My name is Paul Shedivy. I snagged a job teaching Earth Science at Park View Junior High in 1977 when jobs were hard to come by and Muktown was a one stoplight town and Pick n Save was an open field. That first class of mine is celebrating their 40th high school class reunion this year. I retired in 2014 after working under four district superintendents and six building principals. I was privileged to have over 4,000 young minds pass through my doors. Before that, I got my B.S. in Zoology at UW-Milwaukee, where I was also on the Track Team. I was honored to enter their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. I earned my Masters Degree from National Louis University in 2002.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife Sandy (formerly Mrs. Adkins the Spanish teacher) and I are a recycled couple. She has two adult children and I have three. Between the two of us, Sandy and I have 8 grandchildren, ranging from 27 years to 9 months old. We feel very fortunate that all of our kids and grandkids live nearby. My daughter, Kelly (44) and sons Peter and Dan (42) frequently encountered my students on the soccer field back in the day. In fact, my boys – playing for Wauwatosa East – had to get past Mukwonago in the quarterfinals on their way to the state soccer title in 1998. I had to miss out on Parent-Teacher Conferences to be there.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I taught 8th Grade Earth Science at Parkview Junior High and Park View Middle School for 37 years. Being an educator is not so much a job as a way of life. I would tell my students, “I don’t have to go to work; I get to go to work.” I particularly enjoy students’ “eureka” moments. And today I enjoy running into those students at the grocery store, Summerfest, anywhere and everywhere. As if day-to-day edu-taining wasn’t enough, highlights of my career also include teaching at Science World Camp at Pigeon Lake in Drummond WI and, along with Sandy, taking our 8th graders to Costa Rica. The latter was the perfect offspring of a marriage between a Science teacher and a Spanish teacher.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Chen’s Kitchen is the best! All you can eat! By contrast – for my sugar high – I go for DQ’s mini blizzard. It’s just big enough. I’m also partial to a couple of coffees houses owned by former students: Sara’s Shanahan’s and Tracy’s Expresso Love.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I never thought I’d spend all 37 years teaching in the same school. But it turned out that way and I couldn’t be happier. For the first 22 years I commuted from Waukesha, West Allis, and Wauwatosa. For the last 15 years I was just 5 minutes from school. Nice!
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
One of the most interesting people I’ve met is my PCP Dr. Dan Johnson. His advice for longevity is good nutrition, exercise, and socialization. He’s very down to earth. And he always walks on the bright side of life.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I got to see a lot of Europe in my youth as an Air Force brat. But there are places in this country I have not seen. I’ve taught about Mt. St. Helens but have never seen it in person. And I’d like to walk on an Alaskan glacier while glaciers still exist.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
While teaching, I rarely took time to watch TV unless I was correcting papers at the same time. Now I can relax in front of Abbot Elementary and The Good Doctor. Favorite movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Be observant, curious, skeptical, and open-minded. Try new things. Find what makes you happy and keep doing it.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I always thought I’d like to go skydiving some day before I die – but not just before I die. In my old age, I’m not quite so adventuresome.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Local live performer Pat McCurdy (who also played at our wedding reception). Sirius-ly: the Beatles Channel.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I miss Cassius the cat at Fickau’s Lumber and I miss hot ham and rolls on Sunday from The Hidden Café behind the Village Pumper. On paydays, we teachers used to go after work for a “symposium” at what we called UW-Vista Gardens (now Fork in the Road).
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Because I admire what he did as President and especially what he’s accomplished since then, I would dine with Jimmy Carter on the outdoor patio at the Fork.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The Mukwonago River is one of the highest quality streams in southern Wisconsin with over 53 different species of fish. It’s a rare gem among kayakers like myself.
Q: What have you done to make Mukwonago a better place?
Does teaching the area’s youth for 37 years count?
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Doing science presentations in grandson Samuel’s elementary school classes, attending Will’s and Siena’s high school and college graduations – or waiting for them at the Pearly Gates.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Despite my rough and tumble exterior, I easily come to tears in the birthday and anniversary card aisle at Walgreens.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Hawaii is a science teacher’s dream – with rain forests, volcanoes, observatories, black sand beaches, snorkeling, surfing, rainbow eucalyptus trees, and more. Attending Sunday mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a close second.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
I love all five seasons. And every day is a holiday. They call it “the present.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Mother Earth. She has everything we need. Let’s not ruin her.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife Sandy is also a 10 – she looks out for me when I don’t look out for myself. She is my biggest supporter. No one will ever love me like she does. And I wouldn’t want them to.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Freshly ground coffee (even though it’s decaf). And mint growing in my garden (the bees love it, too).
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Our sunroom, the birds at my feeders, and bedtime.
