We are excited to welcome Abby Heemstra, soon to be Abby Schlegel, to the DPS staff as our first grade teacher. Heemstra graduated high school from Rock Valley Community High School and will graduate from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, in May 2025. She has completed eight weeks of student teaching in third grade and is currently student teaching for eight weeks in kindergarten.
Heemstra's parents are Greg and Pat Heemstra, and she has three older siblings: two brothers and a sister, and each of them are married and have kids. She has three nieces and one nephew who she "absolutely adores"! Heemstra has lots of changes coming outside of a new job, including relocating to the area, and marrying Blake Schlegel this summer. Schlegel is a graduate of Shickley High School.
In her free time, Heemstra enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing with her dog, spending time outdoors, going to coffee shops, staying active, and reading!
We are excited to have Heemstra's elementary experience, and especially her literacy field experience in progress monitoring and assessments, in our school. She was a four-year college athlete at Concordia in basketball, while her soon-to-be-husband played football there as well. She has created and implemented workouts for kids of all ages, has her coaching endorsement, has facilitated camps and has coaching experience as well.
In speaking with her instructors and coaches, words to describe Heemstra included:
Accountability, maturity, intelligence, work ethic, personable, selfless
Always responsible,
caring,
pride in all that she does
Very coachable and has a growth mindset
"Amazing...will make your school better...she is a difference maker in the lives of your kids & will help the culture of your staff!"
"I would hire her in a heartbeat!"
Works just as hard teaching children as she does the content
Experience in looking at data & planning for instruction
Creates a calm, orderly learning environment
Completion of her EdTPA in reading where she plans, teaches, reflects, assesses & makes decision based on her assessment data consistently from whole group to small group
Experience with Wonders
Heemstra stated that she is "so excited about the opportunity to teach at Deshler Public Schools! I am most excited about building relationships with my students and positively impacting young learners in their academic journeys!" We are beyond excited to have you as well!
Help us welcome Ms. Heemstra, or as we will soon know her -- "Mrs. Schlegel -- to DPS, and to first grade!
Mrs. Schultz will be right here in the building for questions from Mrs. Schlagel as she is moving into our high school special education position. Thank you to Mrs. Schultz for the work that you have put into first grade, as well as being a team player! Mrs. Schultz was willing to fill either position - or as she stated, "wherever you need me or think I would be the strongest" as Mrs. Schultz has years of special education experience and is a true team player. Thank you, Mrs. Schultz, for offering to step into this position for us - we appreciate you!