February 2021
Where I’m From C L I N T O N E L E M E N TA RY
This is the final story in a series, “Where I’m From,” about LPS elementary school teachers who returned to teach at their old schools.
“I applied at Clinton because of the fond memories I had here as a student,” she said. “I wanted to be able to create those same memories for other students.”
A4 ‘Hartley hero’ retires after 34 years New school naming committees announced
A7 Sustainability at LPS: Green Ribbon School A8 ConnectLPS A10 Creativity, connections at Science Focus program A12 Remote Learning registration open Looking for a book? A13 Wellness Column: Managing stress
The Asian-American kindergarten teacher at Clinton Elementary School also believes it’s important that many of her students see a teacher who looks like them - “to be a mirror for them.”
Siedhoff returned to Clinton two years ago after living in Kansas City for 10 years. She and her husband wanted their two young daughters to grow up close to family. When it came time to apply for a teaching job, the choice was easy.
A3 TeamMates of the month: Carter and Gabe
A6 Superintendent’s blog: New semester of challenge, hope
Jordan Siedhoff believes it’s important that her students see a teacher who grew up where they do, who went to the same elementary school, who played in the same parks, whose parents still live five blocks away.
“It is a responsibility and a privilege I do not take lightly,” said Siedhoff, whose students speak six different languages.
SECTION A:
A15 School nurses go above and beyond A16 Menus A18 Youth rally, march honors MLK
“I applied at Clinton because of the fond memories I had here as a student,” she said. “I wanted to be able to create those same memories for other students.”
Her memories are vivid. There was the teacher who had rats as classroom pets, which inspired Siedhoff to ask her mom for some of her own. (She said yes.); the teacher who helped her win a national sta-
tistics competition; the teacher who let her and a few other students pick out fish for the classroom fish tank; the art mentor who worked with her every week; the school counselor who offered support
during difficult times. “Aside from the above and beyond experiences, I remember feeling heard,” she said. “I remember loving being at school and feeling seen and valued here.”
Community events advertised in Community News are privatelysponsored events that are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Lincoln Public Schools. Lincoln Public Schools makes no representations about the absence of COVID-19 at these events. Community News is a publication of Lincoln Public Schools. If you have any questions about this publication please contact Jason Keese, 436-1619; or Mindy Burbach, 436-1609; Lincoln Public Schools P.O. Box 82889 Lincoln, NE 68501-2889