Hill City School District features teacher David Kelting

What grade/subject do you teach? 

Industrial Technology (Shop Class)

 

Where did you grow up and where did you go to college? 

I grew up in Pelican Rapid, Minn.  

I went to college at Bemidji State University, Minn. and Valley City State University, N.D.

 

How long have you been a teacher? 

I’ve been in Hill City for 27 years.  

I will be retiring at the end of this year with 37 total years in education.

 

Why did you become a teacher? 

I come from a family of teachers so it’s in my blood.  I have 12 family members (23 if you count my wife’s family) who have taught, currently teach or have held positions in education ranging from college professor, administrators, teachers, paraprofessional, clerical staff and coaches.  

I struggled deciding whether to get a degree in Industrial Technology or Art.  I think I decided on Industrial Technology because that is what my dad taught so I grew up with it and felt very comfortable in that setting.  

I am definitely a hands-on teacher and I really do not like being behind a desk or a computer.  I believe than an artistic mind fits well with Industrial Technology classes.  

I encourage my students to think outside the box and express themselves in their projects.  

I also spent a lot of my teaching years as a coach.  During my career, I’ve coached football, gymnastics, basketball and track and field.  

I am proud to have led the Hill City Rangers to a State Runner Up title in 1997 and a Championship Title in 1998.

 

What do you love about teaching?

I really like how the parents and community support our schools. You don’t often see that in larger school districts.

Also, I love that I can get to know not only the students who take my classes, but just about the entire student body.  

I am teaching secondgeneration students now and I find it fun to see the parents that I used to have in class and recognize personality similarities or differences in their children.  It’s wonderful to have connections with past students who are now adults with children of their own.

 

Would you like to share any personal info?

I am still to this day part of the record holding medley relay team at my high school.  

Also, in high school I was voted, “Nicest Hair” of my senior class – Go Figure!