Juggling is a way of life for Kristy Pohlman

SEELEY LAKE – New Seeley Lake Elementary third-grade teacher Kristy Pohlman is engaging in quite a juggling act. In addition to teaching, she is also the volleyball coach, is working on a master's degree, and partners with her husband in their business.

In an email interview, Pohlman wrote she feels teaching is a career that suits her personality well. Long-term substitute teaching positions in Bonner and Seeley Lake helped confirmed that.

Pohlman did her student teaching in the first-grade class at Potomac Elementary School. She subsequently was hired to teach second grade in Potomac. The following year she moved along with her class and became their third-grade teacher. After that she settled into a position teaching a combined second/third-grade.

The third-grade teaching position at SLE offered Pohlman the convenience of teaching in the town where she lives and saving a longer driving commute. The additional draw was the educational philosophy at SLE and the encouragement to employ non-traditional learning opportunities.

Pohlman wrote, "I am a huge believer in experiential learning. I feel that [SLE] offers many opportunities for students to grow as learners with hands-on opportunities. I think the outdoor education program through the 21st Century [Grant] offers a much-needed opportunity for all learners."

Concurrent with her teaching, Pohlman is working on a master's degree in education with an emphasis in technology curriculum design. Basically, that means she is learning ways to integrate technology into her lessons as well as other strategies to enhance student instruction. The course also focuses on learning ways to encourage critical thinking in her students.

Another ball Pohlman is juggling is coaching. She coached volleyball while at Potomac and wrote that when she accepted the teaching job at SLE she also was asked if she would be willing to coach volleyball. She answered, "Sure."

A longtime resident of Seeley Lake, Pohlman remembers when volleyball was first introduced to SLE. She was only three years old, but her older sisters took up the sport. When she got old enough, she began playing it also and continued throughout her school years. After high school graduation she transitioned from player to coach and has taught beginner through high school volleyball teams.

Since accepting the coach position, Pohlman has guided the team of fifth-through-eighth graders to a 6-1 record heading into their last week of play. She said she enjoys working with the team, helping them develop their skills and knowledge of the game.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Pohlman also assists her husband in their lawn care and snow removal business. In her spare time, in so far as she has any, Pohlman enjoys riding her horses and spending time with her family and dogs.

Despite all the things she's juggling, Pohlman's main priority is teaching.

Pohlman wrote, "I hope to help my students develop not only as learners, but also as individuals. Students face so many challenges in society today that I feel our job as educators is not only in the classroom with academics, but many times we are also helping them develop much needed skills for outside of the classroom."

She added, "I am grateful for this opportunity to help children in my hometown grow and develop as learners. I hope to be able to continue teaching here for many years to come."