RLCC Science Teacher Shelley Steva Retires
Tue, 06/12/2018 - 9:11am
admin
By:
Chris Longtin
Ms. Shelley Steva will be retiring from Red Lake County Central at the end of the 2018 season. She has been one of the science teachers at the high school in Oklee.
Ms. Steva attended the University of Iowa from 1970-1973, the University of Minnesota from 1973 to 1975 for her Bachelor of Science in Zoology, then to Bemidji State University from 1997-1998 for her Bachelor of Science degree in Science. She chose to teach because of her love for science and students.
She gained her student teaching experience at Oklee High School in 1998. Ms. Steva taught at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls for one and a half years, then at the Plummer High School from 2000 to 2005, and finally at Red Lake County Central High School from 2005 to 2018. Altogether, Ms. Steva has taught for approximately 19.5 years in Life Science, Earth Science, Biology, Astronomy, Environmental Science, and Chemistry. She also has been River Watch advisor at RLCC for 14 years where students monitor the water of local rivers plus learn more about land use and watershed quality.
On what kept her in education all these years Ms. Steva responded, “The students, they are fun to be with.”
Regarding Ms. Steva’s highlights and memories of teaching she quoted hers as, “The enthusiasm of middle school students and when the ‘light bulb’ goes off and someone gets it.” She said she will miss the students and staff the most.
Her advice for upcoming teachers would be that classroom management is everything.
She commented that one thing that has changed the most within her years of teaching is the amount of cell phones and everyone wanting to use them.
Throughout her years as a teacher, she has been a member of RLCC Education Association, MEA, and NEA. During this time she was president of RLCCEA from 2015 to 2018 and building representative from 2010 to 2014.
Ms. Steva has two grown children, Erin who is 33 and Leland who is almost 30. Both are married, Erin is married to Andy and Lee’s wife is Sara. Lee and Sara have one son Quinton who is one year old.
In her free time she likes to road travel, go bird watching, visit with friends and family, and scrapbook. Her retirement plans are to move closer to Lee and Sara who live in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
“It has been wonderful working at Red Lake County Central! I will miss everyone!” said Ms. Steva.
The students and staff of RLCC wish Ms. Steva a happy retirement. We will miss your love for students, staff, and of course, your love of science.