Gerry Sperling

Class of 1960

Inducted 2022

After graduating from North Central in 1960, Gerry prepared for a life as an educator by earning her bachelors and masters degrees from Whitworth College. In 1968 she began her career as a 6th grade teacher at Farwell Elementary School in the Mead School District. In 1974 she moved into school administration, and through 1993 served as the principal at Mead Middle School, Northwood Junior High School, and at Midway, Brentwood, and Meadow Ridge Elementary Schools. Additionally, she served the district as a planning principal overseeing the design and construction of two new schools and three building remodels.

After retiring from the Mead School District in 1993, Gerry found other opportunities to serve the educational needs of children. In 1997 she worked for Voyager Expanded Learning, training educational assistants to run afterschool classes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Gerry even took her zeal for education overseas. In 2008 she travelled to South Africa, where she visited schools in Johannesburg and in Zulu villages. Another trip took her to China, where she met with university teachers and students in five cities.

However, Gerry did not ignore her hometown. She has funded an annual scholarship at Whitworth University for North Central women who intend to major in education at Whitworth.

Appointed a member of the Spokane Park Board in 2019, she played an important role in the design and remodeling of Riverfront Park. Gerry has had a special interest in the history and care of the park’s Looff Carrousel. While she was growing up, Gerry’s stepfather owned the Carrousel. The family oversaw its movement to Riverfront Park in 1975, and ever since, Gerry has been an advocate for the history and care of the Carrousel, leading to the construction of its current home in a state-of-the-art rotunda.