Beyond the Classroom: Transforming Learning with Real-World Skills in Mitchell, Nebraska

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Nebraska Children — Leave a comment

Driven by a mission to create positive change for Nebraska’s children, Beyond School Bells (an initiative of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation) focuses on providing K-12 students with high-quality expanded learning opportunities (ELOs) that promote hands-on, engaged learning. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and Beyond School Bells (BSB) have a long-standing partnership built on addressing the educational needs of Nebraska’s children.

The partnership between NDE and BSB highlights the critical effort to support students during a time of unpredicted challenges. As schools across the country navigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funding became a vital resource to ensure that students received the support they needed. Those needs extended beyond the pandemic to the impact on students’ learning and growth. Through the ESSER Collaborative ELO grant, NDE and BSB collaborated to leverage ESSER III funds to expand learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom, providing students with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive academically and personally and to address learning loss associated with the pandemic.

In the article, “Beyond the Classroom: Transforming Learning with Real-World Skills in Mitchell, Nebraska,” readers are introduced to how the ESSER Collaborative ELO grant created impactful ELOs for Nebraska’s youth, and expanded access to resources and supports that students needed to thrive.

Beyond the Classroom: Transforming Learning with Real-World Skills in Mitchell, Nebraska

Located near the Wyoming border, the Tiger Club Afterschool Program is essential to youth development in the rural town of Mitchell, Nebraska. In this close-knit community of 1,500, the program strengthens bonds and provides crucial support while equipping students with life skills for adulthood. As a vital resource, the Tiger Club highlights the impact of collaboration in shaping brighter futures for local youth.

A Glimpse into the Formation of the Mitchell Program

For years, Dr. Kathy Urbanek, Superintendent of Mitchell Public Schools, recognized the need for a safe, educational space where students could thrive outside of school hours. That vision became a reality in 2022 when the district was offered an ESSER grant to start a new program. The journey to launch this ELO program was a whirlwind of activity, driven by a strong commitment to serve families in the area. The program is now housed in its own dedicated space within the school; however, its beginnings were resourceful and adaptive – characteristics that became core values of the program. While preparations were underway, the team used the school cafeteria, playground, and even a large storage closet to get started—prioritizing availability over perfection.

Determined to meet the community’s needs, the program opened its doors in October 2022. For Dr. Urbanek, it was essential that the program was offered free of charge, ensuring all families could access this opportunity without financial barriers.

Now, the Tiger Club is a cornerstone resource for families in the Mitchell area. During the school year, it provides reliable, safe care that gives peace of mind to working parents. In 2024, 85 students were registered for the school year and 40+ registered for the summer. This seasonal shift not only fills a critical community need but also reaches a different group of students, helping to combat summer learning loss, spark curiosity, and teach new skills often not covered during the regular school year.

Program Leadership and Community Ties

Program Director Jennifer Krahulik brings a rich blend of experience and a deep-rooted connection to Mitchell, making her an ideal leader for the Tiger Club program. Since moving to the area in 2000, Krahulik has been actively involved in the local school system in various capacities. She homeschooled her own children and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, stepped up to support other families by assisting with their homeschooling needs. Her approach emphasizes high-quality, hands-on learning, particularly in science and history.

Living in a rural area, Jennifer creatively integrated her environment into teaching, developing lessons like “farm physics” to engage students in unique and practical ways. As her children transitioned to attending Mitchell Public Schools, Jennifer continued to be a dedicated supporter of education, co-founding initiatives like the Mitchell Fine Arts Booster Club alongside other parents.

Jennifer describes herself as an extrovert who thrives on community involvement, a quality that has been instrumental in shaping the Tiger Club. Her passion for education, paired with her deep ties to the community, has helped transform the program into a vibrant, engaging space where students can learn and grow.

Building Life Skills

The Tiger Club emphasizes continuous learning and the development of life skills through a wide range of activities. Throughout the school year, students participate in many diverse activities including sports, coding, and creative crafts. They even took part in a “City Build” project – an immersive curriculum developed by Beyond School Bells that inspires discussions on city planning, careers, and economic development while youth create cities out of cardboard and other handy materials.

