The three A lesson in reading, respect and reality
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he stood at the front of the classroom, her classroom, and grinned to herself. The students arrayed before her had varied but familiar looks on their faces. Some’s facades were alert and focused, others’ eyes drifted towards the window through which the first signs of spring were beginning to show and a few anxiously tried to finish up the day’s assignment under their desks. The scene was comfortable and natural like a well-loved pair of jeans. Up there in the front of the classroom, she was at home. Thirty-four years ago, shortly after the bricks of Century High School were laid, English teacher Kathy Peterson entered the buildingshe’s been here ever since. Peterson has been a colleague, a mentor and a trailblazer. She has impacted students and staff alike and now, 34 years later, Kathy Peterson is retiring. “[Leaving] is kind of bittersweet,” Peterson said. For Peterson, going into teaching was an easy choice. She grew up in a family of teachers and watched her mom and siblings make differences in the lives of their students. “[Teaching] is in my blood,” Peterson said. Getting her first teaching job after college in the town of Bottineau at the young age of 21, Peterson says she’s come a long way from coming to work in a mini-skirt and platform shoes. “It seems so strange, how I’ve changed,” Peterson said. “I’m so much wiser. It seems like I have ears that hear everything and eyes in the back of my head.” Since the time she started, Peterson has made her mark as an English teacher who teaches respect and reality
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along with reading, and by starting Century’s American pageant class with history teacher Jan Reisenauer.
“It was our brain child,” Peterson said. English and history naturally coexist and led the duo to put together the unique course taught in a tag-team teaching style. During their time teaching together, these two friends have grown into a tremendous team of teachers. “[She] really tries to see the good in everything,” Reisenauer said. “And that has been about as good as it gets- to work with somebody who is positive and wants to do what’s right and wants to do what’s best. It’s just been a real privilege.” For the past 34 years, Peterson has been teaching at Century, but for this professional educator, perhaps some of the most profound lessons have come from the experience. “Teaching has taught me patience,” Peterson said. “Teaching has taught me flexibility. Teaching has taught me that it’s important to make a difference in students’ lives- to reach out to those who can’t speak for themselves, to add something special for those who already know so much.” Peterson has seen teachers come and go. She’s been here through administration changes and remodeling. In the time since she first arrived, Century has become more than a work place- it’s become a home. “I really love Century High School,” Peterson said. “And when you walk in the doors of Century High School, for me, there’s so much history- there’s so much pride.” Now, as she prepares to retire, English teacher Kathy Peterson only has one thing left to say“Thank you to the present and past students for making my career enjoyable. And a thank you to my colleagues too- working with some of the best.” And we, the students and staff of Century, thank you.
"Teaching has taught me patience."
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