Trio of teachers retire this year

POMEROY–Music teacher Marcus Pedersen has spent 35 of his 38-year career here at the local School District and loved every minute of it. He says what he will miss the most is spending time with the kids, and getting to play with and conduct the Pep Band. He added that he will also miss the great staff of the Pomeroy schools.

Pedersen was born in Wenatchee, Wash. in 1955, but because of his family moving several times as he grew up, he attended and graduated from Pullman High School in 1974. He then attended Washington State University (WSU) and received a B.A. degree in General Studies, majoring in Music, with a minor in Education, in 1980. Then he continued his studies and added a B.A. degree of Music from WSU in 1982. Even though he was not sure himself what he wanted to do when he graduated high school, he found out years later that his father always knew he would be a music teacher.

His first teaching job was in Endicott, Wash., where he taught elementary music and band for three years. The school was so small that he "saw every kid every day" from Kindergarten to twelfth grade. The Endicott school district recruited him even before he had finished his student teaching in Colton, Wash. Over his career he also taught Art, World Geography, Choir, Band, Elementary Music, and coached Cross Country.

Marcus and Joanne Pedersen were married in 1979, and celebrated 40 years of marriage in August, 2019. Together they have three children, who Pedersen proudly states are all Pomeroy High School graduates, as well as WSU graduates, and who have succeeded very well in life. Josh Pedersen is a manager with Microsoft Corporation. Daniel Pedersen received two B.A. degrees from WSU in bio-engineering and computer engineering, as well as a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue, and was heavily recruited and is now the head of engineering for a start-up company in Redmond, Wash. Rose Ellen, their daughter, was the top senior in her department in college, and worked with the Mayo Clinic developing brain implants for controlling epilepsy. She now lives in Puyallup, Wash. and has two children.

Pedersen received the Pomeroy Teacher of the Year Award, "many years ago," he stated. The $2,000 grant that came with the award went to purchase a double-neck, twelve-string acoustic guitar, and a stress-less Norwegian chair, which he says was chosen more because of his Norwegian ancestry than any other reason.

He has been described by students as the most patient teacher who is always so understanding with the kids. Parents have noted that he always found something positive to bring out in every student. What he remembers best are the successes of his students, noting one time, four years ago, when his high school band students willing took on a difficult piece of twentieth-century music, practiced it every Monday for several months, and performed it extremely well at a band concert. He said he was very pleased.

Immediate plans for retirement is to see the grandkids when possible, take care of the yard, continue preaching at nursing homes as he has been, and enjoy some stress-free time at home.