Today, Aug. 18, is the first day of classes for the 2022-23 school year at Callaway Public School, and the staff and students are welcoming a new administrator to the district. Brittany Jesseph hails from Gothenburg, and said she is excited to begin this new chapter.

Jesseph is a Gothenburg native. She has spent the past 10 years teaching in the school she graduated from, Gothenburg Public Schools, where she taught first grade for eight years, and fifth grade for two years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Chadron State College, with a minor in social science. Jesseph received her master’s degree in early childhood education from Concordia University.

She recently earned her endorsement in education leadership from Concordia University. That knowledge will serve her well in her new role as elementary principal at Callaway Public School.

“I knew I wanted to teach, it was just a passion I had. I love teaching, I love helping people learn new material. From a very early age I knew that’s what I wanted to be,” said Jesseph. “The principal idea probably came in about my third or fourth year of teaching. My superintendent at the time just kept telling me I needed to go get my masters in education leadership and that I needed to become a principal. He stayed on me and continued to point out the impact I could have, and some of the skills I have as being an asset to becoming a principal, and finally I decided that is what I wanted to do. So I enrolled in school!”

Jesseph admits when the idea was first brought to her attention she had little interest in it, and was sure that staying in the classroom was what she wanted. “I do love the classroom, but I really just wanted to help guide teachers to become the best that they can be and make a positive impact. I don’t just support one classroom, I get to support a whole bunch of students and teachers,” she explained.

There will be a slight adjustment for Jesseph as she moves to a smaller district. Where Gothenburg has three sections of each grade level, Callaway has only one. “Teacher collaboration is a little different. I’ve never been in a district the size of Callaway, and I am just amazed at how well they know everybody. You can really tell it’s a smaller district, and it is a lot more individualized,” said Jesseph.

Jesseph plans to commute back and forth from Gothenburg to Callaway each day, and she said she doesn’t mind that. “It’s kind of nice. By the time I get to work I’ve had my coffee and my wake up time, and at the end of the day I get that wind down time.”

She began her duties on July 25, though she had already begun getting to know the staff and operations of the Callaway school district throughout the summer. “Everyone is so willing to help out.”

Her primary role, she said, will be to offer support to the teaching staff. “I am so excited. I am ready for people to be in the building, and to see smiling faces,” Jesseph said. “I believe relationships should be your number one focus in the classroom. When you have a relationship with somebody it just makes everything easier and better. I really want to make sure I have that relationship with the students, the families, the community and my teachers. I want them to know I am there to support them.”

Brittany and her husband Andy, a fellow Gothenburg native, have three children: Alaric, a junior; Axtyn, 8th grade; and Addisyn, 7th grade. She also owns the dance studio in Gothenburg.