KEARNEY – For Jenn True, becoming an elementary school principal was not the path she originally envisioned for herself, but it has become one of the most rewarding roles of her life.
A recipient of the 2022 Outstanding New Principal of the Year Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, True taught in the Kearney Public Schools system for several years before becoming the principal at Emerson Elementary School in 2019. She’s currently in her second year as principal at Buffalo Hills Elementary School in Kearney.
“I absolutely love being a principal,” True says with a wide smile. “I knew that I wanted to be in education my entire life. Didn’t necessarily know that the principal role would be the direction I would go, but what I love most are the relationships I get to build with my kids and my staff. Getting to see them grow from kindergarten to fifth grade – how they learn, how they mature – and feeling like we’ve prepared them for middle school is the most rewarding part of my job.”
True’s journey to leadership in education is deeply tied to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees. A proud Loper, True earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education in 2007, followed by a master’s degree in reading PK-12 in 2012 and a PK-8 school principalship endorsement in 2018.
“I am a Loper through and through,” she says. “I feel like I got the best experience here in Kearney. UNK did a fantastic job of preparing me, both for my teacher role as well as my principal role. The partnership with Kearney Public Schools is amazing because we get into classrooms and learn firsthand. It was the perfect place to grow as an educator.”
UNK’s teacher education program, long known for its excellence, has continued to produce top-notch educators like True, who now hires new teachers from her alma mater. When considering candidates, she looks for passion, commitment and a genuine love for kids.
“I can work with you and coach you on teaching reading and math, but I can’t teach you to love kids and care about them,” True explains. “That’s the biggest thing I look for when hiring teachers. Loving kids is something that can’t be taught, and it’s one of the most important qualities I seek in a candidate.”
The reputation of UNK’s program speaks for itself, True says. When a candidate with a degree from UNK applies for a position, it’s always a positive indicator for her.
“I’m always excited when I see a candidate from UNK on a resume,” she says. “The students coming from UNK have been in classrooms, they’ve been working with kids, and honestly, a lot of times I’m familiar with them because they’ve been working with our students in different capacities. It feels like they’re already part of our system.”
True’s confidence in UNK graduates reflects the university’s longstanding reputation as a leader in teacher preparation. With deep ties to the local school systems, the hands-on training provided by UNK ensures that future educators are ready to step into classrooms and make an impact from Day 1.
“I’ve always thought of UNK as a teachers college,” True says. “It’s just fantastic quality that we get from UNK candidates. They know the content, they’ve had great experience in the classroom, and they’re ready to roll when they enter our schools.”
True’s passion for education is palpable, and she encourages others to consider following the same path, noting the critical role teachers play in shaping the future.
“I would strongly encourage anyone considering a career in education to pursue it,” she says. “It’s such an important and rewarding career. We’re shaping the future of our state and our world, and we need great educators to step up and take on that challenge.”
