Amy Bushman is a much-loved 4K teacher at Highland View Elementary in Greendale. She started the 4K program 17 years ago and has been teaching in the same classroom ever since. Mrs. Bushman’s kind and welcoming style makes the transition to school easy for her students. Her amazing talent for remembering her students years later makes them feel special long after they have left her classroom. With the renovations happening at Highland View, her class may be moving to a new room, but you will surely still find Mrs. Bushman sharing her teaching gifts and talents with her young students for years to come.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: This is my 17th year as a teacher and my first adult job after college. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and work with little kids. I remember dropping my brother off at kindergarten when I was little and saying, “I want to work at the kindergarten when I get bigger.” It’s just always been a part of me. I remember in Girl Scouts as a kid, they would have us do collages of things we liked. All the other girls had toys and things like that but I had pictures of kids because I wanted to work with kids. It’s a blessing to watch the kids in this community grow up and be there from when they first start their school experience until they graduate.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Greendale and what do you love there?
A: I just went there for the first time this summer: Sugar & Flour. They have the best grilled cheese I ever had. I would follow it with a treat from Apple’s of Eden for dessert.
Q: How long have you worked in Greendale?
A: This is my 17th year teaching 4K in Greendale schools. This was actually the 17th year of having 4K. I started the program and it’s been fun to see it evolve.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Greendale?
A: I wouldn’t say there’s one certain person. I am just in awe by the diverse staff in our schools. Every year at our beginning of the school year meeting, they show a little video clip of the new people. I’m always fascinated by the life experiences. We have a really neat diverse staff of teachers in the district. There’s a newer special ed teacher, for instance, that goes on several international vacations. She usually wraps some humanitarian work with it, working in orphanages and helping families and things like that.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: I’ve never owned a passport, so I would go anywhere internationally where I would need one! Italy, Greece… I would like to see the world.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon is my favorite movie. And lately I’ve been watching Sandlot, Field of Dreams and all those fun movies with my kids.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Always be yourself and just be kind. You don’t know what other people are going through and doing something nice for a stranger can make their whole day. I think it’s important that you compliment people and use kindness with other people
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I want to visit all the Disney parks. I’ve been to Land and World in the states. I will need that passport to go to the parks in Shanghai and Paris (etc)!
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: The only concert I go to (and I go to it very religiously) is Kenny Chesney. I’m a huge Kenny Chesney fan! Every time he tours, I go to a concert with my very best childhood friend.
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Greendale?
A: Ferch’s because when my kids were little I liked taking them there for ice-cream. And then there are so many great parks in Greendale. We would go to Daffodil or Jaycee Park afterwards.
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Greendale would you have lunch?
A: Bob Uecker. I grew up by County Stadium. I spent many years walking to Brewer games. The Brewers have always been a part of my life. I remember going to my grandparents’ house on the weekends and my grandpa would be listening to Uecker on the AM radio. He’s just a timeless treasure. Now my kids really like Bob Uecker, too. I think he’d be really cool to meet and talk to. We would have breakfast at the coffee shop in the Village. We would have pumpkin scones, sip coffee and talk about baseball and life!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Greendale?
A: I love how much this community supports the schools. The families treat you very well here as a teacher and rally around our schools. It’s neat to see things like the reading buddies coming in and other people from the community that volunteer with the kids.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: Still in Greendale (Highland View), but in a room down the hall starting next year! My kids will be older then. In 5 years my oldest will be driving a car. Yikes! I don’t know if I’m ready for that!
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: I’ve taught over 675 kids in this community. I could tell you all their names still and things about them! I have a good memory. I don’t forget a name or a face.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Family, memories and comfort.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
A: I don’t have a particular actor that I would like to co-star with. However, I would like to be a private investigator in a crime movie.
Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer or Nanny?
A: A chef because I love healthy and fresh food. But as many parents know, you spend many nights after work running your kids to practice and different activities. It’s always a scramble. I think a lot of parents can relate. I would just like someone to make good healthy food every night… and shop for it, too!
