A remarkable chapter in education has been written by Glenda Akin, an 84-year-old educator who has earned a Guinness World Record™ for the longest career as a female teacher at the same school after serving 61 years and 43 days at Westmoreland High School in Tennessee. Akin began her teaching journey at the Sumner County school in 1963, where she taught social studies before later serving as the school’s librarian. Her tenure spanned decades of profound change from the era before computers in classrooms to the rise of smartphones and shifting debates over library content.
“I loved my job. I didn’t mind getting up and going to school every day,” Akin said in a recent interview, reflecting on a career that not only shaped generations but became a central part of her life. She added that after losing her family, the school community became like family to her.
To honour her extraordinary service, Westmoreland High School renamed its library the Glenda Akin Library and installed a plaque celebrating her legacy. School leaders noted Akin’s “lifelong commitment to education” has left an “unforgettable legacy” among students and colleagues alike.
Akin’s record surpasses that of the previously recognised longest-serving male teacher at a single school reinforcing her extraordinary dedication to teaching and community. Although she retired in September 2024, Akin remains active, volunteering in libraries and participating in local organisations.
