Area teachers passionate about their work

While Sherry Bradstreet was raising her children, she ran a preschool and fell in love with teaching. 

She loved seeing joy on children’s faces and helping kids grow.

So, she went back to school and at age 38 began teaching second grade at Swan River School. She’s been there for five years now and loves every minute of it.

“I love teaching,” she said. “It’s just a dream job.”

She starts the day by getting her students dancing before they get down to the business of learning. 

“My goal is to show passion in learning, because I love to learn,” she said.

She focuses on providing her students a good learning environment and strives to embrace the technology available today. She said it amazes her how much her second graders can do on a computer. She provides opportunities for them to learn how to use the technology that is available, but in a safe environment.

Besides the work she does in her classroom, Bradstreet started a “Game On” night, once a week after school, where students can get together and play board games.

“Many kids are into athletics,” she said, “and there are quite a few that aren’t. This type of program allows kids to join in and be part of a team.”

She has also been involved in a summer program and is working with Bigfork’s ACES afterschool program to start an afterschool program at Swan River School.

“She’s always willing to help with anything above and beyond the regular duties of teaching,” Swan River School principal Marc Bunker said. “When you stop to think of what a good teacher is like, that’s Sherry Bradstreet.”

Sue loeffler

Sue Loeffler began working for Bigfork Schools in 1974, when the elementary and middle school didn’t have a physical education program. 

She pioneered the program and started coaching track and cross county at Bigfork High School.

After 37 years teaching kindergarten through eighth grade physical education, Loeffler moved up to the high school and continued to do what she loved.

“I’ve wanted to be a P.E. teacher for a long time,” she said. She loves sports and working with kids, encouraging them to be active and build an appreciation for exercise.

Loeffler grew up in Havre and spent two years at Flathead Valley Community College. While she was at FVCC she fell in love with the Flathead Valley. She left the area to finish her schooling in Bozeman knowing that she wanted to come back. Then she “lucked out and got a job at Bigfork.”

With her long tenure at the school there came a time when suddenly her students were the children of former students. The odd part, she said, isn’t working with the students, but talking to her former students as parents.

Bigfork High School principal Matt Porrovecchio remembers when Loeffler taught him in junior high. Now as colleagues, Porrovecchio recognizes her as being a great role model for teachers. He said even though she’s been at the school longer than any other faculty member she is always trying new things and adjusting curriculum and adapting as if she were still in her first few years of teaching.

“I’m always trying to change things and mix things up,” Loeffler said.  Loeffler has coached the high school track and cross country teams for all of her tenure. She said she loves coaching just as much as she loves teaching. “I think if you’re a good teacher, you’re a good coach,” she said. Despite 40 years of working Loeffler isn’t ready to be done. She plans to spend at least a few more years teaching and coaching in Bigfork.

“I figure as long as I like it, I might as well keep doing it,” she said.

“She loves what she does, and you can see that,” Porrovecchio said. “I feel lucky to have had her, and I hope she’s still here when my kids get up to high school.”