By Micah Friez
Published 7:00 am on September 8, 2026
When Kate Pearson wanted to pursue higher education at Bemidji State University, she needed financial support.
What she didn’t realize at the time, though, was that a little help would also serve thousands of elementary students in the five decades since the aid first arrived.
“Seven members of my family have graduated from BSU, and we all have had wonderful careers after graduation,” the 1978 alumna said. “That means a lot to me. I just believe that Bemidji State has offered so many opportunities to so many people in this community and around the state.”
Having just begun her 48th year at Horace May Elementary, Pearson is the longest-tenured teacher in Bemidji Area Schools. Most of those years have been in second grade, and working in the classroom allows Pearson to put her Bemidji State education to good use by shaping her often bright-eyed students.
An unseasonably warm April morning affords the chance for just that. After a lesson on the anatomy of a flower, next comes the fun part: dissection. Pearson distributes Easter lilies to her students and helps them identify anthers, pistils, stamens, and more.
Squeals ring out as students collect pollen on Q-tips. A finger or two gets sticky with nectar. And even though this lesson is just before recess, the exciting part of the day has already arrived.
Each student has a magnifying glass, which lends to a thorough examination. The close inspection satisfies some questions, but curiosity quickly branches into new wonders. Pearson cultivates the fascination that fills the room with a tried-and-true lesson that brings out the most in her pupils.
“As you can see, they’re very enthusiastic about what they’re learning,” Pearson said. “That’s meaningful for me, when I see their excitement, and that keeps me coming back. It’s a mutual love of learning.”
‘So joyful to give’
On top of science experiments, Pearson has gone above and beyond for her students in many ways.
She’s directed 57 musicals, 38 of which have been for second graders at Horace May. She has also spearheaded the development of a 50-acre outdoor classroom called the Diversity Trail, a passion project spanning over 40 years and one that now winds through 1.5 miles of wooded trails behind the school.
The latter has been a labor of love for almost her entire career. It features an amphitheater, educational and directional signage, steel bridges, and field desks — and most importantly, plenty of room for discovery and imagination.
In the blink of an eye, Pearson’s 7- and 8-year-olds navigating the trail will be off to college. And while Pearson is devoted to helping them now, she’s also invested in helping students in the future.
She and her husband, Scott, have an active Impact Scholarship and planned two endowments at Bemidji State, one for academics and one for athletics. Both will be funded through an estate gift. Pearson’s deep involvement with Delta Kappa Gamma — an international professional society for women educators — has also led to three active scholarships for female BSU students.
Pearson sees philanthropy as a way of supporting someone in a similar position to the place she once was.
“If a donation can help someone go to college to start their career, I am so joyful to give that to them,” Pearson said. “Somebody gave that to me. I didn’t know who provided that money to me, and someone might not ever know who I was when money came to them. But it will help them.”
So, whether she’s investing in fervent second graders or post-secondary hopefuls, Pearson is guided by the belief that even the smallest acts reach further than she’ll ever see. And she doesn’t have to look beyond her classroom to see that plan in action.
“You never know how far your influence will reach or if they’ll remember anything. But you do your best and give your all,” she said. “I’ve given the bulk of my life to these children. I hope they look back someday and say they learned something from Mrs. Pearson.”
This story was featured in the Summer 2026 edition of the BSU Alumni Magazine. To view the entire magazine, click here.
