By Tyler Dahlgren Oftentimes, it happens in the blink of an eye. Just like that. A Cross County teacher will pose a question with no direct route to the answer or present a problem with no one distinct solution, and their students, be them kindergarteners, fifth-graders or high school seniors, will feel their way to the correct answer. Oftentimes, this is when the lightbulb goes off, when a Cross...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren Dr. Dee Acklie watched in awe as lightly-worn clothing items formed mountains on two cafeteria tables inside DC West Elementary School. Acklie is by no means tall, standing five-foot-three, but she soon found herself relying on tippy toes to see over the top of either peak. The nearby shoe rack was already jam-packed with all types of sneakers and donations were coming in by the...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren Jeff Cole was teaching in New York City when he was tasked with developing an internship program in the high school he served. A young and hungry educator, Cole accepted the challenge and dove in. The implementation process left him with two fundamental beliefs. First off, when building that type of program from the ground up, The Big Apple is a good place to be. Possibilities...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren Freeman Public Schools rolled out the red carpet to welcome students and families Tuesday night, a grand celebration to kick-start the school’s 25th year in operation. Attendees began spilling in at 5 p.m., as the school once again became the hub of its community. Most stopped for some delicious eats at one of the three food trucks parked near the school’s west entrance before...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren Paul Pistulka was in his late 30s when he accepted the superintendent position with West Holt Public Schools and moved his family of five to Atkinson. Both he and his wife grew up in small Nebraska towns, cherished the experience and the memories and wished the same for their five children. Atkinson seemed to fit the bill, and though young in the scope of superintendency,...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren Twelve hand-selected school districts from across the state joined leadership from Educational Service Units, NSEA, higher education and NCSA for the 2022 Educator Effectiveness Summit in Lincoln on June 16. The summit, which spanned two days and was hosted by the NDE SEED (Supporting Educator Effectiveness through Development) team, was a precursor to the rollout of the...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren The sun-soaked sights and sweet sounds of summer are both unmistakable and unavoidable while traveling along Iris Avenue in Crete. It’s mid-morning on a sizzling day in June, but Crete Intermediate School is far from dormant. No, this place is alive, and on its grounds you’ll find quintessential summer. Outside, students learn to fish, bike and blaze around the track at a pace...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren At any given time, there are 600 Early College High School students inside the walls of Millard South High School. Six-hundred . That's nearly a quarter of the student body. When the school held its graduation ceremony at Baxter Arena last Saturday, 143 seniors walked across the stage to receive their diplomas having already earned an associate's degree from Metropolitan...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren The thought of teaching never really crossed Tony Brown’s mind. Brown has built a career at Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. in the Scottsbluff valley, where he works as a service manager. He never pictured himself instructing a group of Scottsbluff High School upperclassmen through the ins and outs of diesel technology. And yet, there he was earlier this year, running errands...Read More
By Tyler Dahlgren The sun couldn't help but shining on the 10th annual Northeast Nebraska Spring Sprints on Friday, where 215 athletes from 20 school districts competed in what has become "the happiest day of the year." "This helps enrich the culture of our school," said Misty Beair, Special Education/Early Learning Center Director for Wayne Community Schools. "It's just my favorite thing. It...Read More