Bessen trades urban skyline for mountaintops

Amy Bessen always knew she would end up somewhere with mountains, but her plan for getting there was a bit unconventional.

“After I graduated (college), I could pretty much teach anywhere,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’ll get sick of the city and it will be motivation to get out, but at least I can say that I experienced something else.’”

Following a six-year stint teaching in an urban district in Boston, Bessen — who grew up in Ohio and Michigan — was ready for a drastic change of scenery. After spending some time at her brother’s home in Columbia Falls a couple of summers ago, Bessen knew the Flathead Valley was where she wanted to be.

“By that point, I just needed to get away from the city,” she said. “That trip was kind of the catalyst for figuring out how to get out here.”

When Bessen saw a math teaching position advertised at Bigfork Middle School, she applied immediately, knowing the application pool was likely very competitive.

“When they asked me if I would like to have the job, it was unreal,” she said.

Bessen, an avid hiker, had to travel upwards of three hours to find decent trails in New England.

“To come to where it’s pretty in the mountains, where everyone wants to do what I want to do — to go on hikes, to be outside — is just awesome,” she said.

Bessen has always appreciated the beauty of the natural world, especially the hidden spots that aren’t readily available to the average hiker.

“Nature is unreal,” she said. “It’s so crazy that things like that can be made, and that so few people get to see.”

In addition to the landscape, Bessen has noticed a lot of positive differences between her new home and her old stomping grounds in Boston.

“It (Boston) was a little rough around the edges,” Bessen said. “Everyone here is super friendly and helpful. They have gone out of their way for me, to help make sure that I’m doing OK.”

Despite changes in class size and the cultural background of her students, Bessen said she is adjusting well to her new job.

“Culturally, the kids are a little bit different (from Boston), but there are a lot of things that are the same, too,” she said. “I still tell my same stupid jokes, and they still don’t laugh.”

As a middle school teacher, Bessen said it is her goal to help students realize that they have great potential, academically and otherwise.

“I chose middle school because it’s an important time in kids’ lives,” Bessen said. “I want to let them know that they matter, that they can do it. I want to have a positive effect on their lives.”

According to Bessen, it’s not always easy keeping kids engaged in, and excited about, mathematics.

“A lot of kids come in hating math already,” she said. “There are a lot of stigmas that come with this subject. I just try to make sure they know it’s a new year, and I try to make it as entertaining as possible. It doesn’t have to be just boring notes.”

Bessen said she prefers to live in the moment, trying not to get too overwhelmed with the stresses and challenges of her job.

“The kids are so different every day, so engaging,” she said. “I just love watching them grow and get excited about math and about life, too.”