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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Every month during the school year, 10/11 and Doane University honor a deserving teacher in our area with the Golden Apple Award. And for our first presentation of the 2025-2026 school year, we drove down Highway 34 to surprise a teacher at Seward High School.
Laura Goracke has taught Bluejay students for most of her 19 years as a teacher. This Cook, Nebraska native initially wanted to be a doctor, but switched to education halfway through her undergrad. She liked hanging out with kids and watching them get excited about science.
“When I was at the University, (there was) an opportunity to help out in the lab, and I was also teaching at Trinity Lutheran School,” Goracke said. “I discovered I liked hanging out with kids and watching them get excited about stuff so I switched over to education about half way through my undergrad.”
Kiersten Hill is a Seward mom who’s glad Mrs. Goracke taught her son Cooper. Kiersten says Mrs. Goracke has a gift for connecting science to the real world.
In her nomination letter, Kiersten wrote: “I can say with certainty that my son’s future looks brighter because of her guidance.”
“I think that Mrs. Goracke is one of those rare teachers that goes above and beyond,” Hill said. “She really develops a relationship with her students, and I think for me in particular, I’ve seen the difference that she has made in Cooper.”
Mrs. Goracke is not only a dedicated teacher, she’s a dedicated leader, as she heads up the Bluejay Leadership Team.
“For us, that’s sort of like the old student council, but we’ve rebranded it,” Seward High School Principal Scott Axt said. “She’s done a wonderful job, she’s increased membership to that, they’ve added a school store.”
“I tried out for our leadership team, and I didn’t make it last year,” Cooper Hill said. “But tried out and got in this year. She kind of encouraged me to try this year. She said you are so close Cooper just keep getting involved and getting out there. And I did and made leadership team this year.”
“When I took it over, we started to build capacity and having a bit of a larger vision,” Goracke said. It’s a little more community service centered, school centered, spirit centered; really trying to build momentum for school spirit. Cooper applying multiple times was a testament to his willingness to be a part of something bigger.”
And just like Cooper, Bluejay students gravitate toward Mrs. Goracke’s guidance, and she helps them to soar.
“Probably her greatest, strongest part is she is a great relationship builder with students,” Axt said. “She connects with all types of students. I don’t care what kind of background a student comes from, Mrs. Goracke is going to reach them.”
“I really get to see the ‘hope’ that is coming up in the future,” Goracke said.
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The 10/11 Golden Apple Award is sponsored by Doane University College of Education.(10/11 NOW)
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