CAPS Teacher Education program inspires the next generation of teachers

Teaching has been Megan Holsapple's dream for as long as she can remember. Growing up in the small town of Louisburg, she often imagined herself in front of a classroom, inspiring students just like her favorite teachers had done for her. So when she discovered Blue Valley's renowned Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Teacher Education program, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

To help Holsapple pursue her dream, her family made coming to Blue Valley a priority so she could enroll in the program that would set her on the path to becoming a teacher.

“Coming from a small town and moving into Blue Valley, just seeing the difference of what we have available for our students, whether it’s technology or what our buildings have to offer,” Holsapple said. “Blue Valley is kind of like a mecca.”

During her time at CAPS, Holsapple observed classrooms across the district, building valuable connections with her mentors. These relationships helped her gain confidence when it came time to interview for a teaching position.

“It really set me up for success,” Holsapple said. “I learned a lot from the mentor teachers, and it made me more comfortable because I knew Blue Valley educators had seen me and they were backing me.”

Holsapple’s dream came full circle after college when she secured a position teaching elementary school in Blue Valley. Today, she brings her passion for art to life at Lakewood Middle.

“Blue Valley was my goal,” Holsapple said.

Launched at CAPS in 2009, this immersive teacher education program offers students a first-hand look into the teaching profession — from learning how to lesson plan to mastering educational pedagogy.

Now, 14 years later, CAPS’ Teacher Education program is still going strong, with 45 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The program is one of many ways the district works to address national recruitment and retention challenges facing education and aims to inspire students to consider returning as future educators.

McKenzie Lueders, CAPS’ teacher education instructor, said exposing students to real-world learning and developing professional skills helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.

“Education is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of society,” Lueders said. “Our program is continually adapting to ensure that our students are equipped not only with foundational skills to one day lead a classroom of their own but also with the skills needed to embrace diverse learners, new technologies and to be adaptive, critical thinkers."

Students like Hayden Hare and Sophia Beardslee are following in Holsapple’s footsteps, driven by the same passion to make a difference in the classroom. For them, CAPS isn’t just a program; it’s a pathway to leading their own classrooms one day.

“I had such a good experience here as a student, and I loved all my teachers and the way the principals interacted with teachers,” Beardslee said. “I want to have that same impact on kids and just make learning fun and create a safe environment for my students.”

The chance to experience the classroom from a teacher’s perspective has provided both students with valuable insights into their professions, helping them clarify their goals before choosing their post-graduation paths.

“Getting to be in the classroom as a high schooler is something that isn’t seen very often,” Beardslee said. “It’s easier to figure out which grade I want to teach now, and I wouldn’t have known that until I got that hands-on experience.”

This experiential learning is a key element of the CAPS program, allowing students to refine their goals, whether they are sure of their teaching aspirations or still exploring the possibilities.

“It’s a building block for me to keep going and pursuing education,” Hare said. “I get to see in real life how to be successful and how to be an effective teacher while getting college credits from Baker University that I can transfer to wherever I decide to go.”

Beyond the learning done in their classrooms, Hare and Beardslee have found that the lessons from the program extend into everyday life. Whether it’s de-escalating an argument between siblings or learning to manage emotions with maturity, this program teaches life skills — preparing students not just for teaching, but for becoming wellrounded thoughtful individuals.

“When I first started, I thought it would be a fun class,” Hare said. “I didn’t realize how much I would take from it. We have to act like professionals, and it’s showing me what daily life would look like at a job.”

The CAPS program’s dedication to developing future educators like Hare, Beardslee and Holsapple embodies the district’s commitment to addressing the challenges in education and cultivating the next generation of passionate educators.

“I hope current students realize they are truly getting a real-world experience as they’re in CAPS, no matter what strand they are in,” Holsapple said. “The fact that our students get to experience something that brings them joy and is a potential passion for them is really setting them up for success in the real world… I think that’s really special.”