Written by: Kelly Bergersen
We all have that one dream from when we were younger; who you wanted to be, what you wanted to be when you grew up. Ask yourself, did you make it? Are you happy? Life has a way of surprising you. Sometimes things don’t always go your way. It is how you respond to your obstacles that truly define your character. And sometimes, they do. For those that have the luck of the draw, they are living out their childhood dreams. Among those, are current teachers of the Levittown School District, Mrs. Bergersen, Mr. Kind, and Mr. Bergersen. All three of these remarkable people have noted that from early in their youth, they felt a calling to become educators. As each of them conclude their lengthy careers, it is important to reflect and reevaluate the climate of this field, by those who know it best.
In an exclusive interview, each of these remarkable teachers shared their authentic and honest past, current, and future thoughts regarding this field. We uncovered the secrets to the successes and shortcomings of this job.
Mrs. Bergersen expressed her deepest appreciation for her job. She has worked as an elementary school teacher for over twenty years. With this experience and wisdom, she has learned to grow and adapt to the climate changes of society. When asked what some of the benefits were to being a part of this filed, she responded that it makes for a conducive family living situation, and allows her, “to make a difference in the life of a child and their families.” Mrs. Bergersen recounts that she has always wanted a family. She displays such a maternal and sweet disposition that lends her to be a wonderful educator. With her promising record and enthusiasm for this job, it was important to get a sense of any hardships that she has faced over the years. No matter how incredible something may seem, nothing is perfect. Mrs. Bergersen later explained that there are changes going on, morphing this career path into something far different from how it was when she first started. She shared:
“There’s now a teacher evaluation system put in place. Curriculum demands have changed drastically. Student needs have changed. Community needs have changed. In addition to addressing social and emotional needs of young children, we are expected to teach them far above their ability levels. It is very difficult for students to feel successful when they do not have the readiness skills to learn the material presented to them. Another huge thing is that the retirement age has been increased from 55 to 63 for new tier teachers. Employees have to put into the retirement system indefinitely. Because I started my career nearly twenty-five years ago, I only had to pay into the retirement system for the first 10 years of service. Now people have to continuously put into the system. Expectations of the teacher and student have become challenging and demanding over the years just to keep up with societal developments that are ever-changing.”
Both Mrs. Bergersen and Mr. Kind share similar perspectives within this field. Mr. Kind teaches at the middle school level. His concentrations are math and science. He has expressed he utmost gratitude and excitement for this field as well. Though he too recognizes the strenuous demands, he still remains light and encouraging of this profession. When asked if he would recommend this career choice to younger generations he said:
“Absolutely. One of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever done in my life. I would consider it long into my retirement if I remain healthy. I really can’t imagine a life without my students. They remind me of my own kids in a sense. Each and every one of them have so much untapped potential and my job is to guide them to see it. If I can make one life even slightly better, I did my job.”
Mr. Bergersen is a high school math teacher. He acknowledges that this job offers many perks—work schedules allow for proper family time. He has a wife and two children that are both high school and college age. Each of his kids are athletes and are very involved in their local communities. So much so, that Mr. Bergersen struggles to make all of their events. With the teaching schedule, he is afforded the flexibility to attend any and all events that are in the afternoons and summertime. Furthermore, there is a fair salary for total work hours, job security after earning tenure, and long-term retirement financial stability with both a pension and annuity.
While all of these attributes lend for a fruitful life, Mr. Bergersen strayed from his fellow Levittown employees regarding his thoughts on the field as a whole. When asked if he would recommend this job to younger generations, he was hesitant to answer. He responded with:
“Difficult question—had I been asked 10 years ago, I would've said yes, however as the restrictions on newer tiers have changed since I started, I don't think teaching is as attractive a job as it used to be. Currently a new educator will have to work to age 63 (where I can retire at age 55) and they must pay into their retirement pension funds for their whole careers (where I only paid in for the first ten years of my career). In addition, newer tiers must log professional development hours for the state to track every 5 years, many of which have to be taken at an additional expense to the teacher just to maintain certification. Also, years back the APPR teacher rating system came into effect where a portion of a teacher’s yearly evaluation is tied directly to children's test scores even though the teacher has no say whatsoever who is placed into their classes."
Hearing this kind of response really makes you wonder. What has changed so much in the last twenty-some-odd years that Mr. Bergersen would no longer encourage others to take a similar path?
“It has definitely changed throughout my career—the number one reason for my doubt is in part because of socio-cultural changes. Earlier in my career there was a clearer cut and direct approach to handling issues...policies would be put in place and adhered to no matter what pressures or complaints were made. Nowadays there is much more bending and changing of mind on decisions when opposition is brought forth. It is a more difficult environment to work in when the teacher is not always sure that their administration will back them in dealing with certain situations that may arise.”
Ultimately, the love for a career can outweigh the challenges it may pose. However, everyone is different and each person’s experience is different from another. While Mrs. Bergersen and Mr. Kind share similar philosophies, Mr. Bergersen sheds light on a slightly contrasting perspective. It is up to you to determine for yourself if the pros truly exceed the cons of this profession.
Supplemental Video— Teacher Pension Changes: