Teacher Feature: Nancy Schwalm

If you walk into the third-grade class at Lincoln School you will probably see a face familiar to a lot of Lincoln residents.

Nancy Schwalm moved to Montana 16 years ago, to be a Law Enforcement Ranger at Glacier National Park. She and her husband Ezra moved to Lincoln in January 2008, when Ezra became the game warden for the Lincoln area.

Schwalm is no stranger to the classroom environment. She began teaching Hunter's Education for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 11 years ago and decided then that she enjoyed teaching. She has also worked previously as a speech aid.

Schwalm began her studies at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Natural Resources Management. She went on to earn her Masters in Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. Based on the strength of her degrees, Schwalm has been granted a provisional teaching license by the state and is pursuing the requirements for her full teaching license.

Schwalm said what she enjoys most about Lincoln School is the amazing support her fellow teachers and staff have shown her. They all understand she is new to classroom teaching and have gone above and beyond offering resources, support and help navigating the school procedures.

"I have never before had such a sense of community and camaraderie. I really appreciate that." she said. "The school is the heart of our small town, it is wonderful to be intricately involved here. It is a privilege to be here and I am thankful for this opportunity."

Schwalm loves all the different outdoor recreation opportunities in Lincoln. She enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, skiing and bird watching. "I love the small-town way of life, the people here really take care of each other and I love that" She also loves how many dedicated people are bringing new opportunities to our town, such as the sculpture park and the fitness center.

Schwalm's family includes her husband Ezra and their children Garrett and Dylan, a blue heeler named Webb, five mules, 37 chickens and five beehives. When she is not teaching, Schwalm enjoys reading, antiques, fixing up and selling run down items, and making plans to check off bucket list items that include riding a mule through the entire Bob Marshall Wilderness and carrying on her family's tradition of winning a ribbon at Montana Mule Days.