By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – It’s almost 3:30 p.m. on a recent Tuesday and Emma Nolan is patiently waiting for her students to arrive.
“This is my favorite part,” she says. “I love that moment when we first see each other each day. They’re always so excited about the funniest things and it’s so much fun to hear them talk about it.”
A couple minutes later, the quiet room inside Emerson Elementary School begins to fill with smiling faces and chatty children.
“Hi Miss Emma,” one student says while waving wildly.
“Miss Emma, smell my hands,” another offers with arms extended.
“Miss Emma, our teacher is going to get married,” a third announces.
Nolan makes a point to respond to each comment and request, as silly as some may be.
“I first started working here to gain experience, but now that I’ve been with these kids for almost two years, I’ve built a lot of close relationships,” she says. “Now, I’m here more because I enjoy it and I want to maintain those relationships for as long as I can before I graduate and move on.”
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LEARNING TO TEACH
A York native, Nolan is studying elementary education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She’s one of 33 UNK students – mostly from the teacher education program – who currently work for the Kearney Community Learning Center (KCLC), an after-school program offered by Kearney Public Schools.
Serving nearly 450 students at nine elementary schools and one middle school, KCLC provides a safe and fun environment for kids to learn, play and socialize while their parents are at work. The program includes academic and enrichment activities, homework assistance, recreation time, snacks and a variety of clubs focused on areas such as sports, STEM, music and arts and crafts.
“The Kearney Community Learning Center is an invaluable resource for families in Kearney. Our mission is to offer engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students beyond the regular school day,” said Allison Morris, an administrative assistant who’s been with the program for 18 years. “In addition to offering homework assistance, we focus on creating impactful programs and fun activities that help students succeed not only in school but also within the community.”
It’s also a great place for UNK students to prepare for their future careers.
Nolan decided to become a teacher because she wants to make a positive impact in the lives of her students. That’s something she’s already doing at Emerson Elementary, where she spends a couple hours each weekday.
“KCLC is such an important program because it gives these students a place to go where they can have fun and work on the skills that they’re learning during the regular school day,” the UNK junior said. “If they need extra academic support, this is the place where they’ll receive it.”
This school year, Nolan is responsible for planning spelling and phonics activities that advance the students’ reading and writing skills. At the same time, she’s improving her own ability to develop a lesson plan and manage students in a classroom setting.
“This is a great way to directly practice what we’re learning in all of our teacher education classes each day,” Nolan said. “I can go to class and learn about different teaching strategies and different activities to try, then come straight here every afternoon and apply that knowledge to the after-school program.”
Jacob Howe sees the same benefits.
Also a York native, he started working at a local after-school program during high school and was hired by KCLC during his second semester at UNK. Now in his fourth year assisting at Emerson Elementary, he provides academic support for fourth and fifth graders, with an emphasis on “finding ways to make learning fun.”
“I love being able to work with the kids, seeing that lightbulb moment when they solve a problem, and building those relationships with them,” said Howe, who’s studying elementary and special education. “My fifth graders this year, I’ve known some of them since they were in second or third grade, so I’ve had a chance to watch them grow as individuals. It’s pretty awesome to see the impact I’ve made on their lives and the impact they’ve made on mine.”
Like Nolan, he appreciates KCLC for providing a positive workplace where he can build his abilities in a real-world setting.
“I feel like I have a step up on other individuals who haven’t had this experience,” Howe said. “KCLC is the best opportunity to solidify in your mind that you’re in the right profession. And it’s also a way to safely explore and grow your classroom management and teaching skills.”
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BUILDING CONFIDENCE
The relationship between UNK and KPS is mutually beneficial.
Morris calls the college students an “incredibly valuable asset” for KCLC.
“Our UNK students bring an incredible amount of enthusiasm and energy to our program,” she said. “They serve as outstanding leaders for our students, while also acting as mentors and role models. Their positive influence helps create a supportive environment where our students can look up to them and be inspired.”
Terri Brush agrees. She’s the site coordinator at Emerson Elementary, where five Lopers currently work.
“We really depend on those UNK students,” Brush said. “When the class time starts, they’re the ones who are in charge. They do a great job of building connections with our students and implementing lessons that enhance their learning.”
Because of the schedule, roughly 3-6 p.m. each weekday, KCLC is a perfect fit for many college students, giving them ample time in the evenings and on weekends for their own homework and campus activities. The after-school program is also offered during the summer, so it’s a year-round employment opportunity.
Plus, it gets UNK students in front of KPS principals and teachers, Brush noted, which could lead to other opportunities down the road.
“I think it’s a really great place to work,” she said. “The students who are part of KCLC have a great experience, and they usually stay until they graduate. I think that says a lot in today’s world if you can stay for four years, share a little bit of that love, then take it with you wherever you go.”
That’s exactly what Nolan and Howe plan to do. They both intend to start their teaching careers in Nebraska.
“Because of my experiences in KCLC, I think I’ll be able to walk into my future classroom with as much confidence as possible for a first-year teacher,” Nolan said.
Howe is only a few months away from that moment. He’ll graduate in May after completing his student teaching at KPS this semester. Ideally, he’d like to find a full-time position with the district.
“I’m super excited to take that next step, and a lot of that confidence comes from working at the after-school program,” Howe said. “It’s given me the confidence that I know I need to be able to lead a group of kids. It’s given me confidence in my ability to teach them something. It’s given me confidence in my classroom management strategies.
“I really do think that KCLC has helped form me into the teacher that I am today, and I am forever grateful for it.”
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