Varina Pickett knew she wanted to make a difference in the world when choosing her career.
“I really believe that one should leave the world a better place,” Pickett said.
Forty years later, Pickett is retiring and leaving a legacy at Midvale Elementary School in the form of two teachers who were her former students.
Pickett grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, the daughter of a statistics professor. She was heavily involved in 4H, which she credits for shaping her worldview.
“It gave me the outlook of looking beyond myself, and what I want, to what is better for the world? How can I help improve the world?” she said.
She wanted to have four full seasons and escape Alaska’s frigid cold, so she attended the College of Idaho, where she met her husband, Alan Pickett.
She followed her new husband to Midvale, where he became the fourth generation to work the family farm. She headed to the small elementary school. Today, the district serves about 130 students.
Pickett knew immediately that she wanted to teach younger kids.
“If you make a mistake with elementary school kids and you go, ‘Ope I’m human I made a mistake.’ They go, ‘Oh well, that’s OK,'” Pickett said.
As a 5-foot-4-inch young teacher, she wanted to avoid a high schooler’s possible attitude of “I’m taller than you and, therefore, know more than you.”
Pickett quickly fell in love with Midvale’s familial environment.
“You really get to know the students and you really get to watch them as they grow through the years and mature,” she said.
Pickett has taught all elementary grades (except first) throughout her career, including a variety of combination classes. She even filled in at the high school to teach reading for a semester. There was a period when Pickett moved grades with the same class, teaching a second- and third-grade combination, then a third- and fourth-grade combination.
“That was just really fun to see the growth that occurred over that amount of time,” she said.
It’s a period she remembers fondly, even with the tendency of students to fight like siblings after so long together.
“We just try to talk about how we can maybe better handle the situation. Why are we having this? What are some of the steps we can do?” she said of solving disagreements.
Some of Pickett’s favorite moments are when a student’s face lights up with understanding.
“Those kind of things, they tug at your heartstrings,” she said.
Amanda Ulenkott, 21, had Pickett as her second- and third-grade teacher. She remembers Pickett’s high expectations that helped make her a self-sufficient kid.
“The one thing that I love the most about Mrs. Pickett is that she really pushes you to be the best version of yourself,” Ulenkott said. “Even maybe when it’s not fun in the moment, but in the future you’re better for it.”
Pickett has a reputation as a tough teacher around the school that continues today, Ulenkott said. Kids are often intimidated to be in her class, but then Pickett throws in little jokes throughout the day that catch kids off guard, she said.
“She has these high expectations and she’s going to hold you to it,” Ulenkott said. “Then they get into it and they realize she’s really funny and sweet.”
Ulenkott knew from a young age that she wanted to become a teacher, but it wasn’t until she lived with her aunt last summer — an educator and alumna of Pickett’s class — that she thought to ask Pickett to mentor her during student teaching.
Pickett had planned to retire but stayed an extra year to mentor Ulenkott.
She spent most of the year out of her comfort zone, Ulenkott said. “I feel so prepared to step into a teaching position next year, and I credit that to her just kind of throwing me in there.”
Part of what made Pickett feel ready to retire was Ulenkott and another former student, Chelsea Doggett, are now teachers educating the children of Midvale. Their drive, ideas and passion made it easier for Pickett to move on, she said.
“I’m actually looking forward to the next stage in my life,” Pickett said.
She plans to travel with her husband and spend more time with her grandson and daughter, when she’s not working the family ranch.
Varina Pickett, 64
Years teaching: 40
Grades taught: Kindergarten, 2/3 combo, 3/4 combo, 4/5 combo, 5/6 combo, 11th grade reading skills
What is the most challenging part of being a teacher? “When politics interferes with a quality education. When things are being dictated and you kind of know that’s not what the research says.”
What would you give a first-year teacher? “I would tell them to reflect on their day, what went well, what didn’t and how could it be changed. But don’t stress over it because you will get more experience, things will become a little bit better.”
Teacher Feature highlights the diversity, expertise and ingenuity of educators across the state. Submit your suggestions for a teacher to feature to Emma Epperly at emma@idahoednews.org.
