advertising sales at a top 40 radio station in Rochester which, at the time, played “Bye Bye Bye” fifteen times a day, just for reference. I was recruited by a radio station in Jacksonville in 2003, so I packed up my velour track suit and headed south! Two years later, I came to work for XL 106.7 at Clear Channel Radio Orlando, and that is where I met my husband Mark. We got married in 2006. He was born and raised in College Park, and the moment I stepped foot into this neighborhood, I knew I was home. I have convinced a lot of people to moved to Florida – not that it takes a lot of arm-twisting – but most recently, my parents, who are building a house where they plan to at least spend those brutal winters. I can’t wait to have them closer!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Mark and I have three boys, Jack, Joshua, and Jeffrey, a bulldog named Skye, a bearded dragon named Michael, and a fish named John. My sister Meredith and brother Jared are still up north and they’re going to be so mad I mentioned John the fish first.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I teach kindergarten at Monarch Learning Academy. There is nothing in the world like teaching kindergarten, there’s magic every single day. Helping a child become a reader, or to take a risk, or be a good friend – there’s nothing like it. We sing a LOT, so I also get to live out my fantasy of being a karaoke celebrity.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Our go-to is The Tap Room. That’s date night almost every time. The food and service are always great. When it’s the whole family, it’s usually Tornatore’s, Blended Bistro, or Ragazzi’s. When it’s just me grabbing something for lunch, it’s Infusion for sure.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve been here 15 years altogether. I stayed home with my kids when they were babies, and felt really drawn to their preschool, St. Vincent’s. I started working there as an assistant, thinking it would be fun and cute and I could see other grown-ups, and fell in love with teaching. The director, Julieann, was so supportive of me going back to school to be a lead teacher, I jumped at the opportunity. She was also the one who told me back in 2014 that the Community Paper was looking for writers. That’s when I started writing my column, Confessions of a College Park Mom.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
There are so many interesting people here! I love talking to Stephanie Bowman at One Heart for Women and Children. Even more than that, I love WATCHING Stephanie talk to people. She makes everyone feel seen and special, I admire that so much.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. My family used to take these epic, month-long RV trips in the summers and for twenty years, I have been telling people that the only states I have never been to are Alaska, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon. On my parents’ latest visit, my dad pointed out that, while we were within just a few miles in all these cases, we’d never technically been to these three either. I’ve been living a lie. So, if anyone’s headed to, say, Omaha, let me know.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
If I’m trying to sound fancy, I’ll tell you American Beauty is my favorite movie, but if I’m being honest, I can’t watch Love, Actually enough. Or Billy Madison. We’ve binge watched a lot of TV this year, but my comfort shows are Friends and Schitt’s Creek.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be nice. The same rules apply to social media as they do in kindergarten. Nobody wants to be friends with someone that’s mean to them. Period.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
My big goal was to run a marathon, and I did it last year, so now my bucket list item is to working it into every conversation I have.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
I’ve never had that problem. I put on the 90’s alternative station on Amazon music when we get in the car, usually followed up with a, “MOM… DON’T!” but the heart wants what it wants.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Bob’s/College Park Sunoco. The way Bob took care of customers reminds me of growing up in a small town. It was one of the first things I loved about this neighborhood.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Rose Duen is my ride or die and we have fun wherever we go. You may know her from Faces of College Park a few months back. We work at Monarch together. We would go to the The Tap Room where we would tell people we know Steve Gunter, the owner. Dropping his name is key.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My neighbors! When the pandemic started, driveway parties were born. Every week for months (we lost count), we’d drag chairs and snacks into our driveways, and enjoy each other’s distant company. Raquel, Amy, Barbara and their families were a lifeline in a confusing, scary, frustrating, unprecedented year, and I cannot express my appreciation for them enough.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
47-52, and right here, doing exactly what I do – but hopefully a little better.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
One time, I was in a hotel lobby, and saw a group of guys who looked familiar. I figured maybe we went to school together. I guess they saw me staring because they all looked over, and I just said, “Oh hey guys, what’s up?” They politely said hello and I still couldn’t put my finger on it. After I walked out, I realized it was Boyz II Men. They were in town for a concert that night. It’s for the best, though, I definitely would have said something embarrassing if I realized it was them in the moment. That’s kind of my thing.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Galapagos Islands. My grandparents took each of their grandkids on a trip somewhere special and educational growing up. When I was 14, they took my cousin Ashley and I to Ecuador. I have a terrible memory – I usually have to remind myself why I walked into a room – but I remember every single moment of that trip. I would love to take my kids there someday!
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
May, there’s so much to celebrate! The weather is perfect, summer vacation is in sight – it’s all anticipation and I love it! My favorite holiday is Mother’s Day, and the best day on the calendar is May 6th, my birthday. I don’t even care how childish it sounds, birthdays are awesome.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Buffalo cauliflower at The Tap Room at Dubsdread, my kids’ teachers, Schitt’s Creek, my dog, my best friends, Pearl Jam’s “Ten” album, and Mark – he’s definitely a ten.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Our director at Monarch, Marguerite McNeill. She is quite possibly the world’s nicest person.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Dryer sheets, which is terrible because I heard they’re toxic. I need a new favorite smell.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Love, Boys, Thunderdome
