Joanne Slifka, a native of Toston, Mont., was a 1982 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a major in health and physical education with an emphasis in sports medicine and a minor in biology.
She later received her Masters in secondary education, physical education from the University of Cincinnati. She returned to Western in the early 2000’s to add a K-12 special education endorsement.
Slifka was a four-year all-conference basketball player for the Bulldogs. She earned several conference player of the week honors during her star-studded career. Slifka led the Bulldogs in scoring in three of her four seasons.
Slifka also participated in track and was two time conference champion. As a junior she captured the conference title in the 44o and finished second in the 880. As a senior, Slifka was the conference 880 champion.
Slifka was very active on campus as an honors student and Western's third female student body president when elected in 1981. She was president when the WMC student body voted to change their student government to a constitutional form of governing.Â
Her other campus activities included Spurs (president), junior advisor for Spurs, and intramurals. Upon graduation, she was selected to Who’s Who.
For the early years after graduation from Western, her coaching and teaching duties were mainly that of Mom teaching and coaching duties. She briefly coached volleyball during her family’s stay in Utah.
She re-entered the education world in Townsend, Mont. There, she was a special education teacher and a junior high cross country, basketball and track coach.
Slifka’s next stop was Idaho Falls, Idaho and the Eagle Rock middle school as a special education teacher. She is now an art, physical education and Spanish instructor at the Alturas International Academy at Idaho Falls, Idaho.
When not in the classroom, Slifka spends her time with friends and family.
