NEBRASKA CITY – The Nebraska City School Board approved student teacher stipends in all subjects at its June 9 meeting.

The school’s student teacher agreement offers pay similar to a substitute teacher. Last year, the stipend was only available for secondary math and science and special education.

The board expanded the stipend this summer to include all subjects for the next school year.

Superintendent Mark Fritch said the last couple of years, Nebraska City has operated short four teachers. For the year ahead, the district is still looking for a special education and an elementary teacher.

Fritch said the student teacher stipend will help recruit talent. He says it is common for student teachers to be offered full-time jobs when positions are filled.

He said the expansion of the stipend is based on the reality that teachers in all subject areas are truly in high demand.

He said there are two reasons for student teachers and their institutions to work with the superintendent’s office for placement at Nebraska City.

The first is the stipend and the second is the teaching atmosphere.

Fritch: “This is a great place to learn how to teach. We have great teachers and a diverse student population, so you can really learn the skills of teaching.”