ABERDEEN, S.D. – Cassie Wuestewald proudly remembers her daughter, Taylor Barbato’s, first day of substitute teaching—and Barbato also has a proud memory of the day her mom became a teacher.
A 6-year-old Barbato was there the day Wuestewald earned her teaching degree from Northern State University.
“I remember her graduating from Northern, and running to give her a hug after she got her diploma, and being so excited,” Barbato said.
Today, the mother and daughter work together at May Overby Elementary—and they’re actually part of three generations of women working in the Aberdeen Public School District. Wuestewald’s mom, Jayne Paysen, is the school librarian for O.M. Tiffany Elementary.
For the three women, it’s like having their own built-in support system.
“I think one of the great things about all of us being in the school system is we can support each other,” Wuestewald said.
Wuestewald, a first-grade teacher, has worked for the school district for 24 years. Barbato, an educational assistant, is in her fifth year with the district, and Paysen is in fourth year.
Previously, Paysen ran a daycare for many years, and Wuestewald said she grew up helping her mom with the kids—which indirectly influenced her decision to become a teacher.
“I really just wanted to be able to make a difference, and I felt like education was a way to do that,” Wuestewald said. “I also wanted the most amount of time to be with my own children and also work outside of the home, so it was super important to me that we have summers together.”
Barbato said she never expected to go into teaching, but that changed when she did an internship in her mom’s classroom during her senior year of high school.
“Seeing her in her element doing her thing was very, very cool,” Barbato said, “and I was like, ‘Oh, my mom’s kind of awesome.’”
After moving out of state and exploring other options, she moved back to Aberdeen and started subbing. She liked it, so when a makerspace position opened at May Overby, she tried it.
“And I love it,” she said. “I’m almost done with my teaching degree now. I’ll be doing my student teaching in the fall and will hopefully also be a classroom teacher.”
All three of them enjoy working in education.
“What I like about working in a school is, not only do I enjoy kids, but I also enjoy adults, and you get to visit with teachers and other coworkers,” Paysen said.
For Wuestewald, the best part of her job is building relationships with students.
“All the hugs,” she said. “All the pictures they draw you. Seeing their accomplishments—when that light bulb goes off and you know that they got it. It's always fun.”
Barbato said it’s also nice to feel that what she’s doing matters.
“It matters if I get up and go to work every day,” she said. “If I'm not there, someone's going to miss me, and it's going to change the way that the day goes, so I need to be there. And that’s a good feeling.”
About the Aberdeen Public School District
The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us.