In the month of June, we will meet our new staff members for the 2023-2024 school year. We will start with Mr. Loontjer. Mr. Loontjer graduated from Exeter-Milligan High School in Exeter, NE, before attending college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Finance. He has since pursued his secondary teaching certification through the Transitional Teaching Certification Program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the field of Business Education.
Loontjer grew up on a farm north of Carleton, NE. His mom is a registered nurse at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron, NE, and his dad is an equipment maintenance supervisor for Werner Construction in Edgar, NE. He has one younger sister, Stormi, who will be a senior at DPS this upcoming school year.
As a born and raised Husker fan and UNL alum, you are likely to find Loontjer following the Huskers' athletic teams or attending games (especially Husker volleyball & football games). When not cheering on Nebraska, he enjoys taking road trips and traveling.
When asked what he is most looking forward to here at DPS, Loontjer replied with, "I'm really excited to get into the classroom and be able to share my personal business experiences with students and help them be able to apply business concepts in their everyday lives. I feel that business education is an area that is underrepresented in secondary education, and students are missing out on so many practical, lifelong applications and important opportunities that it can provide."
Loontjer is also taking on the role of head volleyball coach and FBLA sponsor. Please help me welcome Mr. Loontjer to our DPS staff!