Every week, we shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! This week, meet Leanne Hahne, intervention teacher at West Lincoln Elementary School.
“Leanne always goes above and beyond to help her students learn to read and do math. She has a positive attitude and encourages others. She shares ideas and resources she has found that help students learn.” - Lisa Sparks, intervention teacher, West Lincoln Elementary School
In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am an intervention and academic support teacher at West Lincoln Elementary. I work with small groups of students at all grade levels who have learning gaps in reading and math. The goal for instruction is to help close these learning gaps so that students can make greater progress.
How long have you worked for LPS?
I just completed my tenth year with Lincoln Public Schools.
What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I wanted to see if I could put the love I have for children and my education degree together to help students who needed me. I had kept my teaching credentials current for a number of years while I was a stay-at-home mother with my own children. But once they had outgrown their need for me to be present, I wondered if there were other children who needed my love, encouragement and help. All of my children are graduates of LPS schools, and the knowledge and understanding they gained as students was of great quality. It made sense for me to join the inspiring educators at Lincoln Public Schools.
What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Hands down, my favorite part is the students! They bring me joy each day! West Lincoln has many students who are English learners, and many students who are in need of attention, love and consistency. I enjoy being a safe harbor for them each day. I want our intervention room to be their “happy place.” The most rewarding part of my job is watching students who once said, "I can't read," look at me with bright eyes and say, "I did it! I read that! I love reading!"
In one word, what makes you proud to work for LPS?
Vision.
Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I was raised in the small town of Cedar City in southern Utah, not far from Zion National Park. We moved to Lincoln in the mid ‘90s. All four of my children attended Humann Elementary, Pound Middle School, and Lincoln Southwest High School.
What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I received my bachelor's degree in elementary education with minors in reading and early childhood education. I taught six years in first and third grades for Daly City Schools near San Francisco, Calif., and for Aurora Public Schools, near Denver, Colo. After that, I began my career as a stay-at-home mother, and included part-time work teaching at The Pines Day School here in Lincoln. Ten years ago, I decided it was time to come back to full-time teaching and was hired by LPS. I have been at West Lincoln Elementary for 10 years now and have taught kindergarten, first grade and intervention. During the years I was at home, I continued to work on graduate education courses to keep my credential current, mainly through Southern Utah University and Brigham Young University. My coursework choices during this time were focused on English language arts (ELA) teaching and reading. This is the area that I am most passionate about. While at LPS, I have completed my LETRS training and the Nebraska Early Literacy Course through the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
This is a great faith, family and freedom focused community. We love the kindness of the people around us. We enjoy the varied seasons and the parks and trails.
What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
I learned to read at the age of four from a red phonics book that belonged to our next door neighbor. I'd sit on her porch each day, waiting for her to be finished with her chores so that she could help me learn to read. My mother was an avid reader, and we had a designated hour each day where everyone in our family stopped what they were doing and read together. Weekly trips to the library were my favorite days, and I read countless books as a child. I enjoyed “The Box Car Children” series and “The Nancy Drew Mysteries” series. Thinking back, a few particular favorite books were: "Noisy Nancy Norris" by LouAnn Gaeddert, "Charlotte's Web" by EB White, "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle and "The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes.
Share a shout out to a former intervention teacher who impacted your life.
Charlene Swanson, reading instruction professor at Southern Utah University. She understood my passion for providing explicit phonics instruction for student reading success, even when it wasn't the popular method of reading instruction. She taught me not to be afraid to "teach the code" and to connect reading with writing every day in my classroom.
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