Boyd County Schools

Apprenticeships Open Doors for Students, Strengthen Workforces, and Support Communities

Across the country, apprenticeships are gaining momentum as a valuable pathway for people looking to enter the workforce, advance in their careers, or transition into new opportunities. With benefits for students, parents, employers, and educators, apprenticeship programs are becoming a key strategy for preparing the workforce of the future.

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway that allows individuals to gain paid work experience while completing structured classroom instruction. Designed by employers and aligned to industry needs, these programs offer hands-on learning that leads to in-demand skills and nationally recognized credentials.

A Pathway for Students Exploring Career Options

For students unsure about next steps after high school, apprenticeships provide real-world exposure to different careers. Participants can begin earning a salary immediately and often receive college credit or professional certifications along the way.

“Students get to test-drive a career while earning and learning,” said a career counselor at a local high school. “It’s an incredibly practical option for those who want to build skills without taking on student debt.”

Reassurance and Opportunity for Parents

Many parents are increasingly looking for reliable alternatives to traditional four-year college pathways. Apprenticeships offer a structured, supportive environment where learners gain job-ready experience backed by mentors, instructors, and employers.

For families, the “earn while you learn” model provides peace of mind—offering both financial stability and a clear path to long-term employment.

A Customized Talent Pipeline for Employers

Employers benefit significantly from apprenticeship programs by gaining a tailored, high-quality workforce pipeline. By training employees according to their specific needs, businesses often see improved productivity, higher retention, and stronger loyalty from workers.

In fields like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and skilled trades, apprenticeships are helping address critical talent shortages and providing companies with a competitive edge.

A Valuable Tool for Educators and Schools

Educators are increasingly incorporating apprenticeships into career pathways that combine classroom learning with practical experience. Schools and colleges partner with employers to align curriculum with industry standards, ensuring that what students learn is relevant to today’s job market.

By exposing students to hands-on workforce experiences, educators help them build confidence, technical skills, and a clearer understanding of career possibilities.

Registered Apprenticeships Ensure Quality and Access

Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs)—recognized for meeting national quality standards—provide structured training, progressive wages, and industry-recognized credentials upon completion. These programs serve the needs of all stakeholders:

• Students gain paid training and long-term career prospects.
• Parents have assurance that their child is entering a safe, guided, and high-quality career path.
• Employers can cultivate highly skilled workers trained specifically for their organization.
• Educators can connect learning with real-world application and expand opportunities for their students.

A Win for Communities

As apprenticeships continue to expand across multiple industries, they are helping strengthen local economies, support families, and build a resilient workforce. Whether you’re a student seeking direction, a parent exploring options, an employer facing labor shortages, or an educator building career pathways, apprenticeship programs offer meaningful opportunities for growth and success.

Learn More

Please join us for an apprenticeship informational meeting on Tuesday, December 2^nd at 6 pm at the Boyd County High School Band Room in Spencer.  Parents, students, employers and educators are all welcome and encouraged to attend.

Attention Parents!!!

The Christmas Program at Boyd County is coming right up!  In a new format this year, the K-12 Christmas Program will be held in the Spencer gym at 7:00 PM on December 15.  Below is the information needed for the program.  Please read the information carefully, but feel free to contact me at school if you have further questions.

Yours musically,

Mrs. Hausmann

1. K-4 students need to wear nice Christmas outfits/clothes.  I will provide the special head bands or hats they will be wearing as their costumes.
2. There are a few speaking parts. I will send them home as needed to the individual students who are assigned them.
3. K-4 students need to be in the gym at the assigned spot by 6:55 p.m.
4. 5th & 6th grade students will need to wear funny/ugly sweaters or sweatshirts as their costumes.
5. 5th & 6th grade students in band will need to be at the school by 6:30 with their instruments and get ready in the multipurpose room before sitting down with their instruments in the assigned area.
6. 5th & 6th grade students not in band will need to be at the school by 6:45 p.m. and sitting in their assigned area.
7. Jr./Sr. High Choirs and Bands will be at the school by 6:30 p.m. to warm up and sit in assigned areas.  Please wear NICE Dress clothes.

