Front Row (Left to right) Jadyn Kleinschmidt (6th grade), Madison Huppert (speech), Courtney Smith (English), Brianna Mowrey (Business/Technology), Beth Kranz (Kitchen Aide). Back Row (Left to Right) Zac Sweet (Physical Education), JD Furrow (Superintendent), Garrett Hrupek (Ag/FFA), Marcia Keeney (Special Education), Jordan Hamilton (Assistant Cook), Christi Furrow (School Nurse) (Heath Birkel photo)

Classes resume for the 2024-25 school year at Callaway Public Schools on Thursday, Aug. 15, and several new faces will be greeting the students in the classrooms and hallways this year. To help everyone get to know them we asked the following six questions of each new staff member.

1. Where did you grow up? 2. When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in education, and what factors helped lead you to that choice?

3. Where did you attend college and what degree(s) have you earned?

4. How many years have you been teaching, and what schools have you taught in prior to coming to CPS?

5. With teachers in such high demand right now, you most likely could choose from several schools. What made you pick Callaway?

6. Finally, feel free to share whatever you would like about your family (spouse, children, pets, etc.)

BRIANNA MOWRY - BUSINESS

1. I grew up in Broken Bow but was always around Callaway because of my grandparents, Coeleen and Brad Witthuhn and Linda and Larry Mowrey.

2. When I was younger, I wanted to become a teacher, but as I grew up, I wanted to work with animals, so I went to Kansas State University and got a degree in Animal Science. The ag teaching job came available in Callaway and it piqued my interest. I always wanted to return to the Callaway area and this job would make it so that I could help other kids gain an interest in the agriculture world. I applied for the job and actually ended up getting the business teacher position. While I was at K-State, I was also working on taking business classes so this is why I was accepted for this position.

cont. PAGE 5 - New Teachers 3. As I stated in the last question, I attended Kansas State University and earned my major in animal science and industry and a minor in business.

4.This will be my first year as a teacher.

5. I chose Callaway as this is where I grew up and I know a lot of the people in Callaway. I have always loved the Callaway area. My fiancé also has a job in between Callaway and Broken Bow, and I thought Callaway was a better fit for me than Broken Bow.

6. I am the daughter of Lucas Mowrey and Kim Stump. I will also be getting married in June next year to Karson Gaffney.

GARRETT HRUPEK – FFA/AG EDUCATION

I grew up in Callaway, Nebraska!

2. I only recently decided to pursue a career in education. Ag education to be more specific. Having grown up leading an agricultural lifestyle, I definitely knew that I wanted to end up in the field somewhere. Up until now, I have been working as a farm/ranch hand here in Nebraska. But my ag experiences don't stop there. I have even worked in Wyoming and North Dakota!

3. I attended College at the University of Wyoming in Laramie and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness. I am currently attending graduate school, to get my master's in leadership education, through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

4. This will be my first year in education and I am really excited!

5. I didn't really choose Callaway. I really wasn't even looking for another job when the opportunity rolled around. The position came open, and because it was in my hometown and an ag teacher position, I decided to take the chance and apply! Turned out they really liked what I had to offer, and I was asked to fill the position, I was super excited and a bit nervous to find out that I had gotten the job!

6. I am currently not married or engaged even, but I do have a girlfriend and she is from Houston, Texas! Together we have a house in town, two cats, and one dog.

COURTNEY SMITH – ENGLISH

1. I grew up in a small town, like Callaway, called Hampton here in Nebraska.

2. I think that I knew way back in elementary school. Whenever there would be questions about 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' I would always say a teacher. Over the years, that career choice turned in to being a stage manager for theatre companies and then circled all the way back around to English education.

3. I attended Chadron State College for my bachelor's in fine arts with an emphasis in tech theatre and graduated in 2020. I am currently attending Grand Canyon University online to finish up my master's in secondary education.

