~by Taylor Teays for The Scranton Journal
After dedicating 33 years to fostering a love for learning in Greene County, Heather Berglund will be retiring after the end of the 2023-24 school year.
For many people, figuring out what to study in college or aspire to do as an adult is somewhat of a rite of passage, with questions thrown your way and perhaps uncertain answers as high school graduation approaches. For Berglund, she was able to answer with confidence, starting around third grade, letting everyone know that she would be a teacher, just like her mom.
“My mother was a teacher. She taught first grade and fourth grade. From third grade on, I knew that was what I was going to do,” commented Berglund.
Berglund started with a fourth grade classroom, teaching all of the subjects, reflecting on her first year and describing it as “fun and amazing.” Between seven principals, five superintendents, five different buildings and 11 classroom moves, Berglund continued to “really enjoy” her job.
In addition to the administration changes, and moving her classroom, Berglund also saw changes in parenting, which has led to changes at school. Berglund emphasized the need for new and aspiring teachers to learn classroom discipline immediately, something that may not be taught in college classes.
Berglund’s other piece of advice is to ensure students are respected and treated like people as well.
“If you don’t treat them with respect, they’re not going to automatically respect you because you’re older. You have to treat them like people that come from a million different backgrounds. And you have to understand that some of them had a crappy morning,” Berglund added.
Now, finishing her final year as a fifth grade science teacher, Berglund hopes her students always remember to be kind, and take care of the environment.
“If you don’t have a decent place to live, it’s pretty difficult to live,” she noted.
Berglund will miss her coworkers and students as she moves into the next chapter of her life, whatever that may be.
“I’m going to find a different job,” explained Berglund. “Since I live in Dayton, I was thinking I would get something local.”
