May 2020 elementary education and special education graduate spotlights

06 May 2020    

Fourteen elementary education and special education graduates – Morgan Buehler, Jayden DeCora, Bailey Fowler, Hailey Greene, Hannah Jacobs, Madisyn Jakub, Abby Lammers, Emily Meduna, Sydney Mickells, Angel Mitike, Tiona Mosher, Lyndzie Moyer, Abbey Patera and Riley Schroeder – share Q-and-As ahead of the May 9, 2020, commencement ceremony.

Morgan Buehler

Aurora, Colorado | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6) (Honors Program)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL was the campus culture. Everyone I interacted with was so authentic and considerate, I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
In high school I became involved with Special Olympics and it shaped me into the person I am today. Entering college, I knew I wanted to find a career field that allowed me to help those with higher needs. After numerous volunteer opportunities through Lincoln Public Schools I realized that I was called toward teaching. Special education was the perfect harmony between the two.

What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation I am going to be a fifth grade Special Education teacher at Don Sherrill Education Center!

Jayden DeCora

Bridgeport, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I have always dreamed of attending UNL! I remember walking around campus before my first Husker football game with my parents and they always talked to me about how awesome it would be for me to go there. The elementary and special education dual major was also a big factor in my decision, because I knew it would set me up for additional opportunities post-graduation. Furthermore, I loved how UNL and Lincoln Public Schools partner together to allow education students to have experiences throughout their time in college, especially early on. I was able to be in an elementary classroom by the second semester of my freshman year, and that continued for nearly every semester after!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
During my senior year of high school, I was able to job shadow in the elementary special education classroom. This opportunity began to spark my interest in special education! Throughout my time at the University, I fell in love with the experiences I had in the Lincoln Public Schools system, and through the numerous encounters in special education classrooms, I realized that it was helping me become a better teacher, whether I was going to be a general or special education teacher. I felt that students who receive special education deserve a teacher who will always fight for them and truly care about what they need to be successful in every aspect of their lives.

What are your plans after graduation?
I will be teaching first grade at Norris Elementary in Firth, Nebraska!

Bailey Fowler

Lincoln, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL was the fact that it is in my hometown. It just made sense to attend a Big 10 University that was in my own “backyard.” The city of Lincoln is something special and I am so grateful that I am able to graduate a Husker!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I decided to pursue special education when I started nannying Henry, a little boy with Down Syndrome. I loved creating educational activities that suited his needs and became very interested in hearing about his education. From there, I realized the importance of differentiation and understanding how to support each individual’s unique needs, and knew that my background in special education would benefit me tremendously!

What are your plans after graduation?
I have accepted a first grade position at Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City. I cannot wait to start my first year!

Hailey Greene

Lincoln, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6) (Child, Youth and Family Studies minor)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
Nebraska has always been my home and I knew without a doubt that when looking at colleges I needed to find a university that was close to my family. I knew I had an interest in both elementary education and special education, and UNL provided me with the opportunity to enroll in a dual education program.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
As far back as I can remember, I have had a passion for working with younger children. However, it wasn’t until I was in the sixth grade when I was provided with the opportunity to work with students in the special education program after school. It was then that I realized that these children held a special place in my heart. My time spent teaching in the resource and behavior classroom further confirmed my passion for this group of students. I love seeing their faces light up when they have finally mastered a new skill.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am pleased to announce that I have accepted a first grade teaching position at Belmont Elementary School here in Lincoln for the 20-21 academic school year! I am excited to begin this journey with my students, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings! Cougar Pride!! Cougar Pride!!

Hannah Jacobs

San Antonio, Texas | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?I have a lot of family that attended the university and still live in Nebraska. I was excited to go out of state but also have my family close to me when I left my home state Texas. A big plus was UNL has a great teaching program that suited my major perfectly.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
When I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to be a teacher and I had originally thought I would be a kindergarten teacher. When I got to middle school, I took an ALE assistant position that filled in one of my class periods and fell in love with the students and community they had. I realized I wanted to not only be a teacher but I wanted to teach students with disabilities. This position not only meant I would be a teacher for students with disabilities, but I would also be an advocate for my students. As a future special education teacher, I want to help educate people about my students with disabilities and encourage others to see them as a person first, not see their disability first. Special education is a challenging job but it also can be incredibly rewarding at the same time.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am currently back home enjoying the Texas heat and some family time. I did accept a special education teaching position with Pershing Elementary School in Lincoln for the upcoming school year. I am very excited to start a new adventure in life and see where teaching takes me.

Madisyn Jakub

Kearney, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for a career when I graduated high school, I just knew I wanted to work with children. UNL had the Explore Center and pretty much any major I could think of, so I knew I could figure out my career path once I got there. Oh, and Husker football of course!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I fell in love with special education after being able to work with students with special needs during practicum and work as an America Reads/America Counts tutor. I really enjoyed working with individual students or in small groups and being able to build close relationships.

What are your plans after graduation?
I accepted a position at Shelby-Rising City for fourth and fifth grade Reading/ELA and Head Cheer & Dance Coach!

Abby Lammers

Hartington, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I loved the culture and atmosphere UNL has when you walk onto the campuses! It brings excitement to all the students!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I have always been interested in special education and the importance it has in our school systems. Learning and forming those unique bonds with students brings a joy to my life.

What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I will begin my teaching career as the new first grade teacher at St. Agnes Elementary in Vermillion, South Dakota!

Emily Meduna

David City, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was a school that I always admired. I had no idea how extensive their teaching program was until I applied to the college. The teaching program blew me away with how many opportunities we would get to be involved with real classrooms before student teaching. I felt like this was the best school to prepare me for my future career.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
During my first semester of school, I decided that I wanted to get as much information about meeting students' needs in the classroom so I decided to add special education to my endorsement. Later in my years at UNL, I found that I had a real passion for working with kids of all abilities and special education really was a good fit.

