Today's Featured Biography

 
Shirley Iverson

I was happy to find the 1957 TRF Lincoln High site (again) just now and will give you some info. I returned to the U.S. in 2003 after teaching English and a little Russian abroad, mostly in Tokyo and one semester in Moscow. I loved teaching ESL to well-educated adults ranging from about 18 to 35. In Tokyo I was full-time at the International Education Center, Yotsuya, Tokyo, for more than 22 years, and in Moscow I taught freshmen and sophomores in the International College of the
Faculty of Foreign Languages of Moscow University on leave from the language school in Tokyo in fall, 1997.

I graduated from Concordia, Moorhead, with a major in Latin and a minor in History, and I took the Education courses necessary for teacher certification. I taught Latin and English for two years in public school in Brainerd, and was non-renewed. Ninety percent of my students signed a petition of support for me, so I was satisfied. One Curriculum Coordinator was
not--he felt that I was unable to understand the average student. I've done a little public school teaching since then, but get quite frustrated with it, no matter how good my intentions. I've taught a total of 31 years, 29 full-time, and also worked as a secretary in Aerospace Engineering on campus at CU in Boulderfor a total of six years, while I was finishing an M.A. in Russian, and after that, while I was basically playing and unwilling to leave Beautiful Boulder.

In the summers of 1961 through 1964 I studied Russian in Indiana University's Slavic Workshop, and later (1966) finished up a Master's in Slavic Languages (a practical degree in the teaching of Russian). Then moved to Lakewood, Colorado, where I taught Russian and English for two years before moving up to Boulder for more study (didn't get fired, got tenure, but STILL got rather impatient with junior high level). After the experience in Aerospace, went to Japan, after locating a teaching job through the School of Education at Indiana
University. Turned out that four of the American teachers and
administrators I worked with at IEC in Tokyo were also IU graduates. I LOVED the job and the students and so STAYED. But that school has a mandatory retirement age of 65, negotiated with and approved by the Union, which I belonged to, so what are you going to do?

When I came back from Tokyo at the end of the Japanese academic year in 2003, in March, my brother, Curt, and my mother were living in New Ulm, so here is where I came. Curtwas the public high school band director in NU for about 30 years. He passed away January 15, 2005. My mother passed away in 2010 at age 96+.

I have always been single. There have been wonderful romances, with brainy, kind and humorous men. I've never felt called to create a family. What I've liked doing especially is studying languages and trying to work for world peace. Sounds corny, but it motivates me.

I don't have plans to come to reunions (haven't driven since using the subway for 25 years, and have multiple allergies, which necessitate staying away from some trees, grasses, and some other things) but hello and best wishes to everyone I knew.

Shirley Iverson

(Working at revising this a bit on February 15, 2023)





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES