by Nicole Kallio | January 23, 2020 9:33 am
As the bell rings in the classrooms all throughout the school, students brace themselves to walk out in the battle zone that is the hallways. They gather their things (if they’re not already lined up at the door) and rush out of the classroom like a flood down a street. In the midst of shouldering and shoving through the narrow passageways, the only thought floating in the minds of students and teachers alike is, “only one more year.”
As the 2019-2020 school year begins to come to an end, the impending split between Elkhorn High School and the brand new Elkhorn North High School means critical changes to Elkhorn High.
The student population, for grades freshman-junior, will be split between 192nd and 180th street and remain the same along Dodge street. This means less congestion in the hallways and parking lot, but also breaking up relationships and friendships of classmates. But, what exactly does this mean for teachers?
Teachers were told in December what school they would be teaching at next year. While the news was expected for some, it was a surprise for others. Just like students’ feelings towards the new school, the teachers’ feelings are a mixed bag as well.
“I am happy to be staying; I would be happy to be at either school,” Liz Jones, Honors English 9 and English 11 teacher, said about remaining at Elkhorn High. “I love teaching, wherever the district needs me.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the team opening a new school,” Teresa Huber, English 11 and AP Language teacher, said about moving to Elkhorn North. “It’s an experience I haven’t had before.”
While both teachers are excited about their upcoming positions, there are some downfalls to such a large split. “I will really miss my friends who are staying at High! I will still see those people at meetings and communicate as friends, but I will miss the daily interactions,” said Huber. “I am also sad to miss the senior year of the junior students I have this year.”
The teachers are also leery of the effect that the split will have on students. “It’s hard for our current freshmen and sophomores to split up next year,” said Jones. “Even though we’ve all known this is imminent, it’s emotional.”
As the split moves closer, students and teachers alike reflect on their time at Elkhorn High and the changes that are coming, no matter if they’re staying or leaving. What almost everyone can agree on is that, being an Antler is something to be proud of.
“It will be strange to no longer be an Antler,” said Huber. “I’ve been proud to be one for the past 6 years.”
Source URL: https://antler.express/4128/news/movers-n-shakers-teachers-feelings-about-the-upcoming-split/
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