Pierce Welcomes New Teachers
Pierce Welcomes New History Teacher Mr. Brock Bretschneider
by Ciara Garcia
New teacher, Mr. Brock Bretschneider, joined Pierce Jr./Sr. High this fall. He teaches civics to the seventh grade and government to the seniors. He also is going to be coaching junior high girl’s basketball and junior high track, as well as helping with all school play during the spring.
Bretchschneider stated, “I’m most excited to meet new people and be able to teach seventh grade and seniors on the same day. I always knew Pierce High was a great school and my wife and I already live in Pierce, so it all just works out well.”
Bretchschneider grew up in Norfolk and attended Wayne State College where he earned a bachelor's degree in social science. He previously taught four years at Hartington Cedar Catholic High School before transferring to Pierce High.
Welcome him to Pierce High.
Introducing Mrs. Amy Barnhill
by Autumn Lambrecht
We are excited to announce Pierce Public’s new choir teacher, Amy Barnhill.
Barnhill studied for five years at Wayne State College, studying K-12 vocal and instrumental music. The inspiration to choose music as her career choice was when the choir teacher told her she should enter the 5th and 6th grade choir. Despite not really enjoying music class, she now has a passion for music.
Originally Barnhill was from Omaha but moved to Norfolk.
Barnhill commented, “I love music, I like to pass it on whether I can get somebody more interested in it then that's great, but they don’t all have to like it, I just love what I do.”
When she first began teaching, she taught in two country schools for eight years. From there she taught one year at Battle Creek and took a five year break to open Midwest Music in Norfolk. After her break, she went and taught at Norfolk Junior High for three years, and before coming to Pierce, she was the choir teacher for three years at Norfolk Catholic.
She and her husband, Chad Barnhill, have two children; the oldest is Tanner who is 21, and Erin who is 18 and attending USD. In her free time, Mrs. Barnhill subs in for bands as a bass on the piano, does background vocals, and simply enjoys her time with friends.
Pierce is so excited to have her join our school family!
New Teacher In Town!
by Emma Risinger
“It’s like one big welcoming committee here,” said Mrs. Crystal Bradley, having received a warm welcome as Pierce Public Schools new elementary and seventh and eighth grade physical education teacher.
Originally hailing from Ponca, and now living in Hadar, Bradley received her K-8 elementary and K-12 physical education degrees from University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Prior to teaching at Pierce, she has held positions at Wolbach, Ewing, Elkhorn Valley, and Norfolk elementary in previous years.
This year however, she is very excited to make friends with both students and faculty here at Pierce. And even though she does not coach any activities herself, she looks forward to seeing students partake in their own extracurricular activities. She seems to be really enjoying the atmosphere here, as she said, “Everyone here is so helpful and welcoming.”
Pierce Public is happy to see she’s taking a liking to the school and hopes she continues to feel this way throughout the rest of the school year.
