Joe Drennan
Staff WriterIrish eyes will be smiling on Mike Bernauer as he retires from teaching at the Forest Lake High School after 35 years.
ìI have had a long run,î he said. ìItís been a good gig.î
Growing up in the small northern Minnesota town of Perham, Bernauerís mother was a schoolteacher. Bernauer saw how rewarding teaching could be and decided thatís what he wanted to do.
ìI would see all these little kids stop by the house enthused by their teacher and bringing her gifts,î Bernauer said. ìThey havenít been stopping by my house or bringing gifts but itís been a rewarding profession.î
As luck would have it, when Bernauer graduated from St. Johnís University in Collegeville with a degree in English and French, Perhamís old superintendent was now the Forest Lake superintendent. Bernauer was offered a job as a high school English teacher in Forest Lake and he took it.
ìI just took the first job I was offered and I havenít regretted it,î Bernauer said.
Since taking the job, Bernauer got his masters degree from Arizona State in the mid 1970s in comparative literature.
ìIt was the only time off I had in 35 years,î Bernauer said.
For the past 30 years Bernauer has taught what he calls a ìpet courseî in French literature.
ìI really liked French literature and I wanted to teach it in English,î Bernauer said. ìI not only love the material but the students that are attracted to the class. The college bound students who really want to learn this stuff are the kids who take the class.î
Outside of the classroom Bernauer spent ten years as the English department chair and during that time the censorship issued about The Lottery by Shirley Jackson took shape. The school board banned the book, but five students from Scandia sued claiming they were losing their academic freedom and won their case.
In a less controversial part of his career Bernauer was the yearbook advisor and worked with the National Honors Society as well.
ìItís with working with kids in those things where you develop lifelong ties,î Bernauer said. ìStudents from 1974 are still e-mailing me.î
Having taught in Forest Lake for 35 years Bernauer is now teaching some of the kids of past students of his.
ìI told my students a few years ago if any of them told me I taught their grandparents I would retire,î Bernauer said. ìIt didnít happen so I am quitting in time but it could be close.î
In the May 13 issue of the Forest Lake Times, Bernauer was pictured donating money for a scholarship; the caption also mentioned Bernauerís retirement. Since that issue, over 20 students past and present have e-mailed Bernauer to tell him of his influence on their lives.
ìIf every teacher could be lucky to go out with that kind of recognition it would be great,î Bernauer said.
Bernauer was chosen by the students to give the commencement speech at this yearís senior graduation, as both he and the seniors will be leaving the school.
Plans for the future
Retiring at the age of 57, Bernauer is excited to move on to the next chapter of his life, and he has some plans for what he wants to do.
ìI usually tell people I thought retirement meant you donít have to have any plans,î Bernauer said, ìbut there are two things that I always wanted to do.î
Being an English teacher, itís only natural that Bernauer loves books and because of that he says he has always wanted to work in a bookstore. He says he might get a part-time job at a Barnes and Noble or Borders to fulfill that want.
ìTo an English teacher itís kind of a heaven,î Bernauer said.
The other thing Bernauer wanted to do was work in a grocery store bagging groceries. Growing up his dad owned a grocery store and all his siblings and cousins worked in the store bagging groceries. Before Bernauer was old enough to carry on the family tradition his dad sold the store.
ìI might have to go to Byerlys to fill that gap,î Bernauer said. ìI felt I missed out.î
Another thing Bernauer wants to do is travel to Greece with his wife Jane. He says he has been teaching Greek mythology for so many years that he would like to travel over there and see the things he was teaching about.
The other traveling Bernauer plans on doing are trips to Ireland. Bernauer says he has always been interested in his Irish heritage and the Irish writer James Joyce.
When heís not traveling, Bernauer says he hopes to sub once in a while too.
ìI am planning to retire and relax, but I am too young to just sit and do nothing though,î Bernauer said.
There is a part of teaching Bernauer wonít miss though, waking up early.
ìAfter 35 years I am looking forward to not getting up at 6 a.m.,î Bernauer said. ìI am a night person and waking up early is hard for me.î
ìI just enjoyed teaching,î Bernauer said. ìIt is so rewarding. You see that little light bulb going on or the twinkle in the eye it can make your day, week, month, even your year.î
Top of Page
