Good Luck

Two teachers who have each spent 45 years teaching Doland students will cap their careers at the end of the school year. Chris Hanten and Betty Satter began their teaching careers in the fall of 1978 as their first jobs after graduating from college. Chris earned her degree from the University of South Dakota, while Betty completed hers at Dakota State University. Both grew up in small towns – Chris is from White Lake and Betty in Marion – and knew they wanted to teach in similar communities. That first year of teaching was quite an experience. “I was terrified,” Chris recalled. “So much happened that they never told you about in college..I was learning right along with them.” Back in 1978, though, Doland looked a bit different, they remembered. The town had two restaurants, three gas stations, a laundromat, ceramics shop, butcher shop, hardware store, grocery store, doctor office, and a bank. Though the business landscape has changed drastically over the last 45 years, Chris and Betty’s commitment to the Doland Public School district did not. In addition to teaching, the women in other capacities – cheerleading adviser, music teacher, Title instructor, bus chaperones, scorekeepers, and more. Betty’s professional resume changed throughout her tenure; she started by teaching Title and elementary music for a decade before taking on junior high social studies as well as elementary computer class and eventually handling high school social studies as well. Chris started as the Kindergarten teacher and has remained in that position for 45 years; she said she was once offered first grade but opted to remain with Kindergarten. During those years, Chris and Betty have been five different mascots: first the Wheelers, then Chargers, Pheasants, Chiefs and now Patriots. Technology is also another major change the duo have managed in their careers, to the point where they can recall when Doland received its first computer in the 1980s. That ever-changing factor in their careers has made them lifelong learners, and they hope teachers who are just starting in their careers embrace that fact. “Teaching is a learning process, and you never stop,” Betty shared. Chris echoed those thoughts. “Don’t expect to know it all,” she said. “It’s okay to try new things and use your resources, especially other staff members.” Once their career concludes in May, Chris and Betty are looking forward to enjoying more free time to travel or even just go shopping in the middle of a weekday. But they will miss the students and staff, they both said. “With such a small staff, you become a family,” Betty shared. “And I’ll miss being around the kids,” Chris said. “I love teaching reading because it’s so fun to watch that light bulb come on when they realize they are actually reading.” When you’ve taught in a small community for nearly half a century, you’re bound to teach several generations in one family. Chris and Betty certainly have. They’ve attended countless showers, weddings, baby showers, etc. over the years, and the children of former students they end up teaching always hope for a little bit of dirt on their family member. “They always grill you for information,” Betty laughed. Neither Chris nor Betty have plans to move from Doland after retiring. They both hope to travel, with Chris looking forward to a family wedding in Alaska in September while Betty hopes to visit some of the places she’s read and taught about for so many years. A reception will be held in their honor after the spring concert on Thursday, May 11 in the Doland School lunchroom. The PTO will serve cupcakes to celebrate Chris and Betty’s 45 years of teaching