MARSHALL — An adventure-filled education career that began in Russia and ended in southwest Minnesota, Marshall High School’s Nonna Gutman is closing her classroom door for the final time, retiring after four decades as a math teacher.
“I did not start my career in America, but it definitely feels (like) home,” Gutman said. “I met so many people on the way that helped me become who I am, and I very much appreciate it … I was blessed with wonderful students.”
Gutman is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, where she grew up, attended college and began her teaching career for seven years. Her husband, Ilya, and herself immigrated to the U.S. in November 1991 to build a future for their two children, Anna and Michael.
Gutman went on to have a 40-year career, teaching in Motley for two years before coming to Marshall for 31. She spent her entire time here at the high school in the math department.
“We came in ’91 with nothing. We had two suitcases per person and $100 per person, that’s it,” Gutman said. “We were lucky that my relatives, my mom, stepsister and her family, lived in Minneapolis. They got stuff for us and we had a place to live.”
Gutman feels fulfilled with the career she’s upheld, and although there’s mixed emotions heading into retirement, she acknowledged she felt the time was right.
“I just had an awesome career. It’s sad to have it done, but I think it’s time to move on. It was becoming difficult, physically. My mind can still do it, but my body says not too fast,” Gutman said. “I think there will be so many things I’m going to miss.”
The Gutmans’ arrival to Minneapolis was just two weeks after the historic 1991 blizzard that brought more than 25 inches of snow to the area.
“We came right after that blizzard. I remember telling my students that we (arrived) right after Halloween on November 14,” Gutman said. “They would say, ‘Oh yeah … We did not have school for a week after that.’”
Gutman was 27 years old when she immigrated, and her first job was with a data company grading school tests.
“It was really hard to find a teaching job, or even a subbing job,” Gutman said. “I was correcting tests for eight hours every day. It was a great job, great opportunity, but first I was shocked how many unemployed teachers they had. It was a whole huge gym, with rows of tables and people sitting and correcting tests … But, I met a few very nice people that were very helpful.”
Gutman’s first teaching gig in the states was in Motley, west of Brainerd, from 1992 to 94, where she embraced the opportunity and now reflects on it as a strong stepping stone in her journey, but dealt with language barrier challenges during the time.
“They hired me because I could teach not only math … but I also taught Russian,” Gutman said. “I was really, truly in survival mode. Sometimes I was questioning, ‘Do I want to do this for the rest of my life?’”
“English was not my native language. I did not know that you could spell the word ‘to’ in so many ways,” Gutman added, laughing. “I was so lucky to meet so many people that wanted to help without even knowing how they could help … It was a small school, a difficult experience, but I had a job.”
The opportunity to teach in Marshall came in the summer of 1994 when she found the job posting for a full-time position, which Gutman said she was prompt in sending her application in.
“Whenever I put on my resume that I had experience in Russia, it was always viewed as negative. But that year, the principal, Fred Majeski, just traveled to Russia, St. Petersburg,” Gutman said. “He was in love with the culture, met wonderful people … He came in and on his desk, my resume was one of the first.”
Upon arriving, Gutman quickly made a home in Marshall, and never thought about leaving since.
“I have teachers here with my math department, and they were super supportive … I call them my family,” Gutman said. “I’m the only child, and my husband is the only child. All the women in the math and science department, they all have sisters. They figured out it’s not fair that I didn’t have sisters, so they all adopted me and they were my math and science sisters.”
Serving as a math coach for the math team for several years, Gutman is leaving on a good note after making a trip to state this season.
Gutman credited a 1997 geometry conference she attended at St. Olaf College in Northfield that helped shape her vision of education in America, and offered her a networking opportunity with people she’s still in contact with today.
Gutman also mentioned she still keeps in touch with a plethora of former students, including some from Russia.
While cleaning up her classroom and packing up the memories made, Gutman came across a large stack of graduation card invitations that she’s held on to from each of her students throughout her entire career.
Not knowing what to do with the pile, high school art teacher Brydie DeMuth took them and created a large collage poster of all the invites, named “Throughout the Years,” to which Gutman expressed as a thoughtful project that allows her to remember her students.
A once challenging, yet rewarding, risk that Gutman took nearly 35 years ago, turned into a career of inspiring generations of students in their personal lives and educational journeys.
The time she spent in the classroom is what Gutman will hold most close, heading into her chapter of retirement.
“I had a sign (in my room) that says, ‘Your students will forget what you taught them, but they will never forget how you made them feel,’ and that’s important. I had so many students that didn’t like math, but then suddenly they realized that’s OK,” Gutman said. “I keep telling them that if you don’t make mistakes, then why did they put erasers on pencils? Your mistake is your opportunity.”
“Your life starts with appreciating good people that surround you,” Gutman added. “I couldn’t have my career without all the people that helped me.”