Last week we paid tribute to Wendy Dockweiler for serving as a teacher in the Callaway school district for 30 years. This week we feature Jarod Rush and Bob Keeney, both of whom have also taught here for 30 years and for Bob, this was his last. Next week we will feature fellow retiree Suzanne Wendorff.

Jarod Rush is a Cozad native, who relocated to that community with his family from Broken Bow when he was 5-years-old. He went all through elementary and high school in Cozad, and afterward attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He landed a teaching job in Callaway right out of college, and while teaching went back to school himself at the University of Nebraska- Kearney where he earned a master’s degree in school administration.

“I really wanted to be a shop teacher, but at the time UNL did not have the program,” Jarod explained. “So I decided to be a K-12 physical education teacher. I really liked sports and it was a way for me to stay involved with sports and an opportunity to work with young athletes.”

Jarod graduated from UNL in December of 1992 and started in Callaway the next week. Christmas of 2023 will be 31 years in Callaway for him.

Jarod currently teaches K-12 physical education and weights. He has coached junior high track, basketball and football, as well as track, basketball, football and golf at the varsity level at various times throughout his 30 year career. He was also the Athletic Director for 10 years during the time Callaway and Arnold co-oped their sports programs.

“Really the time has gone fast. It doesn’t seem like 30 years,” Jarod said. “I have enjoyed watching the kids develop through their school years and watching them become young adults. I am now teaching the kids of students that I taught when I first came to Callaway. That really makes me feel old. Watching kids be successful in athletics or their career after high school is probably one of the greatest rewards. Just knowing you were a small part of their life and making lifelong friendships has been rewarding.”

Jarod admits that he has seen societal changes that impact our kids in the classroom over the years. “I think the demands on kids are greater. Summer seems to be as busy as the rest of the year,” he explained. “Being in a small school, kids are involved in so many activities. We ask a lot of our students and athletes. Part of me wishes all kids could take the summer off and just be kids.”

After more than 30 years in this profession, Jarod offers the following advice to anyone considering entering the field of teaching. “I guess my best advice would be to find something you enjoy. School is a short period of your life. If you do something that you enjoy, it doesn't feel like work.”

Bob Keeney said he had no plans of becoming a teacher until he had graduated from UNK with a degree in business. “My wife Marcia was teaching at the time and I could see how much she enjoyed working with students. I went back to UNK and got a degree in elementary education and student taught here in Callaway in second grade,” Keeney explained.

He was the media specialist in Callaway for seven years and has also taught business and computers the rest of his career. A native of Halsey and graduate of Sandhills Public Schools in Dunning, relocating to Callaway was almost like a homecoming for him.

“My first year of teaching was at Round Hill, a small K-6 country school, and I taught one year at Stapleton where I was the media specialist,” said Bob. He then landed in Callaway and has been here ever since.

When asked what kept him in the profession for so long, Bob answered, “Everyday is different. I have been blessed to work with great administrators and coworkers. But what has kept me teaching so long are the students.”

As for the changes he has witnessed in his 30+year career, Bob shared, “Technology has played a huge part in impacting our students mostly for the good, but social media and other apps are not so good.”

He offers the following advice to anyone considering pursuing a career in teaching: “Education is a very rewarding field and when you see a child understand a problem or work through a problem for the first time it makes it all worthwhile.”