Hastings College Teacher Education

08/05/2025

This summer, Frontera de Cristo partnered with First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, NE and Hastings Community Music Academy to host an incredible music and art camp!

We were thrilled to see Hastings College Alumni Hannah Jensen and Rose Koepp, along with current Hastings College music major Donovan Andrews, helping lead the way.

These Broncos are truly living out HC’s mission of becoming thriving "citizens and leaders of their local and global communities." 💜🦬

06/04/2025

We love seeing our alumni engage in their community! Do you know someone who enjoys the Hunger Games series? If so, encourage them to join Audrey Weeks (.weeks19 ) for a Young Adult Book club Bryant Books & Music . As a current high school English teacher, Audrey is well suited to help host this gathering. You can register at www.bryantbooksandmusic.com

05/26/2025

We are still reflecting on what a great group of educators graduated almost two weeks ago!

Back Row: Isabel Gittings, MAT; Kyleigh Boever, MAT; Brendan Dally, MAT; Camden McKenzie; Jackson McGinnis
Middle Row: Eliana Hogan; Haylee Sandman; Elana Gerhard, MAT; Ansley Connolly; Nicole Halsey, Katharine Hamburger
Front Row: Stephanie Bloyer; Jaz Smith; Kota Pritchard; Heidi Sherman; Elijah Heusinkvelt

Not Pictured: Claire Wiegert; Shiyue Wang, MAT; Nolan Sughroe; Nick Moss, MAT; Cristhofer Monje, MAT; Gareth Luke, MAT; Margareth Collantes, MAT; Matthew James, MAT

05/20/2025

This past Saturday, May 17, Hastings College held its 139th commencement ceremony. We are so incredibly proud of our education majors who crossed the stage. We celebrate their hard work and look forward to their continued journey. We know they will make a positive and lasting impact on all of their future students! More photos can be found - free to download - at https://photos.app.goo.gl/LVkN2vReEf59YT9P7 🐴

04/07/2025

Spring means lots of things for school kids. The return of outside recess, the beginning of athletic groups/clubs, and the overall excitement of what is around the corner. SUMMER! However, it is important to recognize that some students may experience some “end of the school year stress”. The unknown, combined with losing their consistent source of food, shelter, and structure, may lead to outbursts or a decline in attention. I was very impressed with this flier that Friend Public Schools sent out—great insight into why and what to do to help students make that transition.

https://www.friendbulldogs.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/6451334fd2b50/End%20of%20School%20Year%20Stress%20May%202023.pdf

04/02/2025

How could we not share this? HCTE echoes these sentiments and wants to give a shout out to paraprofessional and our own current student, Tayler Holdsworth!

Today we recognize the often unsung heroes of our school. Paraprofessionals provide invaluable support to our students and work closely with teachers to ensure success in the classroom. These individuals build relationships with students and help behind the scenes.

04/01/2025

World Autism Acceptance Week: April 2-8
What can you do?

Educate Yourself: Learn about autism, its characteristics, and the challenges faced by those on the spectrum. Knowledge breaks down misconceptions.

Be Patient: Every person with autism has a unique way of interacting with the world. Patience, understanding, and open communication are key.

Advocate for Inclusivity: Support policies and practices that create inclusive environments in schools, workplaces, and communities.

Celebrate Strengths: Autistic individuals often bring unique perspectives, talents, and skills to the table. Recognize and appreciate their contributions.

Provide Support: If you know someone on the spectrum, ask how you can help. Whether it’s through simple accommodations, emotional support, or creating a calm space, every gesture counts.

Let's come together to raise awareness, foster understanding, and create a world where everyone, regardless of neurodiversity, feels valued and included. 💙

03/28/2025

What a great opportunity for a field trip and learning that Hastings College Alum Erin Foster at Hastings Senior High provided for her students. Place-based learning and field trips are excellent, high impact, research-based strategies that increase learning and engagement for students. Just look at the smiles and focus on these students' faces! Great job, Erin!

03/05/2025

From Mrs. Beckenhauer:
Happy Dr. Seuss Week! These playful stories have been inspiring readers for decades, teaching us about imagination, creativity, and the joy of learning. Whether it’s the mischief of “The Cat in the Hat” or the timeless wisdom of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” Dr. Seuss has a way of speaking to everyone. What’s your favorite Dr. Seuss book? If you are participating in Dr. Seuss week, share a picture or activity idea for others to try! Mrs. Beckenhauer and Dr. Allen-Pickett had the honor to read with students at Alcott Elementary to celebrate. Thank you Alcott Elementary School for the invitation!

01/29/2025

Supporting students with disabilities in schools involves creating inclusive, adaptive environments that respect individual needs. By providing tailored resources, fostering collaboration between educators and families, and focusing on strengths, we empower all students to thrive and succeed academically and socially. Erin Foster, a Hastings College Teacher Education Alum, is a master teacher who specializes in and has a true passion for helping students realize their potential and supporting them in reaching their future goals. Check out Erin's pages linked below - these are both excellent resources for educators and families. Thank you, Erin! (Erin, HC grad '21 is pictured with her current student teacher, Elana Gerhard, MAT '25) Hastings College Hastings Public Schools

Life in Transition - For Educators and Service Providers: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/rEdy8PkoHbjQEtGu/

Life in Transition - For Families: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1578270336388849/?rdid=TXvkQd8ebPoMk28b&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2FqkAzMCgo6VJ8hui5%2F #

01/25/2025

Some thoughts and resources from Professor Grant Bachman:

I came across this article as I was looking up information on behavior management systems. The statistics shared here were very eye-opening. The Pandemic placed a heavy burden on all of us. As teachers continue to dig out from the hole this is something that I think is a very interesting unspoken issue facing kids today. Eye contact is so crucial in the interactions we have with students. The need to see all the nonverbals, including eye contact helps to convey each message. If children are struggling with this in the general context, how will it look as they try to meet new people and make new friends? Have any of you experienced or noticed this in your classrooms?

I came across this article while looking for information on behavior management systems. The statistics shared here were very eye-opening. The Pandemic placed a heavy burden on all of us. As teachers continue to dig out from the hole this is something that I think is a very interesting unspoken issue facing kids today. Eye contact is so crucial in the interactions we have with students. The need to see all the nonverbals, including eye contact helps to convey each message. If children are struggling with this in the general context, how will it look as they try to meet new people and make new friends? Have any of you experienced or noticed this in your classrooms?