During the summer months, the program utilizes 4-H programming to teach life skills such as teamwork, leadership, creativity, and problem-solving. Students build confidence by working on projects, receiving encouragement from staff members, and practicing public speaking while also learning the importance of contributing to their community.

True to the 4-H mission of hands-on learning, Tiger Club offers numerous creative projects. For example, students learned to sew by creating hair scrunchies and boho bags. Students became very invested in the projects with many volunteering to arrive early and offering to skip their recess to complete their work. The pride they felt in completing these projects, along with feedback on improving their stitching, boosted their confidence and taught them the value of resilience.

In woodworking, students built birdhouses using screwdrivers rather than power tools, teaching them basic engineering skills and tool safety. Art and ceramics classes fostered problem-solving, as students experimented with still-life drawings and learned to embrace mistakes as part of their learning journey. As Krahulik explains, “It’s essential to let children fail and learn.” These projects give students a safe space to develop problem-solving skills that are invaluable in life.

Community Support and Collaboration

The Tiger Club program thrives on support from the Mitchell community. Local businesses, parents, and volunteers contribute to its success. The lumber yard donated wood for birdhouses, a local nursery supplied succulents for fairy gardens, and parents contribute ideas to enhance future programming. This partnership strengthens the bond between Mitchell’s 4-H roots and the community’s pride in its youth.

ESSER Funding: A Transformative Boost

The Tiger Club exemplifies the impact of ESSER funding on rural out-of-school education. Reflecting on its significance, Program Director Jennifer Krahulik states, “Without ESSER dollars, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”

The funding empowered the program to offer a rich variety of activities, equipping students with tools and experiences that spark curiosity and creativity. For hands-on STEM learning, the program acquired a Teacher Geek Stand, complete with hammers, cutters, tools, and electrical components, allowing students to build projects like air gliders and model cars. To foster artistic expression, supplies were purchased to explore fundamental art concepts across different mediums, catering to the many talented young artists in the group.

The program also introduced sports like soccer and tennis—activities not offered during the regular school day—and provided resources for units on kitchen science, sewing, photography, and engineering challenges. Agricultural education became another cornerstone, with students growing potatoes, caring for perennial plants to beautify the school grounds, and learning through a hydroponics tower acquired via Beyond School Bells. Collaboration with Mitchell’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) further enriched the curriculum, with FFA members leading farming-focused classes.

ESSER funding also enabled memorable field trips, giving students opportunities to explore Nebraska’s natural beauty and history at places like Toadstool Geological Park and Fort Laramie. This support has allowed the Tiger Club to become a hub of learning, discovery, and enrichment, leaving a lasting impact on students and the community.

The Value of Supportive Staff

Krahulik attributes much of the Tiger Club’s success this year to a dedicated, creative staff who bring diverse skills and ideas.

“The best part of this summer was putting good people in place,” she says, allowing her to focus on administrative needs and offering additional student support. Staff members from the school could try new things outside the traditional classroom setting, bringing fresh ideas and experiences to the summer program.

High school staff play an essential role in the program. Through their participation, relationships are built that cross grades. High school staff also have the chance to grow in leadership and explore potential career paths in education.

Lessons Learned and Looking Forward

“My passion has always been helping elementary kids learn life skills,” shares Krahulik.

This summer program has demonstrated that the lessons learned along the way are just as valuable as the projects completed. By equipping children with practical skills and fostering emotional resilience, the program helps shape them into well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of adolescence and beyond.

ESSER funds enabled a fun, engaging environment that will continue to support families and youth in Mitchell into the future. Looking forward, the team is committed to continually evolving the program—building on successes and refining areas for improvement. With a steadfast focus on empowering children to thrive in an ever-changing world, the Tiger Club aims to inspire growth, curiosity, and confidence in every student it serves.

About Beyond School Bells (BSB)

Beyond School Bells is a statewide public-private partnership that supports sustainable, high-quality, school-community collaborations that provide youth with what they need to be successful in school and in life. These collaborations offer kids access to areas of learning they may never experience, including hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities. Through the process, participants exhibit increased school attendance, positive behavior and improved academic performance. Visit the Beyond School Bells website.

Examples of ESSER III Funding in Action

Explore more stories about how Nebraska communities are leveraging ESSER III funding to provide impactful ELOs: