A Look at Who’s Worked in Pierce the Longest
By Grace Retzlaff
The longer a person works at something, the better they get at it. This is true for everything, including teaching. So, who are some of the Pierce teachers who have been working here the longest?
Deb Koehlmoos has been teaching for a total of 42 years, 39 of those years spent at Pierce.
Her advice to the new teachers and staff is, “It’s going to start out tough, but it’ll eventually get easier, and the satisfaction of helping students reach their goals will make it all worth it.”
Koehlmoos initially taught seventh-grade science but later switched to the classes she teaches now. She teaches subjects such as biology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology. She has been teaching these classes for the majority of her time here.
But what’s been keeping her in Pierce all these years? She expresses that she likes the size of the school and community. She also states that, “I like the sense of pride and the support from the people here.”
Another one of our teachers who has been teaching here for many years is Shelly Adams. Adams has been working here for a total of 42 years as well.
Adams' advice to new teachers or staff is to, “Start out strict and lighten up as you go on, and prepare ahead of time what you’re going to be teaching.”
When Adams first started out, she was teaching life skill classes. Currently, she manages paperwork and helps with disciplinary issues if needed in the special education department.
What has kept her all these years? The administrative support has helped keep her at Pierce as well as the student-teacher environment. She also likes being close to where she grew up.
