We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
After thirty years working with youth, Mrs. Diana Maloney decided to retire from Turner Public School (TPS) at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Although she expressed that she will "miss the little ones," she looks forward to a less regimented schedule with more impromptu days ahead.
"I can do family things now," Maloney stated. "I haven't been able to do much of that in past years. It'll be different but good!"
Maloney earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading and an area of concentration in Early Childhood Education in 1984 from Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana. Prior to the restructuring of Montana's public university system in 1994, Montana State University–Northern (MSU–Northern or Northern) was known as Northern Montana College.
"Putting me through college wasn't always easy for my parents to do, but I can be happy that I was able to use my education and I know they are smiling down on me, seeing me retire after putting in so many years."
Motivated not only by financial constraints but by her work ethic, Maloney completed her college requirements early and even did extended substitute teaching in Harlem in the fifth and sixth grade math rooms. That service enabled Maloney to secure employment with the Harlem School District, where she signed a contract to teach in the fall of 1984. Maloney taught kindergarten there for four years before transferring to TPS where she taught third and fourth grade, a position she retained for two years.
At that point, Maloney and her husband, Randy, were expecting their second child, so Maloney decided to stay home with her family. "While I was home raising my kiddos, I did a couple of extended substitute jobs in Turner: one for first and second grade and one for third and fourth. I also did substitute teaching for all grades, K-12, until I decided to go back teaching full time."
When Maloney returned, she taught in the Resource Room for two years and also taught fifth and sixth grade physical education classes. "I never EVER saw myself teaching PE," Maloney stated, "But it turns out, I enjoyed it a lot. While teaching PE, I remember the Hutterite girls would tie up their skirts; they were some of the most competitive participants."
After the position for a first and second grade teacher opened up at TPS in 2004, Maloney applied and was hired. So, for the next twenty years, she taught in that role. With the combination of teaching full time and extended substituting in both the Harlem and Turner School Districts, she accumulated 30 years as an educational professional.
As Diana Krass, a transplant from Hogeland, Montana, Maloney actually attended TPS from third grade through her senior year in 1980. When the Hogeland School closed its doors due to declining enrollment, the Krass family transferred their children to Turner. As a result, this school holds importance for Maloney. "It kind of became my second home. Or my home away from home, if you will. This school educated both my husband and me, as well as all three of our children: Garrett, Gavin, and Shania."
On a related note, Maloney credits the school and the Turner community for being a support system through some of the highest as well as some of the darkest times of her life. "It pulled me through losing my home to a fire and losing both my parents, but it also cheered for me through highlights of my family, cheering me on with my first big trip of traveling, celebrating some of my milestone birthdays, and most recently a retirement celebration with staff, students, community, and family. I was SO humbled," Maloney reported.
As Maloney reflected on her years teaching at TPS, she recalls not only challenges but many memorable moments. "One of the biggest challenges of teaching in one's hometown is that everyone knows you. There isn't a distance between home and work, and sometimes it's nice to put a little distance between the two. But on the other hand, that also works as a positive experience, too. As a teacher, you see the children and parents outside of school on a community level, and you can see how they interact. Sometimes that can be interesting! It can build a bridge between home, school, and extra-curricular."
Additionally, Maloney valued the proximity of her home to the school. "Teaching in the same community you live in is nice to be able to make quick trips to the school to do jobs you'd like to do when it's quiet and you're not tired. I made many trips over to the school on weekends to change out bulletin boards, rearrange desks, copy work for the next week, decorate lockers, etcetera. Some-times after school, I was too exhausted to do those things, so a short trip to the school later on or over the weekends made it easier to accomplish those little extras."
As other professional highlights, Maloney expressed pleasure in surprising her students with 100's day parties and dressing up on Halloween with them. She was also honored to serve as Commencement Speaker at a couple of graduation ceremonies over the years. However, seeing her students succeed tops her accomplishment list. Some of the occupations she helped develop include bankers, nurses, insurance agents, leader of the Hutterite Colony, director at Fort Belknap, farmers, ranchers, and carpenters. "I am so thrilled to see these young people grow up to be successful individuals," she exclaimed.
To anyone seeking a role in education, Maloney extends this wisdom: "The advice I would give young teachers coming into this field would be to follow their hearts. Don't go into it for the income but rather for the outcome. Handle your education with the biggest heart and care, and soon you will see why you chose the teaching field. It's very humbling to have a past student come up to you and thank you for something extra you did to help them out."
Although Maloney will miss her co-workers and the students of TPS, she will continue to support the many activities that take place throughout the coming years. "So, it's not goodbye; it's see ya later, alligator!" Maloney chuckled.
