Goin' fishin': After 40 years and three generations, Three Forks teacher Cathe Felz ready for 'change of pace'

THREE FORKS — When Cathe Felz landed the Family and Consumer Sciences position in Three Forks as a new college graduate, she wasn’t sure how long she’d be there.

Having switched her major several times at Montana State, she was hoping she had made the right choice when she decided to become a teacher.

That was 40 years ago.

Today, Felz continues to teach FCS to middle and high schoolers in the same classroom she walked into as a 23-year-old college graduate. It’s the classroom her kids grew up in, a room that had nothing but a single folder in it when she first began.

It’s the classroom Felz will leave for the final time when school adjourns this spring.

“I chose teaching because I love learning and was inspired by two amazing teachers of my own who showed me how caring adults can influence the future of a student,” she said.

In 40 years of teaching, the 2025 Home Baking Association Educator Award recipient has learned to be prepared for just about anything. Whether she’s teaching cooking, sewing, fashion construction, child development, food science, community service, or a leadership class, Felz is ready to bring those subjects to life.

When Felz isn’t working on out-of-the-box projects, she’s an FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) advisor who has taken students to the national convention 28 times.

Felz, who also taught an entry-level EMT class at the school for 17 years, continues to lead the traffic and safety project — a journey that began in 2007. She and her students have participated in a mock crash, placed billboards and marquee signs along roadways, and painted their plain white bus bright red with the slogan “safe driving protects the pack.”

In 2022, after 37 years of teaching, Felz’s room and other parts of the school were remodeled, leaving an open grassy area outside her classroom window. Felz spearheaded a project to turn it into a courtyard that includes an outdoor garden, where harvested food is used not only for cooking but also for donations to the local Headwaters Food Bank.

The “little red shed” is a student-built shed that contains a Blackstone grill, a smoker, and a pizza oven.

“The kids and I come up with so many ideas, but it’s really the kids that get to choose. They are involved in all aspects of what we do, and it generates an excitement around learning,” Felz said.

Throughout Felz’s time at Three Forks High School, she has taught three generations of the same family. The current middle school principal was a senior in high school the year she started. The current Physical Education Teacher was a sophomore. In her current sixth-grade class, she’s had one or both parents of eight of those students.

Jess Oehmcke was once Felz’s student and now works alongside her as the business teacher in Three Forks schools. For the last seven years, Oehmcke has seen first-hand the impact Felz has had.

“In Three Forks, and especially at the school, few names are as synonymous with opportunity, innovation and student success as Cathe’s,” Oehmcke said. “After 40 years in the FCS classroom, she continues to leave an enduring mark on her students, coworkers, this school, and our community.”

Felz, who has been through 27 administrative changes, has seen her fair share over the decades, including the use of cellphones and computers in class, the integration of Artificial Intelligence, and the four-day school week. Even the reason for students’ misbehavior has changed.

“Forty years ago, kids got in trouble for talking in class. Now I’m happy if I hear them talking because it means they are off their cell phones,” Felz said.

For the most part, Felz has welcomed the changes and has learned to grow with the current times.

“Technology can be an amazing thing if used appropriately. And the four-day school week has been life-changing for me. It gives us teachers another day to keep up with life,” Felz said.

When Felz’s husband told her he was retiring in July 2026, she had a decision to make. It was the thought of no longer engaging with the students that weighed most on her mind. But the idea of having more time for quilting and fishing excited Felz.

In October, Felz announced her retirement. Since then, she has received numerous letters of support and gratitude from parents, current and former students, and staff.

“The kids have really motivated me over the years, kept me going each day. But I am ready to make time for all the other things I love,” Felz said.

If Felz could pick one person to fill her shoes, it would be someone who simply loved to be with kids. They wouldn’t have to be the most knowledgeable, but they would have to be excited about stepping into this position.

Oehmcke and the rest of the community know the challenge that lies ahead.

“I am really happy for Cathe and her retirement, but I am sad for myself as she leaves tremendous shoes to fill,” Oehmcke said.

Next fall, when Felz would normally be gearing up for another year in the classroom, she will be on a fishing trip of a lifetime in Alaska. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to see the kids heading to school without her just yet.

“It’s going to take me a while to adjust to this new life, but I am ready for a change of pace,” Felz said.