By Parker Schlenker, Garretson High School Yearbook Staff
For 40 years Julie Hersom has roamed the halls of Garretson and brightened the days of those around her.
Mrs. Hersom originally started teaching fourth graders in Irene, SD and then came to Garretson where she went on to be a teacher's aide in the recourse room for one year and then later went on to teach first grade for 39 years. When asked what some of the biggest changes she’s seen in her teaching career her first big thing was technology. Throughout her amazing 44 years of teaching Mrs. Hersom has seen chalkboards change to smart boards and old green and amber screen computers with floppy disks change to full color monitors with flash drives. She also stated that she’s seen changes in test score emphasis, higher expectations in students, and obviously the newer way of teaching with Covid-19.
With her years of teaching under her belt she holds plenty of advice and plenty of stories.
She states that the best advice she has received and can give is that “Children need to feel loved and safe in order to learn.”
Some of her best memories that she will miss are teaching VOWAC and hands on math, reading stories to her students, creating and helping students with art projects, and just seeing the kid’s faces light up when they begin to understand what they are learning.
Hersom plans to spend more time doing some of her favorite hobbies, take care of her new grandchild, and she also looks forward to coming back to Garretson to work part time as a substitute teacher.
Throughout the interview she also gave advice to her students and to other students throughout the district and that is to always be kind to anyone and everyone, always do your best work, and learn all you can even though learning never stops.
