Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Highlighting new school personnel at Banner County

Brandi Tallmage

School teaches at: Banner County.

Year in teaching: First.

Grade teaching: Kindergarten.

Hometown: Potter.

Family: Shelly Tallmage, mother. Monte Tallmage, father.

Why did you get into teaching? I have always had a passion for helping children and trying to make them become the best they can be. I was also inspired by my past teachers always there and helping me and wanted to be like them.

What are you looking forward to most this year? The thing I am looking forward to the most is being the one to help start making changes in the students lives while helping them learn, and also the smiles on their faces when they succeed.

What do you feel will be most challenging? Most rewarding? The most challenging part to begin I think will be getting a routine, and on the same track as the students. The most rewarding part will be watching the students succeed and knowing I made a difference.

Will you be involved in any additional activities? I will be assisting with one-act play production.

Additional comments: I'm looking forward to a great start and a new beginning.

Chris Cooper

School teaches at: Banner County.

Year in teaching: Eighth.

Grade teaching: School counselor and junior/senior high choir.

Hometown: Harrisburg.

Family: Mical, wife. Aili, daughter.

Why did you get into teaching? I didn't initially get an education degree for my bachelors, but I found myself in teaching, coaching and mentoring roles and wanted to make a difference in the lives and trajectory of youth.

What are you looking forward to most this year? A new role - first year as a counselor, getting back to my Banner County roots and helping to make the school a successful and innovative one.

What do you feel will be most challenging? Most rewarding? Challenging - getting a handle on the scope of new responsibilities while continuing grad work and all that entails. Rewarding - helping our students and staff be highly successful.

Will you be involved in any additional activities? High school/junior high choir.

Additional comments: Glad for the opportunity to serve and to invest in beautiful western Nebraska!

Bethany Cooper

School teaches at: Banner County.

Year in teaching: First.

Grade teaching: Second grade.

Hometown: Harrisburg.

Family: Daughter of Bob and Barbara Cooper from Harrisburg.

Why did you get into teaching? I've always loved it, since I was little. It energizes me, gets me excited, allows me to be myself and gain great joy in working with my students and coworkers.

What are you looking forward to most this year? I am pumped to get a chance to pour back into the same community that gave so much to me growing up.

What do you feel will be most challenging? Most rewarding? It may be a bit of a challenge starting off the year also coaching, but overall it will be a good balance. The opportunity to work with both elementary and high school students is a great blessing.

Will you be involved in any additional activities? This will be my first year coaching varsity sports, and I'm glad I get to start off with my favorite - volleyball.

Additional comments: I went to college at Wheaton College in Chicago.