By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The message on Ariana Bishop’s graduation cap says everything about the educator she strives to be.
“Every child deserves a champion.”
Next week, the University of Nebraska at Kearney senior will walk across the commencement stage with that reminder on display – a symbol of the belief that’s guided her through the elementary education program and into her future as a teacher for students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) with Kearney Public Schools.
For Bishop, those words aren’t simply an inspirational quote. They’re a mission – a reflection of the way she views her role in education and the kind of connection she hopes to build with every learner.
“I want kids to know that somebody cares about them,” she said. “I would hope that every student I interact with knows they can come to me about anything.”
That philosophy reflects who Bishop is, according to the people who’ve worked alongside her. First grade teacher Liz Groneweg describes her as a “calm soul” who brings steadiness to the classroom.
“She looks out for the students, especially those with hearing difficulties,” said Groneweg, her cooperating teacher at Park Elementary School. “She is always trying to find ways for those students to feel included and showing me ways to help them. Ariana has a passion for those students – they’re near to her heart – and I think she will thrive in this role.”
A calling nurtured since childhood
If becoming an educator feels like a perfect fit for Bishop, that’s because she’s been preparing for this career nearly her entire life.
“I have known since I was young that I wanted to be a teacher,” the Kearney native said. “I played school during the summer with my brother – I always made him be the student – and I loved being in my mom’s preschool classroom interacting with the kids.”
The church nursery, Sunday school classes, younger cousins – Bishop gravitated toward opportunities to support children wherever she went.
“I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.
She considered a variety of paths in education – music, history, elementary – before discovering her true calling during her senior year at Kearney High. While assisting in an elementary classroom that included two students with hearing impairments, she met Nikki Garey, a special education and DHH teacher at KPS, and was immediately drawn to the work.
“Watching her support students every day was so inspiring,” Bishop said. “I love Nikki. I’ve worked with her for years now, and she’s been a wonderful mentor from Day 1.”
That mentorship guided Bishop into a paraeducator position supporting DHH students during her freshman year at UNK. By the middle of that first year, her goal was clear: she wanted to be a deaf educator.
Learning by doing at UNK
A recipient of the prestigious Board of Regents Scholarship, Bishop chose UNK because of its strong reputation in teacher education, and because she wanted to stay close to her family.
“I honestly didn’t really think about leaving Kearney,” she said with a smile.
That decision transformed her as both an educator and a person.
“One of the biggest strengths of the teacher education program here is allowing students to be in classrooms from the start,” she said. “It was very helpful to see different grade levels, different teachers and different districts. Elementary education covers many different developmental stages, so having the opportunity to engage with students at all of these levels allows us to have a better idea of where we may want to teach.”
Those classroom experiences were matched by relational support from faculty, smaller class sizes and opportunities through the UNK Honors Program, Elementary Education Club and Oaks International collegiate ministry, where Bishop gained leadership and interpersonal skills.
Her commitment to deaf education deepened through Honors projects, including a job shadow experience at the Texas School for the Deaf. Bishop also participated in professional development activities through the Central West Regional Program, which supports DHH students and educators in Nebraska, and volunteered with the local Friends youth mentorship program. She served as an instructor for UNK’s Loper Launch Enrichment Camp, too, leading fun and engaging summer learning activities for young students.
Amy Nebesniak, a UNK professor and director of Loper Launch, wasn’t surprised to see Bishop take this initiative.
“Ariana is a driven person who has a heart for children – especially children who may have more challenges to overcome than others,” said Nebesniak, a former Honors Program associate director. “She brought a passion for learning how to help students with more complex needs. The level of excitement and dedication she has for supporting students with hearing disabilities is pretty amazing.”
Serving students of all ages
Bishop’s student-teaching experience at Park Elementary cemented her confidence.
“I definitely had a very valuable experience,” she said. “I was able to work with the same students and teacher from the year prior, so it was fun to build those relationships even further. One of the many valuable things I learned was classroom management. That’s not a skill you can just read about and be good at, so the hands-on experience is really beneficial.”
She also modified lesson plans to meet students’ needs and collaborated with teachers across the building, further developing skills she’ll rely on as a DHH educator.
“Park Elementary as a whole is a wonderful place to be,” she said. “They definitely love their students. They care for each and every one of their students, and they’re also very intentional to collaborate with each other as a staff to best support their students. It was a fun environment to be part of.”
Already working for the district, Bishop joined Garey as one of two DHH teachers serving Kearney Public Schools and its partners. Their work spans birth to age 21, supporting students across KPS buildings, preschools, day cares and Kearney Catholic. The role involves reinforcing classroom learning, modifying curriculum, assisting with technology and ensuring students have the tools they need to communicate, participate and thrive.
“I’m excited to get to know my students. Working with them for so many years allows you to build strong relationships and understand exactly what they need to succeed,” said Bishop, who plans to pursue a master’s degree in deaf education through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s online program.
As she prepares to cross the commencement stage next week – graduating summa cum laude – Bishop reflects on the impact UNK has had on her life.
“I definitely loved my time here. It was very beneficial in growing as a person and in knowledge,” she said. “The friendships I’ve built have been awesome, and the opportunities I’ve had opened doors for my future.”
Now, she’s ready to become the champion her graduation cap promises.
“I want all the students I interact with to know they have somebody they can always come to,” she said. “That’s what my teachers have been for me, and that’s what I hope to be for them.”
