Class Size Reduction

A Mississippi teacher goes from unhealthy to cover model.

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When Janene Campbell makes a resolution, she sticks with it. The teacher at Southwest Career and Technology Center in Memphis has the January 8 People magazine cover to prove it. Campbell was featured in the issue for her extraordinary achievement—losing more than 200 pounds since 2004. She now weighs 159 pounds—just nine away from her goal.

After her father died of heart failure at 62, the 371-pound Campbell knew she had to change her eating habits. In December 2004, she joined a national weight loss program and crafted a nutrition plan. Anything loaded with sugar—her weakness—was out, replaced by healthy meals and snacks.

Starting during the holiday was tough, but the break let her strategize how she would deal with job-related obstacles like the long hours and prevalence of snacks and vending machines. She began chasing her children around for exercise. “I feel better, my confidence is better,” says Campbell. “I can match my students’ energy.”

Even before the People cover, fellow staff and students sought her input in their own weight struggles. “I use my experience to teach students to work hard to reach their goals.”