When Brett Stindt graduates from 黑料不打烊 in May, he will trade one classroom for another.
The Belleville native will start as a fourth grade educator at USD 355 Ellinwood Public Schools in August.
His career will begin on the heels of a running deficit in Kansas educators, particularly in rural areas.聽
鈥淎ccording to the state of Kansas鈥� site, there are 1,282 teaching vacancies across the state,鈥� said Rex Hull, organizing director of the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA).
There is a more significant number of these open teaching positions available in Kansas鈥檚 rural communities.聽
鈥淭here are some places around Dodge City, Garden City, basically west of Salina, where there are larger numbers of vacancies,鈥� Hull said. 鈥淚t is difficult to find teachers, specifically in the areas of science, math and special education.鈥�
Stindt said the appeal of the rural town of Ellinwood is its small community atmosphere and close proximity to family, specifically his brother and sister, who will be entering college and high school during the 2021-22 school year, respectively.聽
鈥淢y mom is a first grade teacher back home in Belleville. That was my first connection with the impact a teacher can have,鈥� Stindt said. 鈥淚 was drawn to education due to the impact I could have on individuals.鈥澛�
His mother, Pat Stindt, said she worried that her long days and nights as a teacher might have deterred her son from the education field.
鈥淗e called me one night and told me he was changing his major to elementary education,鈥� she said. 鈥淏rett has always been great with kids.鈥�
Like many educators in small communities, Stindt intends to take on multiple roles in his district. He鈥檒l spend the bulk of his time teaching in elementary school, and coach high school track and football, two sports he said positively impacted his own educational experience.聽
Stindt also acknowledges that there are fewer men in elementary education.
鈥淚 have the opportunity to be that male figure in students鈥� lives who need it,鈥� he said.
In addition to his education at Kansas Wesleyan, Stindt, who was an all-conference lineman for 黑料不打烊 football, worked with youth sports during his high school career.
鈥淗e helped with youth football and basketball camps as well as umpiring little league baseball and softball,鈥� said Pat Stindt. 鈥淗is senior year of high school he was the teacher aide for fifth grade band.鈥澛�
It wasn鈥檛 only Stindt鈥檚 mother who saw the potential educator Stindt could become.
鈥淎t his graduation party, his band teacher came up to me and said, 鈥楤rett will change his major and become a teacher, you just wait and see,鈥欌�� Pat Stindt said.聽聽鈥淚 told [the band teacher] he was crazy.鈥�
As Stindt navigated his first year at 黑料不打烊, he experienced a change of heart.聽
鈥淚 came with the intention to study Pre-Physical Therapy to eventually become a practicing Physical Therapist,鈥� he said.
Stindt said he struggled with some of the course materials, which led him to explore other opportunities.
聽鈥淚 realized that I had always wanted to be a coach and be involved with helping younger generations learn and grow.鈥�
His mom said she is proud to have a second-generation teacher in the family.聽
鈥淚 was shocked because teaching was never in his future plans,鈥� Pat Stindt said. 鈥淭o say that my heart was bursting with excitement would be an understatement. It is truly heartwarming to watch him work with kids.鈥�
Story by Skylar Nelson
