By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Schools in Great Bend officially opened their doors for the 2024-25 school year on Wednesday. Students in grades PreK-6, seventh, and ninth all headed back to the classroom on Wednesday with the rest following on Thursday. While the first week back can be a time of fun and anxiety for students, the same can be true for teachers. Jody Beckham is beginning her third year as an Algebra I and Geometry teacher at Great Bend High School.
"Teachers get nervous, too," she said. "I think we're nervous as to what levels of students we're going to get, what kind of personalities we'll get, whether or not we'll be able to connect with them. Really, without any kind of connection, we can't teach them anything. It all starts with that connection. I think that's the most nerve-racking thing about teaching."
Danielle Ricklefs took over as instructor for Jag-K, or Jobs for America's Graduates - Kansas, midway through last school year. The class is an elective course providing academic and other positive supports for a successful pathway to graduation. Even with 20 years of experience in the educational field, including as a substitute teacher in USD 428, Ricklefs has her own feelings about the first day of school.
"It's my first full year, so yes, I have some nerves," she said. "I want to create a space for students to feel connected and interested in growing something great."
Beckham took an unusual route after college. She spent time in other fields, then stepped into the classroom as a substitute teacher starting in 2011. It gave her a new perspective.
"It seems like there are not many professions that invest in the youth of today," she said. "I've been on the law enforcement side and the county attorney side of things and just saw how much our youth needed invested in. I've always loved teaching. It's just always been a scary profession for me because, with substitute teaching, you come in and you're unprepared for students who don't know you. I just decided to take the plunge and transition into teaching."
Just as students have to prepare for the first day of school, teachers also prepare. Beckham includes classroom work into her schedule to avoid sending work home, and Ricklefs works outside of the typical classroom curriculum.
"If I can give them the work to do in class, and I can be the resource here for them, and they can be a resource for one another, then they're far more successful than if I send homework home that they can Google and get an answer to," Beckham said.
"There are many aspects to the Jag-K advantage that make it a unique classroom experience," said Ricklefs. "My personal favorites are that Jag-K students have opportunities to explore many careers and connect with community employer partners before graduation, improving their success right out of high school."
The first day of school is often a chance for friends to reunite. It's also a chance for teachers to catch up with other teachers and to meet their students for the next nine months.
"I look forward to getting to know the kids and getting to know their stories and what their aspirations are," Beckham said. "Sometimes, you have kids who want to come through and just be done with high school. Then you have ones who are highly motivated and want to tell you all about that. Then you have ones who just don't know. If you can support them through the process, encourage them, and listen to their stories, as crazy as they may be, it's a lot of fun."