4. This is my very first year of teaching! I am very nervous and excited for what this year will bring!

5. I looked at quite a few job openings in the surrounding areas and they all seemed really enticing, but they were mostly for just one grade or one/two classes that I would teach. That seemed too easy for me and I wanted to do more. I grew up in a small school and had the same teachers for the same subjects all throughout my education, and I formed a bond with them. In bigger schools, you don't really get the chance to do that and get to know your students. Callaway was very inviting, and everyone was so nice when I was doing my observation hours for school. The school is its own community, and it really shows how everyone works together. That stood out to me.

6. I have the most wonderful fiancée, James Espinosa, who works for the NRCS out of North Platte. We are getting married this December and we have one cat, Lily, who is 9-years-old.

MADISON DOCKWEILER – SPEECH PATHOLOGY

1. I grew up in Falls City.

2. I have always been drawn to helping others and have always had a passion for working with children. By being a speech-language pathologist, I feel every day I can try to make a difference in a child's life whether it be big or small. I think that is the most rewarding part about being in education, getting to watch a child grow and learn new things each and every day and knowing that you get to positively impact their lives.

3. I attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) for my bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders with minors in education and educational psychology. I then continued at UNL, to pursue my master’s degree in speech-language pathology.

4. I graduate Aug. 17, 2024, with my master’s degree and CPS will be a great first place to work!

5. I think what made CPS so unique is the sense of community and passion when you walk through those school doors. I could feel it right away, I could tell how much the teachers and staff cared for their students and I loved that they always put the students first. I also felt welcomed and knew that I really found co-workers who would push me to be my best and would treat me like family.

6. I will be getting married to my wonderful fiancé Kalen Dockweiler on Aug. 24,

2024, so it will be a busy month of amazing moments! We also have a border collie, full of energy, named LeDoux!

JADYN WEBER – 6th GRADE

1. I grew up in Shickley.

2. I knew I wanted to be a teacher in high school. My Ag Ed teacher mentioned to me that she thought I was really good with kids after an 'Explore Ag' day, where we taught elementary students all about agriculture.

3. I graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a B.S. in elementary education.

4. I taught my first year at Lincoln Public Schools last year.

5. After teaching in Lincoln last year, I knew that I wanted to return to a small town. My fiancé accepted a job in town, and after hearing all of the positive things about the community and school, I knew it would be a great fit!

6. My fiancé, Nolan, and I are getting married in October! We have a black lab named Winnie whom we are obsessed with.

ZAC SWEET - K-12 PHYSICAL EDUCATION

1. I grew up in Mullen.

2. During my high school years I was around so many great teachers and coaches and enjoyed sports and school so much I began wanting to pursue it as a career.

3. I attended Hastings College before transferring to UNK to finish my degree in

K-12 physical education and coaching. I am now pursuing a masters through the University of Nebraska - Kearney.

4. This is my first year of teaching!

5. I wanted to find a school with a rich tradition in athletics and a quality group of educators. I also wanted to find a great small community like the one I grew up in.

6. I have a great and supportive family with my parents and sister.

MARCIA KEENEY – SPECIAL EDUCATION

1. I grew up on a farm/ranch near Brewster and attended high school at Sandhills Public Schools in Dunning. It was there where I met my husband of 41 years.

2. At a young age I began babysitting and realized I had an ability to connect with children and understand their unique needs. Becoming a teacher allows me to use my talent in creating personalized learning experiences that cater to each student's strengths, interests and learning styles. My greatest joy comes from seeing students grasp a concept that they previously struggled with. Being a teacher allows me to guide students on their learning and life journey while celebrating achievements along the way.

3. I attended college at Kearney State College which is currently the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have a degree in special education K-12 as well as an elementary education degree.

4. I taught special education at Callaway for 30 years. In 2019 I decided to expand my experiences, I left teaching and joined an organization that assists disconnected and homeless youth. This was a fulfilling job that I thoroughly enjoyed although I missed the classroom, and having the same schedule as my child who is currently in school.

5. I have had the opportunity to previously teach in Callaway and understand their philosophy of putting students first and providing the best education possible. This is a school system I want to be part of. I feel honored to be part of Callaway Public Schools.

6. I am blessed with three children, five grandchildren, (soon to be seven) and a very supportive husband.