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During her teaching tenure at the country school, she was the only
teacher at that time and taught all eight grades. She explained class
sizes would range from one to two students up to seven. She taught all
basic courses, and even added impromptu courses. She incorporated
her musical talent into the curriculum, playing the piano and teaching
the children songs. They also learned foreign languages, regularly
listening to a Spanish and a German radio program.
She recalled when she and her class once saw a weather balloon and
knowing how rare it was to see one, she took them on a spontaneous
road trip. She loaded her seven students in her car and drove several
miles to locate the balloon, ending up in Dante, SD. A former student
of hers still recalls the road trip and enjoyed the learning experience.
The Christmas programs at the country school are a favorite
memory for Sternhagen. “It was quite a project,” she reflected with a
grin. She would coordinate a program to include six or seven children,
from a young child to a teenager. There were bench seats set up for the
parents and family to watch the program.
During her public-school teaching career, she taught English and
History courses for 5th & 6th graders. She explained how she and her
team teacher would switch classes and courses, Sternhagen teaching
the 5th graders in the mornings and 6th graders in the afternoons.
Sternhagen’s former student Janssen recalled the teacher out in the
softball field with the kids at recess, standing on the pitching mound
lobbing balls for the children. When I mentioned it to Sternhagen, she
remembered it well and beamed. “They didn’t argue or fight,” she said.
“They just liked it if the teacher played.”
She left a lasting impression on many children, still receiving cards
and letters from former students to this day.
“I have lots of nice letters from some of them. That is really nice,” she
said. She told me about a former student of hers who is now a teacher,
who tells her that she is striving to teach like Sternhagen did. “That’s
one of my best things now, is when I get a letter from a student that I
have taught, that is teaching, and they tell me that they are teaching the
way that I did.”
What is her secret to such a long, successful teaching tenure
impacting so many children? Patience. And love of children. She
explained the success behind teaching simply. “You have to like
working with kids. Some are challenging.”
Tom Culver, Avon School Superintendent, recalled Sternhagen
fondly. “Rosalee was still teaching here my first couple years in Avon.
She was always friendly and there with a smile. When we redid
our track and started having a track meet again, she helped with
distributing the medals for each school envelope. She also helped me
with my football certificates for post season awards. She had terrific
hand writing and I would take the certificates to her and she would
write the kids names on the certificates. Even after she retired I would
give her a call and walk the certificates over to her house. I enjoyed
those times, since I would stay and visit with her and her son Dan. She
is a great lady.”
Since Sternhagen retired from teaching, she has been volunteering
at the museum in Avon. She writes a column for their newsletter each
week, called “Do You Remember This?” She is also an avid reader and
talented quilter, having made over 40 regular and queen size quilts and
over 200 baby quilts.
In more than fifty years of teaching, it’s impossible to say how many
lives Sternhagen impacted with her teaching. One thing is evident, this
teacher’s influence will carry on for an eternity.
vBy Julie Eickhoff
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