A Greene County native is retiring from education after 36 years.

Kirsten Carman started her teaching career after graduating from Iowa State University, where she tells Raccoon Valley Radio, she initially went to college for journalism, but then suddenly switched after one year.

“I switched, I’m like, ‘I don’t think this is for me.’ And so, I switched to an English major. Of course, then my parents said, ‘What are you going to do with that.’ Well, guess what? My mom was an English teacher for many years. So she’s probably the biggest influence. I thought, ‘I can do that. I know what being a teacher is like because I saw it for many, many years.’”    

Carman entered the teaching profession at Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa as a 22-year-old teaching 8th and 9th grade English, while also being in charge of the yearbook. Then she went to East Greene and was there for one year as an associate with Doug Brown, before heading to Cedar Valley, which eventually became Prairie Valley, for the next 16 years. Carman notes that she finished her career in education at Greene County High School for the last 18 years. She has also coached middle school volleyball, basketball and track over the years.

Carman points out some of her favorite parts of her job is seeing students grow from one grade level to the next in high school, watching them succeed and when they light up because they “got it.” She gives this advice to those students who are considering being a teacher or going into the education field.

“If it is a passion, definitely pursue it. When you get into the job, wherever it takes you, be open to the advice the veterans (teachers) can give you. I feel like I’ve seen too much maybe in the last ten years, some just come out thinking, ‘It’s my way or the highway.’  And you just have to be open-minded, and flexible, and creative, and be willing to ask for help.” 

Carman adds that she is enjoying one of her favorite hobbies in retirement, reading, as well as having a few irons in the fire.