By Denny Morrison
Sidney City Schools
One of the most fantastic things about Sidney City Schools is that we have something for every student, no matter their interests. And let me tell you, I’m incredibly proud of that. Sure, I could write pages about the impressive extracurricular clubs and programs we offer — each deserving of recognition. But today, I want to focus on the core of why we have schools in the first place: to prepare our young people for success in the real world.
In Sidney, we’re doing just that, thanks in no small part to our dedicated, professional staff who work magic in their classrooms every day. The support from the Sidney community and caring parents also makes an enormous difference. These articles, however, are about more than just school pride—I want to highlight what truly drives our success: good teaching, a strong curriculum, outstanding instruction, and, most importantly, student learning.
Recently, I shared about one of our high school science teachers, who had students solving problems and discussing topics like non-Newtonian fluids, viscosity, and thixotropic materials. I’ll be honest, those concepts flew right over my head! So, I decided to visit a classroom that I thought I could wrap my head around a little better — Whittier Early Childhood Center, Sidney City Schools’ preschool.
I stepped into the classrooms of Carrie Lament and Chelsae Wise, and all I can say is: WOW. I was blown away. These two are masters at their craft. From the moment I walked in, it was clear that they not only set clear learning goals for their students but also modeled the behaviors and attitudes they wanted to see.
What I saw was nothing short of impressive — whole-group instruction mixed seamlessly with small groups and one-on-one learning. They created an environment where the kids felt safe and excited to learn. They celebrated successes, making each student feel valued. And the best part? The students didn’t even realize they were learning. To them, they were just having fun!
When the kids answered correctly, it was hard to tell who was more excited — the child or the teacher. Carrie and Chelsae truly care about each of their students, and it shows. Their classes were a well-oiled machine, with time spent on table work, circle time, small group instruction, choice time, and a fun, engaging wrap-up activity. Each student worked at their own pace, learning letters, numbers, shapes, and colors in centers full of creative activities. One moment they were exploring sand, Play-Doh, and cooking utensils; the next, they were in a calm, orderly line, ready for their next station.
During circle time, every child greeted their classmates and reviewed the days of the week, months of the year, numbers, and letters. It was a joy to see how involved and eager these kids were. By the time I left, I felt genuinely happy for them — having teachers like Carrie and Chelsae is a gift.
As for me, I was exhausted! How they manage to keep that energy and enthusiasm day in and day out is beyond me. That night, I went to bed early. My “get up and go” had gotten up and went!
Denny Morrison is a lifelong educator with a career spanning roles from teacher and principal to superintendent and school board member. Now serving as the Family & Community Engagement Coordinator for Sidney City Schools, Denny is dedicated to sharing the many positive stories that emerge from our classrooms, highlighting the impact of education on students and the community.
