It is abundantly clear the moment you walk through the doorway of her classroom: There is a distinct aura of excitement, passion, and safety. Madame Bartels greets her students when they enter, and you’ll notice that the decor of the classroom changes with the seasons and holidays. For example, there were student-made snowflakes hanging from the fluorescent lights, along with signs such as “Joyeux Noel!” (Merry Christmas in French), this past December. The seating is typically arranged in a circle, making for a comforting sense of community that allows the class to feel connected and engaged in both what they’re learning and those around them.
Madame Bartels has been the French teacher at Helena High for 30 years and is an incredibly passionate teacher!
Born in Hamilton, Madame Bartels was raised in Denton. She attended her first three years of high school in Lewistown before moving to Butte and spending her senior year there. Madame Bartels went on to attend college at Montana State University in Bozeman. “I went there with the happy idea of becoming a math or science teacher, but after my first year, I changed my major to English and a minor in French,” said Madame Bartels.
She highlighted her marriage to Lowell Bartels and the birth of their two sons as significant transitions in her life. “It’s really super important for people to carefully consider who they marry . . . they need to expect the best from you, they need to encourage you,” said Madame Bartels, who has been married to her husband for 48 years. Madame Bartels explained the story of how they met in a motel, where he was the manager who hired her to work over the summer. Five years later, he proposed. “I made a very good choice, and he didn’t do bad either,” she playfully added.
At the mention of her parents, it was clear they both instilled a great deal of positive influence, inspiration, and wisdom in her. “Both my parents, everything about them, called me to rise to a higher level . . . it’s something I strive for in my teaching,” she said. Madame Bartels explained how her childhood household operated taught her to become an excellent mother, teacher, and friend.
When asked what the most rewarding part of being a teacher is, Madame Bartels answered without hesitation: “Oh my gosh, it’s easy. It’s watching people discover something about themselves that they didn’t know they had before.” She elaborated on how much she values the relationship between herself and her students, acknowledging it as an exchange of her knowledge to them. “I’m sincerely interested in my students . . . in the people they are. What makes you excited? What makes you happy? What makes you tick?” Madame Bartels questioned.
It’s clear that the admiration for her dedication reaches across the school, and particularly among her students. James Kampen, a senior in French III, fondly spoke of how she has not only taught him the ways of the French language, but also given him lessons in how to be a compassionate young adult.
“One of her main rules is not making fun of someone continuously because you just don’t know when it’s their day,” said Kampen. Though it was obvious he has several hilarious stories he could tell from French class, he concluded that “I love all the memories, especially Le Petit Poisson.”
Petit Poisson is an iconic song among all levels of French that pass through Madame Bartels program. It is a fun, catchy tune that truly bonds! “Petit Poisson, nage, nage, nage . . . ” (The little fish swims, swims, swims)
Another student in French III, Candyce Dupont, an exchange student from France, commented on Madame Bartels’ style of teaching: “I’ve never experienced someone teaching like that . . . even though it’s a hard language, in the class you have a lot of fun!” She also added that Madame Bartels’ enthusiastic personality is a major factor in the operation of the classroom. “She’s really, really funny, but also just really there for her students,” stated Dupont.
Still, it would be far-fetched to say that Madame’s Bartels impact ends at the doors of Helena High. In fact, it has reached across the entire Helena community. It all began more than 40 years ago when a friend invited her and her husband out on a walk to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Over time, from her work as a youth counselor to having the opportunity to own the first McDonalds here in Helena, Madame Bartels’ advocacy and work towards creating opportunities for people, including those with disabilities, only increased.
When a friend of hers mentioned wanting a place for her disabled daughter to live when the mother passed, it wasn’t long before Madame Bartels sprang into action and organized a weekend in August for the community to come together and fundraise for individuals with disabilities, creating the Farm in the Dell at West Mont Farm.
“When you build something like that, it’s always there. All the people who have lived there have had a safe place to live. All the people who have worked there have had steady, honest work,” Madame Bartels reminisced fondly. “It still makes me cry when I think about it.”
The Farm in the Dell has continued to serve the Helena community for almost 40 years.
For more information on the Farm in the Dell, click here.
Madame Bartels, a pillar within our school as well as the community, has influenced hundreds of individuals for years. Now it is our time to return the favor for this caring, charismatic woman.