Gretchen's+story

(...from a student interview with Gretchen Norland...)

Gretchen grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. She was born in 1957 to Elise and Lud Hedstrom. She remembers having a lot of fun in her childhood, especially with family and friends. Gretchen and her friends rode their bicycles everywhere, and her bike was extra special, with a blue and white banana seat. In the winter, there was snow sledding down the big steep hill on Ella Street. At the bottom of the hill was the corner of 78th and State, where all the neighborhood kids waited to ride the bus to school every day. Once in December, when the hill was smooth and icy and packed with snow, Gretchen remembers taking her brother’s thick math book and sitting on it to slide all the way down to the corner. What a ride!

There were no computers for Gretchen as she was growing up, and the little square-box, black-and-white T.V. wasn’t that interesting either. So, she didn’t lay around the house much. Instead, there were lots of things to think up to do, at every chance, for entertainment. It just required having the company of friends, siblings, cousins, maybe a dog, or even your grandma. It was clicking on the ‘people-channels’, not to be found on a remote control, which didn’t exist. “Bored” wasn’t even a word either, except for the many ‘board’ games that were played at least once a week, competitively. Kids just thought up ways for having fun, and it’s probably somewhat like that now, except for the fact that this was a life of a 6th grader in 1968.

After school, teenagers spent time at the roller skating rink, swimming at the YMCA pool, and eating ice cream cones at Dairy Queen. There were family backyard barbecues and whiffleball and badminton games. Right down the street, and crossing one highway, was an outdoors drive-in theater; the neighborhood kids would take the short walk, and sit in the grass and watch movies on the big screen ‘for free.’ That was the life!

The 4th of July still is Gretchen’s favorite holiday. She remembers the traditions of family get-togethers, with everyone sitting on lawn chairs, eager to enjoy the fireworks’ celebration put on by the drive-in theater. It always ended with the American flag waving with patriotic music blasting that all could hear from their driveways. Meanwhile, the kids compared their glass jars to see who had caught the most fireflies.

The Wyandotte County Lake was Gretchen’s most favorite place and she loved sail boating with her older brother, Eric. The family took vacations to the Oklahoma sand dunes to race the dune buggies that her brother and dad had built. Just like many kids, Gretchen was in 4-H, and her brother was in Boy Scouts. Her mom made her take piano lessons, but she’s glad about that, today, for one of her favorite pastimes is playing the piano. Her ingenious dad was always assembling electronics from a kit, like the Hammond organ, and he even put together a stereo. There was always music in the house, and neighborhood sing-a-longs. When the adults were doing this, the teens were listening and singing along to the record player music from vinyl LP’s. But after each weekend, Gretchen and her brother were ready to get on the bus and go to school. They had a good attitude about going to school.

Gretchen made use of her talents, as a teen, by working with kids in summer camps, at the YMCA, and at church. She even volunteered as a ‘candystriper’ in a hospital, which was like an aide. Of course, there were lots of babysitting jobs in the neighborhood, and Gretchen loved kids!

It was one outstanding sixth grade teacher who made an impact on Gretchen’s life. She encouraged her to be a teacher, which is amazing, because that’s what she’s ended up doing for 32 years. In high school, Gretchen’s favorite subjects were reading, writing, singing, drama, and art. Today, she teaches using all of these techniques in her classroom for her students to learn the best. Many students remember the Asia and Europe map songs and the creative art projects.

Gretchen graduated from F.L. Schlagle high school in 1975 in Kansas City, and chose Bethany College to attend. She kind of had a culture shock going from a city life and moving to a small town. But it was a perfect place for her, and she got a degree in English Education in 1979 from Bethany College. She was thrilled to land her first teaching job at Smolan Junior High, then taught Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies the rest of the time in Lindsborg. Other interesting experiences were in teaching charter school, 7th-8th History/Geography and high school Psychology, for a few years. Also, she met her best friend, Randy Norland, who has lived his whole life on a farm outside of Lindsborg. On November 29,1980, Gretchen and Randy were married on her birthday, and her father’s 50th birthday, in Messiah Lutheran Church. The Norlands are still involved with Messiah Church life today.

In the 1980’s, Gretchen organized an after-school running club called “Untamed Wind,” which was active under her leadership for five years. She also coached girls’ track for six years. Although Gretchen admits that ‘she was really not that athletic’, she is thankful that she tried new experiences like being in cross-country during college, and is very proud of running the Coronado Heights Race twice. Her coaching days ended when her family began to grow. Today, Gretchen and Randy have three children: Claire, Rachel and Daniel, whom they love very much and are very proud.

Claire graduated from Baker University in 2009, with a degree in History and Business. She is the manager of a Buckle store in Nashville, Tennessee, and is married to Denver Little, who entertains as a stand-up-comedian. Rachel graduated from K.U. in December of 2011 in Visual Arts Education. She is working in Lawrence at Hilltop Daycare teaching 4-year olds in their "Cottontail" classroom, and continues to paint and show her amazing art in gallery showcases. Daniel is 19 and graduated from Smoky Valley High School in 2011. He is very musical, especially on the piano, and attends K-State Salina, studying in the aviation program to be a professional pilot.

The Norland family also has a lot of fun. You may have seen Randy performing in Lindsborg street dances with King Midas, or Gretchen and Randy imitating a silly Swedish comedic act as ‘Kari and Ole’ through the years. Humor is so important, and the daily joke in Mrs. Norland’s classroom has been a tradition.

Gretchen’s approximately 1,800 students have been her children in a way. She has seen them come and go through her classroom, and cares about their futures.” She believes that “everyone needs to pursue their interests and keep learning.” That’s why she achieved a Masters of Arts in Education Degree in 2009 from Baker University, even when she thought she was ‘too old to do it’. Dealing with family crises, and the deaths of her parents and brother, she drew from the strength of her family, her colleagues and friends, and especially her faith. She believes in the power of prayer, keeping a positive attitude, and laughing and enjoying life. Now, as Gretchen is retiring from education, she says, “This is kind of like the end of a very good book, but now I’m ready for a new chapter in my life.”

….And the new chapters have already begun, with long-term subbing for 5th grade in the fall of 2011, subbing in February for 7th-8th grade U.S. History and Geography, and teaching another Baker cohort class in Assessment Strategies in 2012. Gretchen has also worked part-time at Lindsborg News-Record as a proofreader.

April 15, 2012 Update! I just turned in my signed contract to Bethany College, accepting the position of Assistant Professor of Secondary Education! So excited to "come full circle" and teach at the university where I graduated from in 1979. What a thrill to interact with students who are going into teaching! The student will be the center of my work, and I am delighted to share knowledge and show them what dynamic teaching looks like! Starting this fall of 2012.