Though she’s retired after 36 years of teaching, don’t expect Betsy Saurdiff to slow down anytime soon

Written by Kari Sundberg, Eagle Editor

The Goodridge and Grygla School Districts bid farewell to long-time teacher, Betsy Saurdiff, who just retired after teaching Art and German for 36 years at both schools. Over the course of that time, mornings were spent teaching in Goodridge with the afternoons bringing her to Grygla. She taught German and Art in both districts. “36 years,” she reflected, but quickly added in that it felt more like 12.

“I loved my job. It’s so fun to encourage kids and to see them develop into young adults, and help nudge them when they need nudging, and give them space when they need time to process. They don’t teach you all that in college, but over the years, you start to kind of realize what kids needs. Especially in art, encouraging them to be more creative and develop/use their own voice. It’s hard to pull out, but really fun to see.”

Before starting her 36 years of teaching, Betsy spent many years pursuing her degrees in education. She jokes that she took way more college credits than she needed to and spent a lot of extra time that she didn’t need to in the ceramic department. But explains, “I loved college. You couldn’t do that now with the price of tuition, but I used those classes as my escape. That’s where I got grounded. I could only write papers for so long and then I had to get my hands messy.” Betsy had started at BSU before transferring to the U of M, earning herself two majors that had nothing to do with each other, she says: Art Education and German Language/Culture Education. She also pursued her K-12 education, so she was prepared to teach lower grades. 

Both of those degrees were put to use in the Goodridge and Grygla School Districts, which she is officially retiring from, but will still very much be a part of through Community Education pottery classes she will be offering. “I’ve had so much fun teaching Community Ed in the past and it’s something I’ll be continuing. I’ll do a pottery class maybe every other month,” Betsy said. Class sizes are capped at six, as there are only six pottery wheels in all, but those smaller class sizes are preferred by Betsy. “The smaller group provides lots of hands on, individualized help. It’s just so fun to work with people who really want to learn a new skill whether they are 12 or 65. It’s amazing. How fast they learn in a small, intense time with no distractions, no bells or grades…we get in there and we have fun,” she said. Each Community Ed class involves about 20 hours of instruction to create pottery. Betsy has many ideas floating around on what new classes she could add. She hinted, “I’d love to do a class with elementary students with a parent or grandparents. Something where they could make platters or plates and serve treats on them at their Christmas program. I love that combo of young/old, connecting with the material and each other. It’s a sweet spot that I enjoy being a part of.” 

It sounds like the wheels are already turning! Pun intended!

In addition to classes on the side, Betsy also has her hands full with “Betts Pottery” and she loves every second. In fact, she’s not slowing down in any way; her retirement has just opened a new door for her and she’s looking forward to where it brings her. 

Betts Pottery is more than just a hobby for Betsy; she’s been in business for a few years and has plans for it to keep growing. “I have a lot of ideas, but didn’t have a lot of time,” she admits. Well, with her recent retirement, she’s been given a lot more free time to create and that’s just what she’s going to do. “I received another McKnight Fellowship. With this one I’m going to learn more glaze application where you use a spray gun like they use in automotive. It’s a lot of technical stuff where I’ll learn how to make more glazes vs. using commercial ones. I’ve also upgraded my craft tent to a hut that has zippers all around, allowing me to leave it up for 2-3 day show. I’m trying to upgrade and have my craft tent be more like a little art gallery vs. just setting up tables,” she explained. 

That little gallery will already be on the road this summer, though starting out a little slow so Betsy doesn’t get burnt out. She has four shows planned in the next three months. July will bring her to Ely for the Blueberry Festival. She’ll also be set up at the Goodridge Freedom Festival the end of that month. August brings the Grand Forks Street Fair and a trip to Hutchinson for a fair.

“After that I’m looking at some in Duluth for Oktoberfest, which is right up my lane, where I could make German Beer Steins, but I don’t want to stress myself out and overextend, yet I want to push myself and use that time and treat it as my job,” she said. Betsy went on to say that she doesn’t like sitting around doing nothing. “This is my time to do me. I’ve helped kids develop their skills for many years and I didn’t have energy to do that for myself. Now I will. I want to go strong and do me.”

After receiving a grant to develop her own website shop, Betsy also stays busy with not only creating her pieces, but also photographing them and selling them online at www.bettspottery.com. She realized quickly how much extra work it took to establish an online shop, but says she needed to have that presence and it’s made her business feel more legit and convenient. The furthest place she has shipped to so far is South Carolina, but says you never know where the sales will come from. She explained, “I got a call from a man who asked if I did pottery. He saw my “Adopt a Highway” sign and wanted to inquire about it. He came out, we talked for an hour and he wanted to see all my pottery. He special-ordered some things at that time, but even called on the way home to special-order more. All from a sign!” 

Though this next chapter is really exciting for Betsy, she looks back on her retirement from the school districts with a lot of emotion saying it was harder than she thought it would be, especially saying goodbye to the whole student body - TWICE – at each school.

“The whole thing was just emotionally draining. Saying goodbye to the students and staff was really hard. Not to mention that I have a lot of students who are kids of former students. And both of my Superintendents at each school were former students, as well as a lot of my co-workers. It’s so incredibly full circle and gratifying,” she said.

Grygla Superintendent Jamie Lunsetter says he has learned tremendously from her personally and professionally. “I have had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Saurdiff as a former student of hers and as a co-worker. Her attention to detail and genuine concern for the well-being and success of her students is unparalleled. Her spirit and love for education, and specifically the arts, will be missed tremendously in our districts!”

Goodridge Superintendent Tomas Loberg agreed and added, “Mrs. Saurdiff will be remembered as an incredibly hard working and devoted staff member by the Goodridge School District. She put the students first in whatever she did and taught with passion. We are incredibly grateful for all that she contributed to our school over the years and for sharing her gifts with our students.”

Taking over for Mrs. Saurdiff in the Goodridge Art room is Andrea Halvorson; filling her shoes in the Grygla Art room will be Tausha Severts. Of her replacements, Betsy concluded, “Both Andrea and Tausha are really great past students in my art classes. I couldn’t ask for better replacements and I’m leaving it in good hands; I can leave knowing it’ll continue. It’s sad to me German can’t continue, but I understand times are changing, and I’m so happy art will continue strong here.”