Lessons learned

By Kris Kenison
While school may be starting this week, and thoughts are turning to the year ahead, for many, thoughts are turning to school years past and time spent in the classrooms of two teachers who passed away last week, Polly Schiltz and David Peterson.

Mr. Peterson was one of those teachers for whom I walked into the class living up (or down) to my Dad's time in their classroom. But I don't think Mr. Peterson ever held that against me.
I remember him as a teacher who had a reputation for being a tough teacher, but in my experience that wasn't quite the case. If you did the math or worked to learn how to do things correctly, and didn't disrupt the classroom, he was fair.
He was also one of those teachers for whom a subtle sense of humor was usually apparent to those who knew to look, but for whom a gruff tone was occasionally needed to settle a classroom.
When I picture Mr. Peterson, I also see him in a blue robe, his voice clearly distinguishable as a member of the Senior Choir at First Lutheran Church, led by another teacher, Mr. Gangstad, who passed away a little over a year ago.
While David Peterson will always be Mr. Peterson to me, as I didn't know him much outside of the classroom and the front of the church, Polly Schiltz will always be Polly in my mind.
While she taught while I was a student at N-K, she was not my teacher. I didn't really get to know her until I returned to the school as a reporter for the Anchor, seeing her in the halls, at school board meetings and occasionally talking to her for a story.
I also got to know her strength as a cancer survivor through the Relay For Life.
I interviewed Polly in 2012, when she was selected as an honorary chair for that year's Relay. At the time, she was in remission, but unfortunately her battle with cancer continued and ultimately led to her death.
However, in the ensuing years, Polly didn't let cancer stop her. She jumped into a life of fitness along with members of her family and cancer, its treatment and its symptoms didn't slow her down until the very end. She was an inspiration to many, both fellow survivors and those in perfect health. Like anything, Polly was humble about her efforts. Any talk of fitness and exercise would start with the accomplishments of her children, Nick and Katie, while her own efforts were just as inspiring.
The next time I got the chance to do a feature on Polly was in 2018, when she retired from teaching at N-K after 41 years, working with special education students for the majority of that time. She lamented the challenges and rewards of working with her students. It's clear that she made a difference in many many lives.
In my years of talking to teachers as they prepare to leave the classroom behind, there are some teachers that are proud to have made an impact, but are ready to move on to retirement. For Polly, the pride love of her work at N-K was certainly present, but she was not ready to stop teaching.
And she didn't. I spoke with her a few weeks ago when she stopped by the Anchor office. She excitedly shared with me updates on what her children were up to before talking education in general and then about the school year to come and how she was returning to a classroom at Albert Lea schools, where she was helping students with math.
And, apparently she was eagerly anticipating getting back to work even last week, regrettably being forced to call in sick just days before she died.
Through every conversation I had with Polly and every conversation I've had about her, the one thing that was always clear is that Polly Schiltz was born to help others learn.
That happened in the classroom and it happened for everyone that met her. They learned some people are an inspiration in all that they do. They learned that people can thrive even in the midst of a battle with cancer. They learned that for some people being a teacher is who you are and not what you do for a living. And they learned that one teacher can have an in impact on the lives of more students and more people than they will ever know.
Of course many of those sentiments ring true for all good teachers. So as the N-K community says good bye to two great teachers and welcomes another school year amongst money more, thanks to all those that make their mark in the lives of students.