From the Tiger Den to the Cardinal Nest

DT welcomes history teacher Mr. Kerr 

By: Benjamin VanDiest 

DT had many new faces to introduce when they started school on Thursday, August 19th. One of those new faces is the new secondary history teacher Mr. Robert Kerr.

It all started for him because he wanted to share his love and passion for history with others just like his teachers did for him. Kerr’s sophomore Western Civilization teacher Mr. Bierman inspired him to become a history teacher and help students. Kerr really looked up to him and thought he was a great teacher and mentor. 

 “I got into teaching because I wanted to work with young people and ignite their love for history,” he said. 

Kerr is a graduate of Hastings High and went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he majored in history. He graduated from UNL with his bachelor’s degree. He then received his master’s degree of Arts in   Teaching from Hastings College. 

Even though Kerr is in his first year here at DT, he previously taught for 34 years at Hastings High School. 
After 34 years of teaching, he decided to put the textbooks on the shelf and retire. However, after sitting out for a year Kerr had that nagging voice in his head urging him to continue his passion for teaching. When the DT position opened, he couldn’t resist.

“I was interested in a position at DT because it would allow me for the first time in my teaching career to work in a small school setting where I would have the opportunity to get to know each student by the time he or she graduates from high school. Sure enough, less than a month into the new school year, I love the fact that I get to work with all the 7th, 10th, couple of juniors, and 12th graders,” he said. 

The DT student body is excited to learn from a veteran teacher like Kerr.  

“I really like having Kerr as my history teacher because he makes learning history fun,” said sophomore Kaedan Detamore. 

Besides teaching, Kerr will be assisting the DT JH football team.

 “I am very excited to work with all the wonderful DT students this year,” said Mr. Kerr.