News
Four teachers retire with 79 years of experience
Heather Milbrath
05/28/2013
Another school year has come to an end, and all the students are excited to be done with school. For four Bottineau Public School instructors, this is not just the end of another school year, but rather an end of a long career in education.
The teachers that retired this year are Laurie Law, Heidi Danielson, Shelia Bertsch and Marla Byrd.
LAURIE LAW
Law spent 29 years working in education, and was able finish up her final years in her hometown. Law served as seven through 12 support services, and the supervisor of the Learning Center for the past five years at BPS. As a former graduate of BHS, Law saw the opening as an opportunity to move home. Law said she had been lucky enough to get hired at BHS, move home and live at the lake.
Law obtained her degree from North Dakota State University in Music, and an additional degree in Elementary and Special Education from Moorhead State.
When Law first began teaching, special education teachers were few and far between, and not all the population was served.
“Now there is a better grasp of how to make sure each student has an opportunity to learn in the manner best suited to them,” Law said.
HEIDI DANIELSON
Danielson did not begin her work in education at BPS, but not far away, in Willow City and Rugby. Danielson has been in education for nearly 35 years, and has been with BPS since Willow City School closed in 2003.
Danileson was a Willow City High School graduate, and attended college at North Dakota State University where she got her bachelors in Home Economics (now Family and Consumer Science). She spent her first two years teaching home economics in Rugby, and spent her next 23 years in Willow City. At Willow City, she taught Family and Consumer Sciences, and also worked to obtain her Library credential from Valley City State University. When Willow City closed in 2003, Danielson moved further North to BPS to fill the library position.
Danielson feels the biggest change for her while at BPS is the advancement of technology.
“There is an increase in computer usage, and Smart boards; and no more slides, filmstrips, reel to reel movies and VHS tapes are almost gone,” Danileson said.
SHEILA BERTSCH
Bertsch was inspired to become a music teacher because of her love for music, and an elementary music teacher she idolized. Bertsch obtained her bachelors in Music Education from Minot State University. She taught her first five years of music in Upham Public School. She was happy to move back to her hometown of Bottineau, where she taught for her remaining 30 years.
Bertsch taught music for kindergarten through fourth grade, a job that she described as never boring.
“One of my favorite things about teaching is the anticipation of each new day, no two days are ever the same,” Bertsch said. “Working with children is never boring, challenging at times, but never boring.”
Bertsch feels a new challenge of teaching is the incorporation of technology in the classroom, and trying to learn how to co-exist with a computer.
“The biggest (and most daunting) change, for me, has been the emergence of higher level technology into the school system,” Bertsch said. “Also, the influence of said technology in the lives of the students like video games, systems, etc.”
Bertsch fully enjoyed working with her students, and loved planning out the music programs for the students each year. Bertsch also taught piano lessons after school.
“I will dearly miss the infectious energy and the unconditional affection of the students I have had the pleasure of teaching,” Berstch said.
MARLA BYRD
Byrd has spent all of her 34 years in education at BPS. Growing up in the Kenmare area, Byrd was already familiar with the Bottineau community.
“I chose to come to Bottineau because I had been to the lake several times as I was growing up, and the countryside, wide open spaces, and small community reminded me of my hometown of Kenmare, N.D.,” Byrd said.
Byrd was inspired to become a teacher through her parents, her three sisters, and a high school English teacher. Byrd’s mother was an elementary teacher, and her father farmed as well as drove school bus.
Byrd spent the majority of her years at BPS teaching third grade. For the past nine years, Byrd taught sixth grade. While teaching third grade, Byrd taught all subject areas, but when she moved up to sixth, she focused on the Language Arts and Science Programs.
As the times have changed, so has Byrd’s teaching methods.
“I am more adaptable and ready to change, yet I still hold my values and education beliefs to high standards,” Byrd said.
Byrd has also had to deal with the many changes in technology.
“I was still handling the printing press and laminator when I graduated from college,” Byrd said. “Students today are so quick at catching on with the latest fads and styles, and are not afraid to try any new gadgets.”
In addition, Byrd had to learn to adapt to working under several different principles in her 34 years teaching. Byrd worked under four principles; Terry Thirsk, John Andrist, Mike Forsberg and Brian Palmer. Byrd said each had his own style and technique.
She feels one of her greatest struggles as a teacher had been dealing with the concept of time. She feels that there is never enough time to do everything one feels is important to do.
Byrd has enjoyed time, quality and relationships she was able to build with her students and colleagues.
“I would like to thank the administration, school board, teachers and students I have had the opportunity to work with the past several years,” Byrd said. “I’m truly going to miss it.”