MY WHY

Lynnell Britt was raised between two homes, her parents and her grandparents. She was named after her Grandma “Nellie” (aka “Little Nell”) - so it’s no wonder they had such a close bond! Every morning at 5am, she would sit on her Grandpa Walter’s lap while the two of them drank “cauchee” (as she would say in her toddler years - coffee) together. Growing up in the small country town of Wadsworth, Ohio during the 1950s, close knit families were a common thing. However during this time men off fighting for our country, including Lynnell's father Robert who served in the Korean War. He sustained several major injuries and many of his platoon members were killed. Lynnell’s Mother Joanna was a Preschool teacher, librarian, and a hairstylist - amongst many other jobs. 

One day, at age 5, she said to her mother in conversation, “Mom I’m going to be a teacher when I grow up!” - talk about foresight. Not long after that conversation she relocated to the city of Akron, Ohio. She went from being the only child to the oldest sibling of five. At age 12 the event every child fears happened - her parents got divorced; leaving her mom a single parent of 3 girls and 2 boys. Due to Lynnell being the oldest she became her mom’s right hand and had to help take care of her siblings.  

Today, she understands how those life experiences solidified her desire to become a teacher even more! She attended Akron University and Howard University - graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education June of 1974. That August she accepted her first teaching position in Cleveland, Ohio. Lynnell relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1978 and started teaching in the Aurora Public Schools as a 1st grade teacher in 1979.

In 1980 she married her husband Donald who already had two children ages 4 and 10 prior. Due to her love for children she graciously accepted the role of stepmother by stepping-in to assist and love them as if they were her biological kids. Lynnell and her husband later had children together as well - learning how to navigate having a blended family along with being a wife, a new mother, a business partner and a passionate teacher was a lot to balance all at once.

Fast forward a couple of decades to 1999 when Lynnell heard about the first Gifted and Talented school in her school district. She was excited to have been selected as one of the teachers to help research and create curriculum for incoming students for the inaugural year - it was rigorous and challenging but ultimately incredibly fulfilling! Lynnell loved enriching her students' zeal for learning, implementing new material, creating numerous learning stations and facilitating cutting edge educational experiences for her students.

Raising future generations and giving back to families and children has been a part of her journey for a long time! In 2007, Lynnell retired from teaching; however, continued to embrace her role as a Grandma through nurturing her grandchildren’s emotional, personal, and educational growth. Over the past two decades she observed how much technology and television have lessened the personal human involvement - especially between children and parents; so she began to see what she could do about it.

Lifelines for a Lifetime, LLC. is her way of continuing to sow into the lives of future generations by encouraging and bringing back the basics in engaging, fun, meaningful, and interactive activities that will nurture lifelong (moods, feelings and emotions) needs children possess.