Living in Kearney has given me the opportunity to build connections with
people who share a commitment to creating innovative educational
experiences for students. One of my favorite parts of serving as a Teaching
and Learning Coordinator is building on those connections to expand
enrichment opportunities through the ESU 10 High Ability Learner (HAL)
Consortium.
With 24 participating school districts, the HAL Consortium provides
programming, support, and student enrichment that districts might not be
able to offer on their own. It also creates opportunities for educators to
collaborate around the needs of high ability learners and connect students with experiences beyond
their classrooms.
One exciting addition is UNK Fall Discovery Day, scheduled for October 7th at the University of
Nebraska-Kearney. This event is a joint effort among ESU 10, Kearney Public Schools, and UNK to
introduce middle school students to higher education through an interactive day of enrichment. Our
goal is to challenge students to think critically while exploring how those skills apply across different
fields of study.
Throughout the day, students will participate in two hands-on activities designed specifically for high
ability learners, along with shorter activities that introduce them to participating university
departments. Students will also experience campus life through a free lunch in the dining hall and a
trivia session to conclude the day.
Students will be introduced to the types of questions, challenges, and opportunities that college students
explore within the disciplines of: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Technology, and the
College of Education. Each college will focus on the idea of exploration, discovery, and curiosity that
are essential to developing critical thinking and being a lifelong learner. Students will also see locations
on UNK’s campus that help engage college students in looking at learning through these lenses.
Approximately 300 students from 11 school districts are expected to attend. We look forward to the
experiences this day will offer and to continuing our collaboration with Kearney’s educational leaders.
By bringing together the resources of ESU 10, local schools, and UNK, this partnership expands access
to challenging and engaging learning experiences for high ability learners across our region.