Teacher Feature: Week 4        

By Kenna L

Valley has always been proud of a well-structured music program. Two staff members that have played a large part in the excellence of the Valley High School music program are chorus director Janet Helgerson and band director Susan Brackett.

            Janet Kay Helgerson was born on New Years Eve in Postville, as she likes to say “many years ago.” She and her three siblings (Chris, Carol, and Linda) attended Valley Community School. After high school, Janet attended both Luther and UNI to develop a career in music. She has been teaching at Valley for twenty-three years, and loves making music with kids. Janet has also developed a family of her own; with her husband, Mike; a daughter Leah and son-in-law Marty living in Minneapolis; and sons Bob (attending UNI); and John (attending Wartburg). She chose to teach at Valley because it has always been her home, and because she loves the great kids and supportive parents.

            Susan Brackett was born in Postville as well. She has “four interesting brothers and one awesome sister,” who plan to next reunite between Christmas and New Year’s Day this year. At Postville High, Susan was very much into music rather than sports. She was also active in the church youth group, NHS, and worked for the Postville Herald. After graduating, Susan attended Coe College, where she experienced their off campus program in New York City. Susan has taught in a total of six school communities, and this is her fourth year at Valley. Susan’s husband, Steve, is a pastor at a local church in Postville, and her three children; Patrick, Will, and Molly, all attend Postville School. She chose a music career because she never gets tired of watching a student transfer from not knowing much music to being able to perform expressively.

            Because of these two musical women, Valley’s music program has been developed into an exemplary program. This 2009-2010 school year promises to bring a wonderful melody of band and chorus performances.