2023 Administrator Certificate of Recognition Awarded to Ranger Amber Kirkendall
We are honored to recognize Ranger Amber Kirkendall for her support of Nebraska Writing Project programs and partnerships with Homestead National Monument and the National Parks Service. Amber is nominated by Diana Weis of Disney Elementary, who has worked closely with Amber in building programs.
Amber has been instrumental in the No Such Thing as Free Land Grant, a project that is focused on telling more complex narratives of how land was redistributed via the US government through writing activities. The project involved collaborations between local teachers and rangers, curriculum that introduced students to more diverse perspectives of Nebraska History, and a culminating event at Homestead National Historical Park.
Amber stepped in to take over the administrative role on behalf of Homestead partway through the grant. In this position, she has worked tirelessly, crafting programming, collaborating with a range of partners, and often meeting about this project on evenings and days off. She has reviewed curriculum materials, led the development of the project website, and played a major role in organizing the Prairie Visions Writing Festival, which brought Nebraska students and teachers together with tribal partners and rangers at the park.
Nominator Diana Weis writes:
I first met Amber at Homestead in the tiniest room. I left, wondering how such a room could hold such big ideas. Her deep knowledge of history and its role in the immigration story was astounding. Even more impressive was how rich her knowledge of education, pedagogy, and learning is. She has a deep sense of how inquiry drives the thinking process, and truly searches for ways to optimize this with programming. I sat back, watching her and her Writing Project partner banter and dream about directions to their topic.
Amber’s skills and commitment to teaching are remarkable especially given that her position at Homestead holds no explicit education focus. Amber exemplifies what is possible when administrators and leaders value education and join with teachers in the Nebraska Writing Project.
Please join us in recognizing Amber Kirkendall with the Nebraska Writing Project 2023 Administrator Certificate of Recognition.