I ask that no one wear blue jeans or other casual attire.  This is a special concert and we want to present it that way.

On Tuesday, November 5, 2025 the Boyd County Sr. High Band Participated in the “Battle of the Bands” held at the Elkhorn Public School. Boyd County was one of seven schools who competed against each other playing pep band songs for three judges. There were three rounds and each school played one song for each round but could not play a song another school had played. Trophies given out for best fan base and best overall band. Other competitions that night included the highest trumpet note, the best trombone car rev, and best drumline.   We would like to thank all the parents and community members who came and supported us at our competition. The Boyd County Senior high band represented us well and had and an amazing performance. We look forward to being invited again next year.

The Boyd County Spartan Cross Country Team laced up their shoes for the final time this season at the Nebraska State Cross Country Championships on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Kearney.  The weather cooperated nicely staying around 55 degrees, light breeze, and a bit of precip in the air.  All the conditions were near perfect creating a fast state competition across all classes.

One hundred and twenty-one Class D girls took to the starting line for the first race of the day.  Junior Kaci Koenig competed in Kearney last season.  She bested her time on the course by 17 seconds and placed 60th with a time of 21:54.  Her efforts land her in the second place position on the Boyd County Top Ten State Leader Board.  Congratulations to Kaci on a season well run!

Next one hundred and thirty-one Class D boys lined up for their start, and what a start it was.  The pack was called back to the start line just a few moments after the start gun.  After regrouping, the real start finally happened.  Will Nelson, senior, competed well placing 23rd with a time of 17:23, placing him second on the Boyd County Top Ten State Leader Board.  Nelson currently holds the first, second, and seventh places on that board.  His time is only nine seconds off of his personal record (PR).  Senior Ethan Zeisler was on Nelson’s heels placing 24th with a PR time of 17:26. This year’s time was 34 seconds faster than his previous personal best at state.  It also places Zeisler third on the Boyd County Top Ten State Leader Board.  Zeisler also holds the sixth place position on the board.

Senior Issac Jensen competed for the third time at state, and ran his fastest time on the state course.  Jensen placed 95th with a time of 19:02.  Sophomore Aidyn Garwood placed 120th in his first state meet with a time of 19:37.17.  Senior Brook Strom raced right beside Garwood.  Strom placed 121st in his last state meet with a time of 19:37.18.

The boys team placed 9th overall which is one place higher than their 10th place in 2024.  They were the highest ranking team out of the district D3 teams that competed at state.  Congratulations to the boys for a successful season and great state meet!

The Boyd County Cross Country team would like to thank their parents, families, administrators, teachers, friends, and community members for their support this season.  The coaches would like to extend a special thank you to the senior parents.  It’s been a privilege to coach your runner. 

The Boyd County Boys Cross Country Team are repeat district team champions in District D3 cross country after their performance at the district meet on Thursday, October 16, 2025.  Will Nelson claimed the individual championship title and three other individual Spartan runners punched their ticket to the state meet. The Spartans drove through wind and rain as they traveled to Ainsworth, but when they arrived the rain stopped, the wind calmed a little, and the Spartans were able to compete on one of the best weather days of the season, and they made good use of it!

The top 15 runners at the district meet and top three over all teams earn their spot to compete in the state championship meet.  This is no easy task, but the Spartans’ hard work throughout the season paid off.  

The Lady Spartans lined up to race first.  Junior Kaci Koenig, who was an individual qualifier last season, earned her second trip to the state meet.  Koenig placed 13th overall with a personal record (PR) time of 21:48.  It’s also important to note that the Spartans competed in Ainsworth for their very first meet at the beginning of September, and Koenig took over two and a half minutes off her time in September!   And if that wasn’t enough to celebrate, Koenig also finds herself 3rd on the Boyd County Top 10 Districts Times list.  

