T is for Trieweiler

It’d be hard to deny that the

Trieweiler family isn’t part of the Whitefish School District.

Mom Carol Trieweiler is a fourth-grade

teacher at Muldown Elementary and her daughters, Christina Schmidt

and Kathryn Trieweiler both work for the school district. Schmidt’s

daughter, Emma Trieweiler, is a second-grader at Muldown.

It’s a family affair at Muldown. Emma’s

been known to sneak her grandmother a hug in the hallway or knock

on her mom’s door for a quick hello. Christina is a speech

pathologist at Muldown and Kathryn teaches practical English and

skills development at the high school.

Kathryn and Christina acknowledge that

their mom influenced their decision to have careers in

education.

“Her former students and parents are

always sharing what a positive impact she had,” Kathryn said. “She

inspires me to be a better teacher.”

Carol and husband, Terry’s youngest

daughter, Anna Johnson chose a career in business. Carol said she

is pleased with all three children and her goal wasn’t for them to

become teachers.

“Their father and I taught them to make

a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “We wanted them to feel

the benefit of helping other people because we knew it would be

gratifying for the rest of their lives. I’m proud of all three of

my girls.”

When the four gather in Carol’s

classroom, it’s like home. Carol has been teaching at Muldown

continuously since 1995, but her first stint at the school was in

1975.

Kathryn, who is in her fifth year at

the high school, observed her mom’s classroom before she became a

teacher herself. Since heading up her own classroom Kathryn has

valued her mother’s knowledge base in education.

“I not only completely trust and value

her opinion, but every piece of advice she has given me, when I

apply it to my own teaching, I’ve seen great results,” Kathryn

said. “Over the years, I’ve heard so many positive comments from

former students, parents of students and coworkers who appreciate

the difference she has made in young peoples’ lives. I feel

fortunate to have her as a both a parent and a mentor.”

If it was not for her mother’s

influence, Christina might not have come to work at Muldown. She

completed an internship in the Whitefish district, but after

graduating took a job at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

When a spot opened at Muldwon she

wasn’t certain about applying.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave, but

she reminded me how wonderful it is to be part of a (school)

community,” Christina said.

The three educators cross paths not

only socially, but professionally as well. Carol said she

appreciates having her daughter’s points of view when she faces

classroom challenges.

Kathryn has brought her high school

students to the elementary school to work with her mom’s classroom.

Carol is hoping that Emma will be a part of her classroom this

spring during a special arts session for second- through

fourth-graders.

Carol really seems to be happy when she

is in the classroom. She was still in high school herself when she

decided to become a teacher. Her sister and brother are also

teachers.

“I had always loved school, books and

learning,” she said. “When all the other girls were excited to go

to college and onto other things, I was happy where I was.”

She taught in Des Moines, Iowa, and

near Seattle before moving to Whitefish in 1975 with her husband.

Carol spent her early childhood in Kalispell and wanted to return

home to Montana.

She continued teaching until her

children were born. Then, with Terry spending much of his time

traveling for his law practice, the Trieweilers decided Carol would

stay home with the children.

Carol enjoyed raising her children, but

she missed the classroom.

“She always encourages us to be a

mother and have a career,” Christina said. “She is a great mom, but

she was born to be a teacher.”

After Terry was elected to serve on the

Montana Supreme Court, the family moved to Helena. She returned to

school attending Carroll College and eventually taught English at

the University of Moscow. In 1995 she returned to Muldown as a

long-term substitute and the following year had her own

classroom.

“Whitefish is the best community to

raise a child,” Carol said. “It has excellent schools, dedicated

teachers who are interested in their students success and

actively-involved parents.”

She’s also quick to point out the many

educator families who have more than one member serving in the

Whitefish School District.

Carol plans to retire after this school

year, but admits she doesn’t really want to leave. It seems hard to

picture life not standing at the front of the classroom. She knows

she’ll find her niche and her daughters suggest that might be

continuing to teach her grandchildren in the after-school

hours.

For now, she continues after-school

visits from her grandaughter. Emma likes to visit the fish and

write on her grandmother’s whiteboard.

Asked what she wants to be when she

grows up, she pauses before settling on “a teacher or

scientist.”

“You could be a science teacher,”

Kathryn suggests.