Pam Hering amuses and intrigues AP U.S. History classes

Fiona Huse, Staff Reporter
Originally published December 11, 2014

“You can’t listen to hippity-hoppity in here,” Pam Hering told her sixth period class.

Extravagant and eccentric, the AP U.S. History teacher brings laughter to every class period.

Six years ago, Hering began teaching at BHS. Though it’s only her second teaching job, she has since shown that it is the perfect fit for her.

“I only live 1.3 miles away,” Hering said.”My in-laws both went here. Everybody’s in those old old yearbooks.”

Though she is qualified to teach any kind of history, Hering teaches three periods of Advanced Placement U.S. History.

“I’ve always loved history,” Hering said. But her favorite part is the student reactions, those “ah-ha!” moments.

“My students inspire me,” she said. “[They] inspire me, [they] keep me young, it changes how I teach what I teach.”

Hering is known for her fascinating and unusual stories that she often recants to her students. Some are amusing, but some are deep and thought provoking.

In 1972 she took part in a secret committee at South Weymouth Naval Air Station that worked on the release of prisoners of war from Vietnam. Her job was to find childcare for the families, and to make sure that all families were taken care of.

“I didn’t talk about this for such a long time because I’m so moved by it, that I usually start crying. But I’ve found out that I don’t care, I don’t care if you see me crying,” Hering said. “I think we should be moved by history.”

Hering’s life has been filled with experiences such as this. When she was in high school she participated in the 1960s and ‘70s civil rights movement. She has marched for both civil rights and Native American rights in Seattle.

“Those pictures in our history books, that was me 50 years ago,” Hering said, smiling. “I can identify with them!”

She used to take her children to protests against the Vietnam War, taught them how to tuck and roll from the fire hoses and how to protect their faces from tear gas. She believes that one person can make a difference.

In the future Hering plans on following the path that she’s on, teaching kids and living in the community.

Ballard is my community…We’ve got roots in my family going back to the ‘30s in Ballard.” — history teacher Pam Hering

“I will probably retire within the next five years, but I see myself subbing here well into my 80s,” she said. “I see myself becoming one of those little old ladies subbing.”

As a longtime Ballard neighbor, Hering wants to continue living in the neighborhood long after she retires.

“Ballard is my community,” Hering said. “We’ve got roots in my family going back to the ‘30s in Ballard.”

Hering admires not only the neighborhood’s community but the school’s as well.

“There’s a quality of goodness at this school, I get lovely thank yous for writing letters of recommendation,” Hering said. “That’s not something that I was accustomed to at West Seattle.”

The teacher herself brings an upbeat attitude to her classroom, contributing to what she perceives as the school’s quality of goodness.

On the first day of school Hering’s sixth period class was greeted by a cheery little woman. After the students sat down she proceeded to empathize with them about the difficulties of the first day of school. She began performing yoga moves, including the Lion.

“Arrrrgggh,” she roared, leaning down.

Throughout the year Hering continued to live up to many students’ expectations, producing laughs and confused expressions daily.