Ask any senior, and they can attest to the many changes that have taken place at MN since they were a freshman. A new teacher, an addition to the building, or a new school policy are yearly modifications at any school. But how do these changes look in the eyes of longtime teachers or faculty who now teach at the school they once called home?

MN is home to many former student faculty and longtime teachers who have witnessed and helped shape the school and community into what it is today. From new wing additions to new AP class offerings, they have experienced it all firsthand.

One such Spanish teacher, Amy Roberts, graduated from MN in 1999.

“It has been pretty amazing to see the school with a new set of eyes and experiences.  It has evolved a great deal in our student offerings and programs. Our student population is also far more diverse than in the late 90s,” Roberts said.

Chemistry teacher Daryl Jahn has taught at MN for 30 years and has been pivotal in developing the science department and course offerings.

“When I started, we had one AP science class, AP Biology. I pushed the district for about five years to add an AP Chemistry class. After that, we had an explosion in the number of AP classes we offered,” Jahn said.

Another longtime teacher, Julia Kolander, started the Latin program within Millard, which has been growing ever since. Latin is now offered at the AP and IB levels.

“I have always enjoyed the challenges of helping scholars find their best way to learn, and I still enjoy differentiating my lessons for all levels of scholars,” Kolander said.

These diverse offerings and passionate teachers have made an impact on the lives of countless students, and are the reason some return to teach.

“I teach US History. And yes, that’s the class I took in high school that made me want to be a teacher. My teacher was Mr. Eicher, who is now in the Hall of Fame for MNHS,” history teacher David Diehl who graduated from MN in 1999 said.

Roberts also said that her high school experience inspired her to teach. She now teaches classes similar to those she took in high school.

“MN was high on my list because I appreciated the rigor and expectations that were upheld during my time as a student.  Returning to MN was still a difficult decision to make because I loved the people I worked with at my previous school,” Roberts said.

With passing time also comes the advancement in technology, which has greatly impacted the educational experience.

“When I started teaching, the internet was just starting out. In science, schools were just beginning to have computers that could have probeware to collect data for experiments, and graphing calculators did not exist yet. All of my notes were handwritten and then projected on the overhead machine. Today, I have equipment that rivals the equipment they are using in college labs,” Jahn said.

Of course, improving technology is a double-edged sword and has positively and negatively affected students. Millard now has a one-to-one student-to-device ratio, which is very different from the past.

“We used to have computer labs with massive desktop computers and many of us in my peer groups used pagers to communicate with landlines. I believe typing was a required course, and laptops, and email communication were just emerging!” Roberts said.

Along with technological shifts come building renovations and additions, as well as classroom restructuring.

“The building used to be divided into hallways by grades. The 2100s were for freshmen, the 1100s were for sophomores, the 2600s were for juniors, and the 1600s were for seniors. It was ‘the senior hallway’ and when we had spirit weeks each grade would decorate their hallway,” Diehl said.

Over time this setup shifted and departments are now located in the same wings. Three large renovations also took place, including moving the library and cafeteria, creating the Mustang Center, renovating the entrance, and adding the lecture halls.

“There have been many changes to the area around the school also. The addition of turf to the soccer field and baseball field. The building between the soccer field and baseball field, and the renovation of the softball area,” Jahn said.

Needless to say, all of these improved facilities have allowed students access to countless opportunities. However, despite all these changes, some aspects of MN have always stayed the same.

“Students have, in many ways, stayed the same. Even though they may have their unique differences, teenagers these days still have a difficult, scary world to navigate and they need caring, competent professional teachers to believe in them and push them to be their best. That hasn’t changed and I love that it’s the case,” Diehl said.

Jahn is completing his final year at MN before retiring in the spring and is grateful for the experience.

“30 years ago when I moved back to Nebraska, I could have taught at any metro school I wanted. I chose to teach at Millard North and I am very happy and blessed to have made that decision. I love this school, I love what we do for students and I am very proud to have been a part of this school,” Jahn said.

Clearly, despite ups and downs, MN has always had amazing teachers who have inspired students to follow their dreams;  leading some right back to their high school.