High School Teens Make a Difference in the Lives of 1st Graders
Cari Bergman, a first-grade teacher at Brookview Elementary, nominated two Waukee High School seniors for the Waukee Community School District (WCSD) Making a Difference recognition for positively impacting the lives of her first-grade class for more than a year.
How The School Visits Started
“Ryan and Tanner came to read to my class last year with the basketball players.” Bergman jokes, “They had so much fun they might have skipped basketball practice to keep working with the kids. When they had finals for the third term, they came back again. At the end of the year, before summer, they decided to come back and work with the kids. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Ryan Greteman and Tanner Dinnebier usually visit Bergman’s class during finals week when they have a shortened class schedule due to testing. Bergman says she never contacts the seniors to come to visit, they email her. Bergman adds that the high school students aren’t getting any extra benefit from Silver Cord hours or school-to-work credit — they come simply to hang out with the kids.
“It’s almost like a tradition that we come here and invest in these kids and share time with them.” Tanner Dinnebier, Waukee High School senior, says.
“It’s so fun to see them exceed in the classroom, get super excited, and play with them.” Ryan Greteman, Waukee High School senior, says.
Why the Teens Selected Mrs. Bergman’s Class
Greteman and Dinnebier have come back to work with students seven times. Both of the teens used to attend Brookview Elementary, and Greteman was in Bergman’s first-grade class.
“To watch the kids want to be around these teen boys and look at them as such a positive role model, it’s why we teach. When you see kids get excited about learning and people and trying new things because the boys are here — it’s indescribable,” Bergman says.
“It makes my month to hang out with the kids because they put so much positive energy back on us,” Dinnebier says.
Bergman says the teens have promised to come back to visit her class even after graduation.
Students and staff may nominate others within the WCSD District for a Making a Difference recognition for going above and beyond to make our schools amazing and living the values.
