Ferch retires

Becky Ferch, a teacher in Waseca for 36 years, has retired as of the end of the 2022-23 school year. Teaching in Waseca was Ferch's first post-graduation job, and she has devoted her entire career to Waseca's elementary students in grades 4, 6, 2, and finally kindergarten. “I have always loved school,” she said about her choice of career. “I have always loved learning; I've always loved children.” She is still considering her post-retirement options, but doesn't know yet what shape her life will take. “After all this time I want to continue to contribute in some way,” she explained, “I just don't know what that will be yet.”

Ferch earned her Bachelor's Degree in 1986 from the University of Minnesota Morris, and her Master's of Education from the University of Minnesota, taking classes on multiple campuses, in 1996. “I had a great college experience and some great professors in the education department,” she said. While earning her Master’s, Ferch says she was excited to work under and alongside other educators to learn in the field.

Ferch was raised in Albany, MN, where her parents Arnie and Ruth, came from. She's now spent more of her life in Waseca than in Albany, however, and says she considers it home. She has two siblings. She's created a family in Waseca with her husband, Jim, their two sons and their two daughters-in-law. Ferch's in-laws also live in the Waseca area.

Asked about a defining moment in her 36-year career, Ferch said “There have been many significant moments; time spent with colleagues, students and families that have helped me to become a better teacher over time. We're always growing.” Her advice to newer teachers and professionals is “Love what you do, and it's okay to choose something different.” Some of the best advice she's ever received, she says, came from her first-year mentor Arlene Peterson. “She's since passed, but she was a wonderful mentor. One of the things she said to me is that it's important to laugh every day. And she had a special and unique laugh.

“Everybody knows I love books. I love reading with my favorite students,” Ferch said about her hobbies. She can't name a favorite book, she says, because there are too many. While studying for her Master’s, she did coursework in children's literature and had the opportunity to meet many authors and illustrators. Ferch also loves sports – be it playing, watching or talking about them, not because she is a prodigious talent but for a pure love of the game. Other hobbies include baking, riding bicycles, walking, and taking small trips.

“The world is changing, so learning is changing,” Ferch explained about her experiences as an educator. “Even if students aren't always in the classroom, education is a year-round endeavor.” She left off with a quotation from former Vikings player and Minnesota State Supreme Court Judge Allen Page, “Next to love, an education is the most important gift we can give our children.”