What are your plans after graduation?
I accepted a Special Education position in Cedar Bluffs Nebraska, where my husband and I currently live. I am beyond excited for this next step. I have had the opportunity to work with their after-school program and I fell in love with the students and the staff.

Sydney Mickells

Lincoln, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
When choosing to come to UNL the biggest factor for me was that it felt like a community, and was a place I could grow over the course of the next four years. I was only a short drive from UNL growing up in Lincoln, and from the minute I stepped on campus I knew UNL was the one because of the supportive community atmosphere.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I knew I wanted to study special education during a practicum experience I had in high school. I was in a fourth-grade classroom and got to work with a student who had disabilities one-on-one. Immediately, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in this area because of the impact I saw individualized programming and a strong relationship can have on a student’s educational career. Every student deserves to have an educator that believes in them and I hope to be that for my students!

What are your plans after graduation?
I will be a special education resource teacher at Meadow Lane Elementary School in Lincoln Public Schools this fall.

Angel Mitike

Hazel Green, Alabama | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I would have to say that the biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL would be my family. My family mean a lot to me, and they play a role in all of the big decisions I make. Attending UNL allowed me to stay connected to family, while also maintaining the space I needed to grow as an individual!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
Unsurprisingly, family even influenced my decision to pursue a degree in Elementary and Special Education. My younger cousin, Andrew, has Down Syndrome. Andrew was the first person with special needs that I had the privilege of connecting with. I spent about six years living with Andrew and his family.

Seeing how incredibly hard he worked every day to achieve many of the things that we often take for granted, like verbal communication, inspired me! More than that, Andrew is so full of love and joy! He truly radiates positivity and has impacted my life, as well as the lives of others. Andrew and his family sparked my passion for special education. I knew that I wanted to support other individuals with special needs and continue spreading the joy and love that Andrew emanates!

What are your plans after graduation?
With the support of peers, faculty, and staff at UNL, I made the decision to student-teach out-of-state in Seattle, Washington. I absolutely loved my experience student-teaching in Seattle. I applied to school districts in the Seattle, so I am extremely hopeful that I will get the opportunity to continue living and teaching in Seattle after graduation! Congratulations to the class of 2020! Best of luck to you all, and we did it!!

Tiona Mosher

Lincoln, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
Being a non-traditional student, I was working full-time when I decided to go back to school and UNL was able to offer a flexible schedule so that I could continue working while I pursued my degree.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
After leaving my first college, I spent the next three years as a Special Education Paraeducator for Lincoln Public Schools. During this experience, I really fell in love with education and the role of a special education teacher and thus I started my journey to going back to school at UNL pursuing special education.

What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation I am moving to Austin, Texas, and will teach either general or special education in an elementary setting. I am so grateful for my experiences at UNL and am excited to use those experiences to continue to grow professionally as a teacher.

Lyndzie Moyer

Nebraska City, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The short years before going to college is full of planning your future, college visits and ultimately trying to decide what you want to do with your life. For me, I was always unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, but I always knew I wanted to figure it out at UNL. Being a Husker was always my dream, and I never even thought or applied to go anywhere else. I am the first in my family to graduate from a four-year college, so why not go big and graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
The reason I chose to study special education is because of many defining moments I experienced throughout my whole life. I remember my first day of kindergarten: the first friend I made was with a boy with autism. Luckily in a small town, I grew up with the same classmates until high school, so I always stayed close with this friend. That friendship grew a passion and love in my heart that eventually lead me to intentionally volunteer throughout high school and surround myself with individuals with autism or other intellectual, developmental or physical abilities and disabilities. Even after all those experiences, it did not cross my mind to turn this love into a career until I got a part-time job my second semester of my freshman year as a behavioral therapist for a boy with severe autism. Over the past 15 years, I had met so many inspiring and amazing individuals with varying abilities, and I finally realized that I should get a degree in something that allowed me to continue to surround myself and work with more amazing individuals for years to come.

What are your plans after graduation?
Unlike many of my peers, I will not have a classroom of my own this fall. Instead, I am going to take the next school year to gain teaching experience by substitute teaching in various districts before getting my master's degree in the spring. Although teaching will always be a passion and an option, I hope to earn a Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. This program will allow me to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Ultimately, I want to continue learning and expand my understanding of individuals who live with autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Abbey Patera

Springfield, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
The biggest factor in my decision to attend UNL was the city of Lincoln itself. Neither of my parents attended UNL, but after my first campus visit and trip into town, I knew that I loved and belonged in the energy and community that I felt here.

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I realized that I wanted to study special education during my first practicum placement. I felt a special connection to the special education students in my class at the time and I could immediately envision myself in that career field! My decision was definitely solidified during my special education practicum at McPhee Elementary though. I learned so much from my cooperating teacher and the paraprofessionals that I worked with and I knew that it was the job for me!

What are your plans after graduation?
I will be a third grade & special education teacher at Don Sherrill Education Center within Lincoln Public Schools!

Riley Schroeder

Omaha, Nebraska | Elementary Education & Special Education (K-6)

What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Nebraska?
I chose to attend UNL because I wanted to stay somewhere close to home and had heard many amazing things about the teacher education program. I have had so many amazing experiences in my time at UNL and I am so excited and ready to start my teaching career!

When did you know you wanted to study special education?
I have known since I was an elementary schooler that I wanted to be a teacher. It wasn't until my freshman year of college that I became really interested in studying special education. Throughout my time in the program I found that special education was something I was very passionate about and a field in which I wanted to study and eventually teach.

What are your plans after graduation?
I recently accepted a special education teaching position in Millard Public Schools and look forward to starting my first year of teaching in August!

Special Education and Communication Disorders