Bischoff retires after 31 years at District One

After serving in many capacities in Big Horn County School District No. 1, Maryanne Bischoff has chosen to retire after 31 years of employment.

Bischoff grew up on a ranch just outside of Livingston, Montana, where she graduated in 1983, and then went to Northwest College on a track scholarship.

When the track program was discontinued that year, she chose to judge livestock instead and ended up meeting her husband, Max. The two were married in 1985 and moved to Burlington, where they lived for 21 years. The couple began raising their family, but when the need for her to begin working arose, she took the opportunity to become a substitute teacher. That path led to becoming a paraprofessional from 1994 until 2011 in Burlington.

“When I first started, it was just as a teacher’s aide,” she explained. “I corrected papers and did bulletin boards and things like that before things progressed and I officially became a paraprofessional. I was then trained to work with small groups and individuals to help them in specific areas of learning.”

In 2011, she transferred to the elementary school in Cowley and worked as a special education paraprofessional for several years before being moved in the same role to Rocky Mountain High School for another five years.

Then, when the administrative assistant position came open, she wanted to have a year-round job and decided to apply. She was hired and therefore has worked in all four buildings in the district for a total of 31 years.

“As the administrative assistant, I kind of feel like the mother of the building,” she joked. “The job is so varied besides the day-to-day stuff, and this is like our house.”

She greets people coming into the building and makes them feel welcome. She also provides snacks at her desk for the employees of the building so they can come in and take a break and visit and feel at home.

“I have just always loved my job, whatever it was,” she said. “This place is my family, and I’ll miss just being a part of it.”

In her future, she looks forward to making and spending time with her eight grandchildren, riding her fancy horses and traveling. Her son Tyrell lives in Lovell with his wife and two kids, while her daughter Chelsea and her husband are in Powell with their four children, and son Cade lives in Texas with his wife and two kids.

“Honestly, I am just really excited,” she said. “I can go to the Park County and Big Horn County fairs any day I want and not worry about what I am leaving undone at work. It is going to be different, but I am excited.”

Although it is a bittersweet feeling, she looks forward to the freedom to choose how she spends her days.

“It is just amazing how fast it all went by,” she added. “Education has evolved so much over the years. The kids here today are getting a great education, and I know that will continue.”

Superintendent Matt Davidson said that she knows the district better than most and that she has worked in each school and now the district office. 

“I first worked with her in Burlington where she provided support for students,” he said. “Her outgoing, warm personality and genuine interest helped her form a strong connection and relationship with each child. The resulting trust allowed her to be effective in supporting the needs of each student.”

He said that pattern has continued at the district office where he had the pleasure to work alongside her again. 

“People who come by leave with a smile because of their time spent with Maryanne,” he added. “Her duties are complex involving the coordination of many moving parts and often without much notice.”

Davidson said that she can adjust quickly and solve problems that arise, and her commitment to the district over more than three decades is remarkable. 

“Her contributions have been many,” Davidson said. “She is the type of person that every organization wants to represent them. She will be missed.”