By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
Known throughout her career as “Mrs. Lundy,” Marybeth Hummel is closing the book on a 36-year teaching career, 35 of those in the Sweet Home School District.
With her recent marriage to Dale Hummel in April, she’s taking on a new name and a new chapter of life.
Hummel taught every elementary grade, kindergarten through fifth, and worked at every school in the district. She started at Hawthorne, spent three years at Holley, 28 years at Oak Heights, and finished her career with three years of kindergarten at Foster Elementary, the age she most enjoys.
“Kindergarten is definitely my favorite,” she said. “They’re so full of wonder and accept you just as you are. I’ll miss hearing, ‘I love you, teacher!’ from the little ones,” Hummel said with a smile.
Originally from Salem, Hummel earned her teaching degree from what was then Western Oregon State College. She spent her first year substituting in the Salem-Keizer area before settling in Sweet Home.
While she taught hundreds of students over the years, one of her biggest lessons was one she had to learn herself.
She has always taught her students, “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”
And yet she didn’t really believe in herself and didn’t think she would be able to go back to school and get a master’s degree.
“One day it kind of hit me: ‘You know, you’re preaching this to these kids, yet you’re not living it.’”
In 2008, while teaching full-time and caring for two young nephews, a little flyer showed up in her box about a cohort through Portland State University. Hummel decided to listen to her own advice, believe in herself and go back to school. She earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from PSU in 2010, graduating with honors.
Hummel was inducted into the National Honor Society at PSU and said the experience taught her to finally live what she had always taught her students. She finally truly believed in herself and started living as an example to her students.
Education has changed significantly over the years, and Hummel has seen it all.
“Education is like a pendulum,” she said. “For example, when I started, we taught reading through phonics. Then it switched to whole language. Now it’s back to phonics again, but now they call it ‘the science of reading.’ I think that’s the best way, because it’s based on research.”
But she worries about the pressure on young learners.
“There’s more expected of kids now, especially at 5 and 6. We don’t give them enough time to just be kids,” she said. “I believe in assessment, but constant testing isn’t the only way to measure learning.”
She emphasized her belief in learning through experience.
“I know kids can learn through play; I’ve seen it,” she said. “Hands-on activities, learning through doing, not just giving them a worksheet, that’s what sticks with them.”
Some of her favorite teaching memories reflect that hands-on approach.
She recalled a fourth-grade field trip to Clear Lake with fellow teacher Tim Swanson – one she fondly remembers and likes to laugh about to this day.
Another highlight was an overnight trip to Fort Clatsop that they fundraised for entirely on their own. “It was filled with hands-on learning. The kids got so much out of it.”
She hopes to inspire future educators, but reminds them it’s not an easy path.
“If you want to make a difference, this is the place to do it,” she said. “But it’s a lot of work. People think we have the summers off, but we spend them creating curriculum, preparing for the next year, and taking online classes.”
Despite the challenges, Hummel says the rewards have always outweighed the stress.
“When that lightbulb goes on for a kid, that’s everything. It’s a really rewarding career. I’ll miss the kids and the people I worked with.”
Health issues helped her decide it was time to retire and focus on self-care. But she’s not slowing down.
She and Dale plan to spend time with grandkids, cruise the Caribbean, visit Alaska to see the Northern Lights, travel across the U.S., and volunteer with organizations like Love INC in Albany. She also hopes to return to classrooms as a substitute teacher and finally catch up on scrapbooking.
“I’ve got boxes of photos waiting for me,” she said. “I’m always creating and I’m a lifelong learner. I’ll always be asking, ‘What else can I learn?’”
Luke Augsburger, who used to work with Hummel as the Foster Elementary principal and is now the assistant principal at Sweet Home High School, called Hummel an asset to the community.
“She’s magnificent,” he said. “She truly cares about students and brings so much positivity to the classroom. She’ll be missed, but I want to congratulate her on her retirement.”