Brenda Pszanka decided her senior year at Scottsbluff High School that she wanted to pursue a career in education, just like her parents did. She spent many years teaching at St. Agnes Catholic School in Scottsbluff and then at Northfield Elementary School in Gering before becoming a PE teacher at Gering Junior High School in 2013. She’s now in her 24th year of teaching, and she couldn’t be happier, for she loves making a positive difference in the lives of young people.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Growing up, Brenda (Schwarzkopf) Pszanka of Gering got an up-close look at what it’s like to be a teacher.
Her dad, Gene Schwarzkopf, taught math at Bluffs Middle School for 30 years before becoming a paraeducator at Scottsbluff High School for nine years. He also coached football and wrestling for many years. Pszanka’s mom, Mari Schwarzkopf, was involved in education, too, working as a paraeducator at Westmoor Elementary School in Scottsbluff for 27 years.
Pszanka was intrigued by what she saw – and learned – from her parents in their jobs as educators.
“The connections they made with kids really caught my eye,” she said. “Watching them interact with kids and the way they helped them was very appealing to me.”
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