Veterans, newbies among new McCook High School teachers

Editors note: This is the last in a three-part series of teachers hired this year by the McCook School District. In this final section, we talk to four teachers hired for the high school: expectations and hopes of two in their first year of teaching and two veteran teachers.

McCOOK, Neb. -- He may have some big shoes to fill, but Nathan Hudson said he's ready as the new band director to build upon traditions already in place with the McCook High School Band.

"The band is a really prominent program here, with lots of community support," Hudson said, something not all high schools can boast. "I really want the band to strive for excellence." Traditions he intends to keep in place are playing at the Harvest of Harmony competition and at Heritage Days, as well as incorporate more performances in the community.

Hudson graduated from Plattsmouth High School and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year with a bachelor's in music education. It was in college when he realized how much he truly liked music. He started out majoring in physics with music as a minor, but then found he "was more passionate about my minor rather than my major."

He played the trumpet all four years in UNL's marching band and that was an incredible experience, he said.

"It was awesome. You got to meet so many new people. And it was nice to be recognized (on campus) by other students for being in the marching band."

Since being hired as the band teacher for fifth through 12th grade, teaching concert, jazz and marching band, Hudson said he's had to call on the expertise of former band teacher, Donita Priebe, on a few occasions. "She's been really good at helping me out," he said. "I've had to call her a few times and she was great about it."

A huge proponent of arts in schools, band is not just about playing an instrument, Hudson believes. "It uses elements from other classes, such as history, frequencies used in science, rhythms used in math. It's the creative side of learning and gets students to care about other subjects."

It's also another way to help keep kids in school. "It's an alternative to just going to school, regurgitating information, going home, day after day after day," he said.

Over the summer, he conducted a band camp when he got to know a lot of students and make that initial connection. He's hoping these connections will pay off in the long run.

"Once you have students on your side, it's easy to get things done," he said.

Clint Hosick molds his teaching strategy around a certain saying that's so important to him, he has it taped on his blackboard:

"Every student in my class is someone else's world."

For him, that means "Be respectful, be fair to everyone, have a positive attitude," Hosick said, who's teaching social studies and strength/conditioning at McCook High School. "It's also about building those connections with the students and parents."

The long-time teacher with 25 years under his belt, Hosick is a homeboy to Southwest Nebraska, growing up in the Stockville, Neb., area and graduating from Maywood High School. He graduated from Hastings College with a bachelor's in education and has taught at Maywood, Medicine Valley and Westminister, Colo.

He also spent time in the military, serving 25 years in the Army Reserves where he was deployed twice to Iraq, in 2003 and 2005.

What got him teaching in the first place were the teachers he had growing up.

"They were my mentors. I thought they had the greatest job in the world," he said. Now, he can't imagine doing anything else, although Hosick has learned it takes a few tricks to be successful with kids.

"You have to have patience. All it takes is one person to make a difference," he said. "You also have to enjoy being around high school kids." Being able to multi-task in several areas is also key, he believes, because it's a career that doesn't stop at 3 p.m.

"Everything you do is for the kids," he said, who's also an assistant coach for the Bison football team.

Since moving to McCook, he's been encouraged by the favorable reception he's received.

"McCook has been very welcoming and I like how the community supports the school in so many different ways," Hosick said. "I really can't see myself doing anything else. Teaching is one of the most important jobs in society."

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The new high school English teacher at McCook High School almost didn't make it here.

Kali Blevins grew up on farm 30 miles from North Platte and graduated from Arnold High School. In 2016, she graduated from Chadron State College and received two offers to teach: from the McCook Public School District and from another school who wanted her. She had a weekend to decide which offer she would take.

McCook won out. "The community seemed really nice. Coming from a Class D school, McCook is Class B and I liked that, and I liked the staff and administration," she said.

And once she makes a decision, she runs with it. "I'm definitely jumping in with both feet. I've already bought a house."

Her interest in teaching came early, with her own educational experience. "I had exceptional teachers," she said, and coming from a small school, everybody was expected to participate in some extracurricular activity. Blevins herself kept busy in high school with volleyball, basketball and rodeo and will be kept moving here as well, as the cheerleading coach at MHS and an assistant coach for basketball and track at the junior high.

And while some may shudder at teaching high school kids, Blevins said it's the perfect age for her. "Elementary school kids are scary. I commend the elementary teachers, I just don't have the patience," she said.

As a first-year teacher, she wants to be able to "see students grow and develop...and have that impact on them to succeed." But she's not wearing rose-colored glasses about her first year teaching. "I know it will be frustrating and challenging....I have to look at it as every single day will be a new adventure."

While she admitted she can be "a huge goofball," Blevins also knows when it's time to be serious. "I like to have fun...but I'm not going to be their best friend all the time. I'll probably be a stickler in the beginning but I might soften up later."

It all boils down to respect, something she learned from her coaches while playing sports in high school.

"If kids understand that we have to work together so I can help you, it goes that much better," she said.

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With the rise of the Internet, communication has changed drastically, something the new technology director at the high school knows all too well.

And with the rise of the Internet comes increased risks for students, said Tina Williams, the new technology director at McCook High School.

"They need to understand the responsibility of using this powerful tool and how to protect online communications," Williams said. "What's posted today can be pulled up years from now."

"Digital natives," or those born always having computers and the Internet, sometimes jump in without paying attention to the ramifications, she said, with parents left in the dark.

And each kid is different, Williams stressed, with some kids not needing as much monitoring as others. So staying involved is huge, she said, that can get a little difficult when kids hit the teenage years.

Asking your child to share something they've designed or generated helps, she said, as "Kids are better at sharing what they created, but they are also good instructors, too."

Coming from a teaching background, Williams admitted it was a bit of a learning curve here when it came to installing cable and the IT side. She gives plenty of credit to Scott Johnson, IT assistant, for helping her out in that area.

Williams graduated from Chadron State College in 1993 and since 2013, she's been the assistant director of teaching and learning at Unified School District No. 473 in Chapmen, Kan. She started teaching in 1993 in Wyoming and from 2001-08, taught at USD 294 at Oberlin, Kan. From 2008 to 2013, she was the communication director and team leader at Junction City, Kan. Williams has two master's degrees, in curriculum and instruction and educational administration.

As technology director, her role encompasses a wide spectrum but includes teaching equipment maintenance, helping teachers enhance lessons with technology and assisting students with their computer needs.

"Data drives instruction so we identify and prioritize our needs and how technology can meet these needs," Williams said.

No more pencils or pens, taking notes while a teacher lectures or even trying to decipher a blurry mimeograph handout: it's all done with computers now. With apps, students can download PowerPoint presentations directly onto their laptops, notes can be sent via email from teachers to students and it's the Internet, not card catalogs, that are sources for essays.

All that means is that computers and other technology devices have to be on point at all times, including those iPads distributed to high school students.

She has high praise for teachers and students alike when it comes to technology. "Everyone here seems eager to use the tools the district provides," she said.