Retired Educators
Advice From Over the Hill Karen Groves Zuidema, WMEA State Chair, Retired Educators
Like many of us that chose to teach for a career, I descend from a long line of professional educa- tors. I was the first in my family to go into a music educa- tion field, but I’m a third-generation
teacher. My grandfather, who started his career teaching math, went on to continue his own education in school administration and subsequently became superintendent of various districts around Wisconsin. He retired as superintendent of schools in the Nekoosa district in the mid 1960s. My grandmother first met him when she was teaching kindergarten in Shullsburg, promptly dumped the physician she was engaged to, and married the math teacher of her dreams instead. Together they went on to instill the importance of education in their offspring, a life doctrine that was then passed down to their offspring. Of their three children, my aunt taught kindergarten for her entire career in the Milwaukee School District. Her daughter, my cousin, also taught kindergarten, first in the southern states but later also in Mil- waukee (ironically in the same school and room where her mother had taught). My mother first taught English in the LaFarge School District and later went on to be the librarian at Kickapoo High School in Viola. My uncle, the rebel of the family, chose to go to culinary school instead and became a chef, absolutely shocking his hor- rified family (I’m kidding, of course – they loved his choice of profession as well as his wonderful contributions to the family Christmas dinners).
These multi-generational career paths led, as you can imagine, to interesting discus- sions when the family got together. Not known for being a quiet, demure family, I grew up listening to them discuss the ins and outs of the teaching profession at top volume, all while playing Sheepshead. When I completed my music education
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degree and was preparing for my first job, those family discussions became an affable bombardment of advice; again, at top vol- ume. (But I never did learn Sheepshead.) It was actually all excellent guidance, which I held in my soul throughout my entire ca- reer. I also heeded the good advice of my uncle, who told me to keep a good eye on my fingers when I was chopping carrots.
Now that I’ve retired, that advice from these master educators will always be something I like to pass on to first-year music teachers I’ve had the good fortune to meet. This bequeathing of practical advice to the next generation of music educators is one of the best ways that those of us who have long lived that life can be of service to our continuing field. Yes, things change. Technology changes, methodology changes, curriculum changes, classroom management procedural policy changes, music educational philosophy changes and evolves. But some solid teaching advice remains constant since the day when my grandparents first met in Shullsburg in the late 1920s. A short time ago I created a Facebook group titled, “Wisconsin Retired Music Educators,” in which I posed a simple but deep question: What would be the very first piece of advice you would give a first-year music teacher? Here are some examples of their astute and gracious replies that I would like to share (printed with permission):
“Choose literature for the group in front of you…not some idea in your head that you “think” they should be able to play. And always choose the best literature you can find.”
~ Valerie Gaffney
“Don’t worry about your salary in your first few years. Prove yourself as a good music educator, and then you’ll have a foundation from which to speak.”
~ Carol Dahle
“… I created a Facebook group titled, ‘Wisconsin Retired Music Educators’ in which I posed a simple but deep
question: What would be the very first piece of advice you would give a first-year music teacher?”
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! You will not be a carbon copy of your cooperating teacher or your colleagues. Things are not going to always be perfect. You won’t always go home with a smile on your face. Try new things when one doesn’t work. Accept help graciously from other teachers, but know that you will develop your own style of teaching. It WILL get easier each year! You won’t always realize what a difference you have made for a student just by smiling at him or her or giving a positive comment. Your words are very powerful!” ~ Jody Hettinga
“Always focus on what’s best for the students and believe in yourself.” ~ Margaret Conard
“Get to know and befriend the custodians in your schools!”
~ RMB
“When creating lesson plans, always plan more than you think you will get accomplished. It will eliminate
September 2026
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