Profile: Polson teacher Katie Rehberg
By Michelle Lovato
Lake County Leader
Katie Rehberg is settled into Polson, for now.
The 26-year-old middle daughter of newly-retired U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, works as a Spanish teacher, splitting half her time at Polson Middle School and half her time at Polson High School. Rehberg also serves as Polson High School Drama Advisor.
Rehberg, at her young age, has traveled to more destinations than most people do in their lifetimes.
Spending 45 minutes chatting about high school life with former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made an impression.
“I was star struck,” she said. “When I was 17 I went to a White House Christmas party and met Donald Rumsfeld. He talked to me for 45 minutes. He was fun to talk to. He cared about me, he cared about my life, where I went to high school and where I would go to college. I got to see him again when I was 24 during my dad’s last campaign cycle. He specifically asked to talk to me. It was very nice to be remembered.”
Meeting global dignitaries confused Rehberg on occasion.
“I met a member of British Parliament,” Rehberg said. “But his accent was so thick he had to give me his business card. I know they are really important and getting to meet them was really special.”
Rehberg said while her father was serving in Washington, D.C., she attended public high school and volunteered in interesting ways. The Congressional Women’s Club allowed her to be hostess and fashion show model at a Congressional luncheon for daughters and grand daughters of members of congress.
She got to pick out what she liked for the show and was escorted in by a Marine. “I got to meet the first and second lady before the luncheon. Having a conversation with one of them is really impressive,” she said.
Rehberg said speaking with global leaders was impressive as well.
“You can ask any question and get an answer that is legitimate,” Rehberg said. “They really are like regular people but you can tell that they are very intelligent. They were all very kind. I never met someone I thought was a creep.”
Rehberg started middle school in Washington, D.C., but graduated from Billings Senior High School in 2006. In high school, Rehberg enjoyed singing. But during her college career Rehberg fell in love with the Spanish language and continued to serve the community through philanthropy.
Rehberg was a member of Job’s Daughters, a Masonic youth organization that teaches girls responsibility and poise.
While in that post, Rehberg traveled all over Montana, and spoke at lodges and state meetings, she said. She represented the Masonic organization at other organization locations.
“I helped raise money for the Shriner’s Hospitals and traveled to the hospital and met with patients,” Rehberg said. The following year, Rehberg served as Miss Montana Job’s Daughter.
“That was a pageant role,” Rehberg said. “Instead of running meetings and talking to Masonic organizations, my job was to represent the organization to girls.”
Rehberg’s interest in drama began in Helena, when she auditioned for the musical version of Peter Pan and was cast as an Indian.
“I fell in love with musical theater,” she said.
After her first experience, Rehberg took any class on acting she could find.
“I even took private lessons when I was eight,” she said. “I really wanted to be good at musical theater, and after I got into high school it became more about getting into a good music school.
But Rehberg said her second love arrived after two years of college. “Two years in, I thought it would be more fun to be a Spanish teacher,” Rehberg said.
Rehberg spent several months living in Buenos Aires. But Rehberg’s desire for the dramatic was not done. Now as an adult, Rehberg plays piano, hand bells, flute and cello. She also sings in the Glacier Symphony and Chorale.
Though Rehberg’s first teaching job was at West Yellowstone K-12, she is now beginning her second year at Polson School District.
Last week, Rehberg saw the production of her first Polson high school play: Zombie Prom.
Her next production will be this spring.