Auburn Public Schools
Name: Scott Vanderboegh
Area: Director of Technology
How many years have you been teaching? This is my 42nd year in the Nebraska public school system. All of these years have been here at Auburn. After graduating from Michigan State University, I began teaching instrumental music in 1984 and continued for more than 20 years. I always included as much technology as I could throughout my teaching and that interest eventually led me to become the technology director. I have been serving in that role for about 20 years as well.
What do you enjoy most about teaching? I enjoy seeing the students meet their goals and learning something new and being excited through the learning process. Whether it is performing with an ensemble, playing an instrumental solo, or utilizing technology to complete a report, it brings me joy to see students achieving their goals and learning new things. The relationships you develop along the way with both students and staff are also one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.
How has teaching changed since you first started? Teaching has changed a lot since I first started. From chalkboards to whiteboards and PowerPC to Apple Silicon, as well as shared devices to 1:1 Chromebooks, both the classrooms themselves and the technology we use has changed greatly. With the addition of artificial intelligence and large language models, the way we teach continues to change in ways I never could have imagined.
What’s one lesson or message you hope all students remember? I hope that all students remember that learning should be fun and rewarding if you focus on your goals. I believe it is important to involve yourself in many activities, build lasting friendships, and to never stop the pursuit of learning.
Johnson-Brock Public Schools
Name: Sandy Behrends
Area: First Grade
How many years have you been teaching? This is my 44th year of teaching. I taught 5 years in the Dawson-Verdon school district teaching fifth and sixth graders. The remaining 39 years have been at Johnson-Brock, mostly in first grade.
What do you enjoy most about teaching? The best part of my job is working with the students. It’s so much fun to see my first graders grow in confidence and understanding throughout the year. You can just see their eyes light up when they have that “ah ha” moment. I enjoy making learning fun and creating those lessons and experiences that I hope my students will remember in later years. I love building relationships with them and knowing I can make a positive difference in their lives, beyond academics.
How has teaching changed since you first started? Teaching has changed tremendously throughout the years. When I started teaching we relied on teaching tools such as overhead projectors, chalkboards, filmstrips, carbon copies. Now my classroom has iPads for each student, an interactive whiteboard, and all sorts of digital learning platforms. The whole world is at my students’ fingertips. My instruction has changed, as well, to include more student-centered teaching methods that encourage diversity, collaboration, creativity, and inclusion. Curriculum today is based on standards which ensures accountability. Assessment and data tracking play a much more vital role in learning than they did in the past. Of course, communication with parents and stakeholders is much easier with the help of digital tools, such as email and communication apps. Overall, teaching has evolved into a more technology-driven profession, with teachers acting not just as instructors, but as mentors and facilitators.
What’s one lesson or message you hope all students remember? I hope my students remember that I cared about them as individuals, and I believed in their potential. My message to them is that they are capable of more than they think!
Johnson County Central Public Schools
Name: Kelli Dorsey
Area: Fourth Grade
How many years have you been teaching?
This is my 36th year teaching. I started my teaching career with Tecumseh Public School and continued with Johnson County Central.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The thing I enjoy most is when students have those “aha” moments. When they grasp a new concept or overcome some sort of challenge. Also each day brings something new, I have to say it is never boring.
How has teaching changed since you first started teaching?
Technology. The school has gone from chalkboards to whiteboards to interactive smartboards. We have also gone from a shared computer lab for the whole school to an iPad for each student.
What’s one lesson or message you hope all your students remember?
It is hard to pick just one message... I have two messages. First, be kind to everyone; other people matter. Second, never stop learning!
