Sittig’s final chapter as BVHS educator comes to close this year

Twety-three years ago, Ann Sittig took the advice of her neighbor, Vicki Grablander, to apply for a teaching position at Brandon Valley High School.

It was one of the best pieces of advice she’s received to date.

Grablander was a Spanish teacher at BVHS at the time and often shared her high praise for the staff and students at Brandon Valley. When a position opened that fit Sittig’s passion for literature, Grablander encouraged her to apply.

“She was right,” says Sittig, who is one of a handful of local educators that is retiring this year. “I have greatly enjoyed my time at BV.”

Sittig was drawn to a career in education through her positive learning experiences as a student at nearby Baltic. 

“I admired my teachers and the enthusiasm they had for teaching,” she said. “As a student at the University of South Dakota, I grew to love the study of literature and wanted to pass that on to other people.”

Prior to landing the job at Brandon Valley, Sittig taught nine years at Garretson and one year at Tri-Valley. She taught all levels of English and speech at both, along with juggling her duties as the school play director, the oral interp coach, and the yearbook advisor. She also was the advisor for Garretson High’s National Honor Society program.

While her assignments have been many at BVHS, Sittig has largely been able to share her passion for literature through the classes she’s taught: High school English, honors freshman English and English 9R are all current courses. AP senior English, honors English and speech were also among the mix of her BV teaching assignments.

She’s has no regrets of her chosen career path, a career she defines as being “filled every day with energy – a place where new ideas are constantly being formed, conveyed and tested with other students.”

On three separate occasions, Sittig has been nominated for the Brandon Valley Teacher of the Year Award. She was nominated in 2000, 2007 and 2009. The first year she was a finalist and the third time she received the coveted honor.

Sittig is the first to admit that she doesn’t do well with “good-byes.”

“Good-byes seem so permanent,” she said. “I may no longer teach at BV, but that doesn’t mean I won’t have contact with the people that have made an impact on my life. So instead of saying ‘good-bye,’ I’d rather say, ‘See you later.’”

As Sittig begins to look forward, she can’t deny that she will miss both her co-workers and the students. 

“I have had the privilege to work with a great bunch of people who have made a huge impact on my life in ways known and unknown to them,” she said. “I can’t thank them enough for making all of these years such a positive experience. I will miss the kids as well for they have made every day an adventure. Life is never boring with kids around!”

Her retirement plans include traveling with her husband, Bob, who is the superintendent of the Baltic School District, taking time to read books for pure fun, and watch from the sidelines as her children grow in their careers and personal lives.

The Sittigs are parents to four: Jacob, a math teacher and head boys basketball and golf coach at West Central; Tom, a traveling nurse currently assigned to a Denver hospital that is dealing daily with COVID-19 patients; Molly, who will begin her first teaching job this year at Tea Elementary; and Sam, a senior at Baltic High School, who will attend South Dakota State this fall.

After 33 years in the classroom, Sittig is ready to embark on new pursuits.

“While I love teaching and know that I am going to miss it, I also want the chance to pursue other interests,” she said. “I am not sure what road I am going to follow next, but I hope it will be as fulfilling as teaching has been.”

As Sittig prepares to close out this chapter, the woman with a love for literature, hopes she’s left a positive mark on BV.

On a wall in her classroom are the words, ‘LEAVE YOUR MARK,’ which she’s challenged all of her students to do.

“Many of my students have left their mark in the school through their athletic feats, fine arts performances, academic achievements, etc. Some have left their mark simply by impacting others through their unique personalities,” she shares. “Just as I have encouraged my students to do this, I have also challenged myself to leave my mark on BV. I hope in some small way I have succeeded.”