As students begin the new school year this fall, new teachers are also starting at the Petersburg School District.
Seth Johnson will be teaching elementary special education for students Kindergarten through second grade. Johnson has spent his career doing jobs that worked with people with disabilities, including teaching special education.
He’s moved to Petersburg after spending 25 years in Oregon, but it’s not his first time in town. He lived in Petersburg for a little while in the 90s, and attended Petersburg’s high school as a student.
He told KFSK’s Taylor Heckart it felt like the right time to return to the community.
Listen here:
TRANSCRIPT:
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Seth Johnson: It’s just that time in my life, you know, my son is all grown and independent. I have that kind of freedom, I can go anywhere and pretty much do anything.
And I’ve always loved Petersburg. One of my best years of high school was spent here. I’ve had a lot of great experiences here, and I saw this job, and I was ready for a return to a quieter, slower-paced, I-can-walk-everywhere kind of a life.
Taylor Heckart: What do you love so much about teaching special education?
Seth Johnson: Well, my first experience with young people — children with diverse ability — was on a trip to Romania to work with children that were removed forcibly from their homes by the government because they were different in some way. And so that that experience kind of formed my my life’s path, I’ve spent my life working in this field in one way or another with adults and or kids,
Taylor Heckart: And school has started.
Seth Johnson: It has.
Taylor Heckart: How was the first week of school?
Seth Johnson: Fantastic. The second week is good too so far.
Taylor Heckart: Oh, good. What are you looking forward to most this school year?
Seth Johnson: It’s the students, getting to know them better, watching them grow and develop and succeed. Probably not the paperwork, but definitely the students.
Taylor Heckart: And what brings you the most joy when it comes to teaching?
Seth Johnson: When I see a student make a leap in their learning, or a slow evolution in their way of seeing the world and behaving in the world and being in the world, understanding the world. That’s why I do this.
Taylor Heckart: And as my final question, is there anything since the school year is just starting that you would like parents or your students to know about you?
Seth Johnson: If you see my classroom, it says, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
I really want kindness to live in my classroom, so you’re always welcome.
