Educational Service Unit 6
Advocate. Collaborate. Communicate.
Our ESU 6 CRAVE programs send a huge thank you to our business leaders - we couldn't do it without all of you!
🚀 Next Knowing to Doing Session: Probation as Partners
Mark your calendars for December 10 at 3:30 PM CT!
This session explores how educators and probation officers can work together to support students in meeting their Postsecondary Goals (PSGs) and successfully navigating school, community expectations, and transition planning.
In this quick learning session, we’ll cover:
How to build collaborative, student-centered relationships with probation partners
Strategies for aligning communication, expectations, and supports
How to ensure PSGs, services, and transition plans reflect the student's current needs and legal requirements
…plus practical strategies you can use tomorrow to strengthen cross-agency collaboration.
Date: December 10
Time: 3:30 PM CT via Zoom
Register now to get the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/Knowing2DoingRegistration
Congratulations to our Administrator, Dr. Brian Maschmann, on receiving the NASA 25 year service award at the NASB State Ed Conference last week!
🚀 Next Knowing to Doing Session: Writing a Strong Summary of Performance (SOP)
Mark your calendars for November 19 at 3:30 PM CT!
This one-hour session tackles everything educators need to know about the Summary of Performance (SOP). The SOP is a document that is intended to help facilitate a student's transition to postsecondary success. This document should include recommendations about ways to help a student meet their postsecondary goals.
In this quick learning session, we’ll break down:
✨ What an SOP is and what the law requires
✨ Why we write an SOP and how it supports postschool success
✨ Who receives the SOP and when it must be delivered
✨ How to create a compliant, high-quality SOP that is truly useful for students, families, and adult agencies
…plus tools and templates you can use tomorrow in your practice.
🗓️ Date: November 19, 2025
⏰ Time: 3:30 PM CT via Zoom
👉 Register now to get the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/Knowing2DoingRegistration
Our Social Studies Network met October 6th to explore the effective use of AI in the classroom. Their desire to learn new things and collaborate are a few of the many reasons that this group is full of excellent teachers!
Our Early Childhood Coaches wrapped up Coaching to Success on October 3rd—a powerful training designed just for them! 💡
Led by Becky Morton, Omaha Region ELC Coach Consultant, and Gina DeFreece, Southeast Region ELC Coach Consultant, the coaches walked away with fresh strategies, practical tools, and renewed inspiration to guide educators, strengthen practices, and make an even bigger impact with children and families.
We’re proud of the amazing work our coaches are doing every day! 🙌
Check out the video (Enhancing Collaborative Practices Series for Co-Teachers) and flyer to learn more about this upcoming series and why you should join!
As part of the CRAVE (Career Readiness and Vocational Education) program, students with disabilities had the opportunity to experience a mock onboarding process with ESU 6 Director of Business, Vicki Taylor, and ESU 6 Director of Human Resources, Nichole Hall. During this activity, students stepped into the role of new employees and were guided through real-world workplace practices such as choosing employee benefits, reviewing the components of a pay stub, and understanding expectations for professionalism on the job. This hands-on experience not only introduced students to the practical steps of starting a career but also built confidence and readiness for their future employment journeys.
Blue River Cohort, made up of E-M-F, Shickley, McCool Junction, and Dorchester, gathered Sept. 2 to learn, connect, and be inspired. Teachers spent the day with Dr. Rob Bell on building mental toughness and collaborated in content area groups to share ideas and tools.
ESU 6 Board Members attended the NASB Area Membership Meeting in York on August 26th.
Awards were given to the following -
Britt Reynolds - Level 1
Rod Diercks - Level 1
Ken Reinsch - Level 1
Carla Schwahn - Level 3
Sandy Blankenship - Level 6 (not pictured)
Awards were given to the following -
Britt Reynolds - Level 1
Rod Diercks - Level 1
Ken Reinsch - Level 1
Carla Schwahn - Level 3
Sandy Blankenship - Level 6 (not pictured)
On August 8th, ESU 6 welcomed back our dedicated staff to officially launch the new school year! The energy was high, the laughter was contagious, and the focus was clear—Refresh, Rewind, and Regenerate as we move into another exciting year of service, innovation, and collaboration.
Welcoming New Faces - We began the day by introducing the newest members of our ESU 6 family. We’re thrilled to have fresh energy and perspectives joining our team!
Tech Tips with Dr. Lynne Herr - Dr. Herr delivered an engaging and practical session focused on:
Maximizing Google Tools – How to store, share, and save efficiently.
Email Organization – Tips for managing your inbox and boosting productivity.
AI in Education – Exploring tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Suno to enhance teaching and learning.
Her session offered useful strategies to streamline daily tasks and incorporate emerging tech in meaningful ways.
Inspiration from Dr. Jo Owens-Nauslar - Our team had the unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Jo Owens-Nauslar, a passionate advocate for wellbeing and performance.
Dr. Jo is also a well-known philanthropist and leader in organizations like Chadron State College, Nebraska Sports Council, and Nebraska Canine No Kill Shelter. Her vibrant message reminded us to embrace the POSSIBILITIES and build a path toward SUCCESS—personally and professionally.
Wrapping Up with Department Meetings - The day concluded with department meetings, allowing teams to connect, plan, and set goals for the coming year.
🎉 It’s a BIG day at ESU 6!
We’re kicking off the school year with an energy-packed trio of events:
🍎 First-Year Teachers – ready to make their mark!
🤝 Mentors – guiding the next generation with heart and wisdom!
🙌 Kagan Cooperative Learning – bringing engagement to life with powerful strategies!
There’s no better way to start the year than with collaboration, connection, and a whole lot of learning. Let’s go, 2025-2026!
We’re kicking off the school year with an energy-packed trio of events:
🍎 First-Year Teachers – ready to make their mark!
🤝 Mentors – guiding the next generation with heart and wisdom!
🙌 Kagan Cooperative Learning – bringing engagement to life with powerful strategies!
There’s no better way to start the year than with collaboration, connection, and a whole lot of learning. Let’s go, 2025-2026!
Resource Fair & Family Pool Night!
August 6th from 6:00-8:30pm
Geneva, NE
See flyer for more information
What an incredible day!
Our Early Learning Connection 2025 Coach Camp was a huge success - filled with energy, connection, and powerful moments of reflection. A huge THANK YOU to the nearly 100 coaches and presenters who helped make it such a meaningful experience!
Special shoutout to Jen Hatmaker for bringing the heart, humor, and real talk we all needed. Her words and the opportunity to build connections amongst the ELC-CC coach community left us inspired, recharged, and ready to keep showing up for the work that matters most.
The Southeast Early Learning Connection had the opportunity to partner with Concordia University again this year for the annual early childhood conference on June 1 - 2 with over 150 educators in attendance.
Please watch your emails for updates regarding this event.
