ESU 6 Newsletter

Ken Reinsch was born and raised in Geneva, NE. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1972, and joined the Navy where he learned about shipboard electrical systems. He served two years on what most people call swift boats, or brown water craft that were used up and down the rivers in Vietnam. He was then transferred to the USS Independence, CV62, an aircraft carrier out of Norfolk, VA. After a “shake down cruise” around the Florida coast, they were sent to the Mediterranean area for 6 months. Many ports of call allowed the soldiers to see cultures throughout the area, such as England, Spain, Italy and Sicily!

After his Navy experience, he attended Southeast Community College in Milford, NE for a degree in

Electrical Technology. After graduating and working for a couple of years, Southeast Community College called him to become a teacher in the Electrical/Electromechanical Department. He taught everything from house wiring to Robotics. He was then asked to be the Program Director of the department, a title he held, along with teaching duties, until he retired in 2019.

When asked to become a board member for ESU6 he didn't know if it was something that he would want, but with a bit of coaxing from Dr. Skretta, he agreed. "Being a board member has opened my eyes to the vast array of resources that are available to the schools in the area through the ESU. Learning about these resources and the people who take that information out to the schools in our ESU has opened my eyes to the importance of the ESU's mission and responsibilities."

"As always when you are dealing with public schools, the ability to fund programs and upgrade to new technology is the number one challenge. ESU6 falls into the same category when dealing with funding. Most people, including our elected officials, aren't aware of the need to continue the mission of the ESUs and therefore will usually place it on the proverbial chopping block almost every session. The board and all others involved with an ESU must help educate everyone to make sure they see the necessity of the Mission that ESU's have."

Newly added workshops will be indicated on the Focus Flyer when the document has been amended.

Click on the links to register for our upcoming networks/trainings!

• Health/PE Network - February 6, 2025 - POSTPONED
• CTE Collaboration Day - February 13, 2025
• Planning Region Team Meeting - February 17, 2025

As a response to critical educator shortages, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) created the Nebraska "Grow Your Own" Teacher Apprenticeship competitive grant opportunity utilizing funds available via the Department of Labor. UNL applied for the competitive grant funds focusing on the crucial shortage of special education teachers. ESU 6 partnered with UNL to create a rural cohort for ESU 6 schools.
Unlike other pathways to certification, the apprenticeship program allows para educators to pursue a K-6 or 7-12 special education endorsement via hands-on training while employed as a para-educator. Selected para-educators will receive the certification completely free of charge. ESU 6 Special Education Director, Dr. Michele Rayburn, shared, "It is a wonderful opportunity that benefits the para candidates, the school systems, and ultimately the students we serve. To be able to receive a special education endorsement at absolutely no cost to the candidate is just phenomenal." Official enrollment at UNL began in January 2025 with completion expected in May of 2026.

Dr. Sara Skretta (UNL), Dr. Sue Kemp (UNL), and Dr. Michele Rayburn (ESU 6) will present a session titled 'Growing Teachers, Growing Success: How Apprenticeship, Retention and Collaboration Fuel the Future of Education' at the National Educator Shortage Summit on March 6-7. This session delves into the transformative potential of teacher apprenticeships as a funding-supported, collaborative approach to addressing educator workforce shortages and improving retention. Participants will explore how this innovative model provides aspiring teachers with hands-on, mentored experience while earning their credentials, supported by sustainable funding and robust resource networks. Apprenticeship program information will be shared, with a focus on structural differences between this model and traditional teacher preparation programs, emphasizing its advantages, such as cost-effectiveness, real-world training, and enhanced support systems.

Our newly restructured ESU 6 Principals' Network had a fantastic first meeting, with 21 participants. Designed based upon the feedback gathered from principals, this network is all about practical support, meaningful connections, and relevant learning. Our first session featured engaging discussions on coaching classroom teachers and valuable networking time to share ideas and challenges. We're excited to keep the momentum going and continue providing resources and collaborative opportunities for our district leaders. For more information, check out the ESU 6 Principals' Network flyer.

Dorina Sackman gave the second semester keynote to the ESU 6 Blue River Cohort schools on January 6th. Sackman offered a fun and inspiring presentation to teachers and administrators to help everyone finish out the school year strong!
Thanks to McCool Junction Public Schools for hosting!

Nebraska's Multi-tiered System of Support (NeMTSS) is a framework designed through the lens of Continuous Improvement, to guide school districts, schools, and all educators so that each and every student has access to learning experiences that enhance their educational outcomes.

NeMTSS Regional Support Teams work together with their region's ESUs, districts, schools, and programs to provide support around MTSS implementation efforts. Each regional team consists of a regional support lead, an early childhood MTSS implementation facilitator and a social emotional and behavioral learning (SEBL) specialist. ESU 6 is part of Region 1 and is served by Heidi Farmer (Regional Support Lead), Amy Colwell Williams (Early Childhood Implementation Facilitator), and Mackenzie Riedel (SEBL Specialist). (Region 1 Flyer)
NeMTSS provides Professional Learning and Support to PK-12 Leadership Teams and educators. Some examples of their support are:

• NeMTSS workshops
• Continuous Improvement Action Planning
• Implementation Support
• Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports
• CIP, TSI, ATSI, and CSI Support
• TIP, CAP, and Determinations Support

NeMTSS hosts the NeMTSS Summit each year. The 2025 Summit will be held October 9 & 10 in Kearney with the theme of "Road Trip: Navigating Literacy on the MTSS Highway". More details will be provided soon.

• NRCSA Legislative Forum - Tuesday, February 20 at the Cornhusker Marriott - Lincoln.

• NRCSA Spring Conference - March 20th & 21st at the Crowne Plaza & Younes North Convention Center in Kearney.

ESU 6 serves the educational needs of our 16 member school districts in five different counties, offering students and staff a comprehensive program of services, including:

• Professional Development
• Student Services
• Technology
• Production and Design
  
  

The highly qualified team members of ESU 6 will work directly with you and your staff to determine how we can tailor services to best meet your school's needs. ESU 6 is here to ADVOCATE, COLLABORATE, & COMMUNICATE with educators and systems across the ESU 6 area.

Check out the new ESU 6 website to learn more!

Website: https://www.esu6.org/
Location: 210 5th Street, Milford, NE, USA
Phone: 402-761-3341
Facebook: Educational Service Unit 6
X: @ESU6_NE