On Saturday, family and colleagues of educator Jerry Salstrom will help him celebrate a 50-year career in education — most of which was at Miller Junior High School in Aberdeen.

Since graduating from the University of Washington and starting work in March 1969 at Miller, Salstrom has taught math, computer technology and aerospace education, before becoming an assistant principal and then a principal for 10 years. He’s also spent a few years teaching at Grays Harbor College and Aberdeen High School. He estimated around 45 of his 50 years have been at Miller.

To observe the occasion, Salstrom’s family and other district staff will host a party for him at Miller this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

In an interview, Salstrom said he can’t believe it has been 50 years, and that it doesn’t feel it has been that long.

“My favorite saying about middle school kids is, ‘They’ll make you old real fast, or they keep you young forever, and it’s your choice,’” said Salstrom, 73. “I feel as young now as when I started.”

When he was a senior in high school, Salstrom recalls helping his friends with math problems, and being asked into classrooms to explain questions the students found challenging. He said the positive feedback gave him motivation to become a math teacher.

“I used to get comments like, ‘We understand it when you explain it, but we don’t understand when the teacher does it,’” said Salstrom. “That made me feel pretty good, so I’d already thought about being a teacher.”

Up until eighth grade, Salstrom said he wanted to be a centerfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His ability to hit a baseball, made math a more reasonable career choice, he said.

Most recently, Salstrom has been a math specialist and mentor for students as part of the GEAR UP program, which prepares students for traditional four-year colleges or other educational programs after high school. For the past few years, he’s been working with the class of 2023, currently in eighth grade at Miller, and works with students one-on-one, in the after-school program, or sometimes substitute teaching classes to help with math. If a student was sick and missed a couple weeks, for instance, Salstrom might work with them to catch up with their math work. Next year, he’ll follow the class of 250 eighth grade students to Aberdeen High School to keep helping them.

It doesn’t appear Salstrom intends to retire anytime soon, and said he looks forward to continuing.

“I just like teaching kids math, so I keep doing it,” said Salstrom.