By Jolie Peal, Nebraska Public Media
With students filling their backpacks and teachers preparing lessons, many Nebraska schools are preparing for classes to start up again this month.
Nebraska’s 2025 Teacher of the Year Lindsey Wilson prepared her own classroom to welcome back her students at Bennington Middle School on Wednesday, Aug. 13. She said she’s excited to see her students collaborate in the creative and curious space that is her classroom.
“There’s just nothing about that first day or first week energy,” Wilson said. “There’s a ton of buzz in the air, and it’s all about the possibilities ahead, and just that feeling that we all get a fresh start.”
One of the biggest challenges facing educators this year, Wilson said, is finding ways to keep their students engaged, especially in a world full of technology.
“We’re also dealing with evolving technology, especially in the age of AI, and finding the best ways to use it as a tool for learning versus a distraction,” she said.
Wilson added that AI has endless possibilities, and she wants to try to see what works so she can help her students understand the tool.
“I would rather try and even fail with technology than not try at all, because my students are going to step into these opportunities that we can’t even imagine yet,” Wilson said. “I would rather them be prepared to be critical thinkers and strong communicators and adaptable problem solvers so that they’re ready for the world ahead of them.”
Wilson had the opportunity to present on AI, or artificial intelligence, in China this summer with the Shanghai Teacher Institute. She also spoke with educators about engagement and collaboration in the classroom.
“It was probably one of the most life changing experiences that I’ve had, professionally and personally,” Wilson said. “There was just this consistent message that we’re all in it together. That we are striving for the same things with our students.”
Overall, Wilson said she encourages teachers and families to collaborate with one another throughout the school year.
“Education is always going to face challenges and changes, but one thing will never change is that if we focus on what we can control, and we collaborate and we advocate, we can always put students at the forefront of our decisions,” Wilson said. “I say it a lot, but it’s about teaching like a rebel — not about breaking rules, but breaking barriers, the ones that hold us back from achieving that greatness. We need to teach our kids that they don’t need permission to be extraordinary, and that together, we can all just stay curious and inspire and be inspired by those around us.”
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