Switching roles

Three Sidney High School alumni have returned to the Sidney Public School system, this time as teachers.

Caleb Sweetser, Bryan Schoening and Kelly Leininger are all graduates of Sidney High and are enthusiastic about being back in the halls of their old schools.

Current superintendent Jay Ehler said it's fun to see the kids he coached or saw in the halls when he was the principal of Sidney High School coming back to teach.

"We already have a good idea of who these kids are before hiring them," Ehler said. "We feel really good about them being able to relate to students and getting along with the staff."

According to Ehler. another benefit of hiring Sidney High graduates is that they are already familiar with the western Nebraska culture.

"It's nice to hire graduates because they have an idea of what it's like to live in Sidney," Ehler said.

Sweetser began teaching math in 2006 where Schoening and Leininger were familiar faces in his classroom.

Sweetser – an upper-level math teacher at the high school – is also the junior class sponsor, a National Honor Society sponsor, math department co-chair and a coordinator for the middle school track team.

"The student body is awesome in Sidney," Sweetser said. "It's nice having students excel and for previous students to come back to say thanks."

Sweetser said one of his favorite things about teaching where he grew up is being able to teach with his old teachers.

When Sweetser isn't teaching he enjoys traveling, golfing, snow boarding, biking and bowling.

Schoening graduated from Sidney High in 2009 and returned last January as a math teacher at the high school as well as a coach.

"As a high school athlete, I always imagined coming back to Sidney to be on the other end as a coach," Schoening said. "It was my dream job."

Schoening participated on the varsity basketball team during his time as a Red Raider and has come full circle as he is now the freshman boys' basketball head coach, an assistant on the boys' varsity basketball team and a middle school track team coach.

"My favorite thing about teaching here is the feeling that I am giving back and making a difference." he said. "This town had a huge impact on who I am today, and it makes me proud to say that I am doing my best to make a difference for the students in this community."

Schoening's biggest piece of advice for new teachers it to enjoy the students and always come in to each class with a positive attitude.

"There will be many days when a student needs positive reinforcement."

Schoening said that although he does not have a lot of experience teaching at different schools, he feels he couldn't work under a better group of administrators.

Leininger – a member of Sidney's class of 2010 – is making her mark this year as a first-grade teacher at South Elementary.

Leininger said she did her student teaching in Houston, Texas, in a much larger district.

"Both small and big districts have great things to offer, but I think in a smaller district you feel more connected with the people around you," Leininger said.

She said that a great thing about teaching in Sidney is that she already knew a lot of people she works with.

"If I have a question, which I have a lot being a new teacher, I know who I can turn to to get help," Leininger said.