Senior Jada Harmon laced up her shoes for her final cross country meet.  Harmon raced in for 30th place with a time of 25:47 which was not quite a season’s best for her but very close.  Harmon’s hard work and miles throughout the season helped her take a minute twenty seconds off her September Ainsworth time.  Harmon has been a dedicated runner and wonderful friend to many over her career at Boyd County.  We will miss having her as part of our team!

Junior Addi Janousek continued to improve her PR even at the last meet.  Janousek wrote sub 26, for sub 26 minutes, on her hand to start the race, and she came very close to meeting that goal.  26:04 was on the clock as Janousek placed 32nd and took a whopping two and a half minutes faster than September and 47 seconds off of last week’s time at NVCs!  That’s an amazing way to end the season!

The Lady Spartans placed fifth overall as a team.  Ainsworth, North Central, and ElkHorn Valley qualified as the District D3 teams for the state meet.

Next up, the boys stepped up to the line knowing that a top three team placing was likely and wanting a repeat as champions.  They anticipated tough competition from Ord and Creighton, and it was a good thing they were focused as not many points separated these teams.  The Boyd County Spartan Boys Team took their second consecutive district championship title with 19 team points.  Ord came in second with 24 points while Creighton was third with 36 points.  

Will Nelson, senior, had one of the best races of his career.  Nelson stayed patient running with two other runners for most of the race waiting to make his move, and with less than a mile left he did.  Patience paid off and Nelson earned the district championship title with a season's best time of 17:22, just eight seconds off his PR from state last season.  His time compared to September’s time was over a minute faster.  The top spot of the Boyd County Top 10 Districts Times now belongs to Nelson.  Nelson is a four year state individual qualifier.  He placed 14th at state last season.

Senior Ethan Zeisler punched his individual ticket to state for the third time.  Zeisler took a minute and ten seconds off his September time, earned himself a PR, and landed second on the Boyd County Top 10 Districts Times list. Zeisler placed 8th with a time of 17:56.  

Issac Jensen, senior, qualified as an individual this year for the first time.  Jensen ran with his team the last two state meets so he is familiar with the course, but it will be a little extra special this year knowing he was also an individual qualifier.  A PR and the 9th place spot on the Boyd County Top 10 Districts Times were also awarded to Jensen whose time of 18:28 earned him the 12th place medal. Jensen ran a minute and a half faster than he did at the September meet in Ainsworth.

Senior Brook Strom will race at state with the team for the third year in a row.  Strom took over 30 seconds off his time in September.  He placed 24th with a time of 19:27.  New to the sport this season sophomore Aidyn Garwood earned himself a PR with a time of 19:55 in 33rd place. Garwood’s time was almost a minute and twenty seconds faster than September.  These boys will run as part of the team at the state meet.

The Spartans will load up and head out on Thursday, October 23 at 1:00pm.  Come line the streets in Spencer to help send them off!  The state cross country meet will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Kearney.  The girls class D race starts at 12:00pm and the boys class D race starts at 1:00pm.  

Four championship awards were brought back to Boyd County on Thursday, October 9, 2025 as the Boyd County Cross Country team returned from the Niobrara Valley Conference Meet hosted by Ainsworth.  Will Nelson, senior, brought home the boys title with a time of 18 minutes flat.  7th grader Baleigh Koenig took home top honors in the junior high girls 1600m race with her personal best time of 6:37.  And 8th grader Case Reiman grabbed the first place medal in the boys junior high 1600m race crushing his personal best with a time of 5:40.  The fourth championship of the day was bestowed on the boys team.  For the third year in a row the Boyd County Varsity Boys Team won the NVC team title.  All those first places are impressive, but check out the rest of the runners. They were impressive too!

On the girls varsity side, all runners received all conference honors.  Junior Kaci Koenig continued to add to her medal count for the season. K. Koenig raced in the chute for the 6th place medal with her season’s best time of 22:42.  Senior Jada Harmon came closer to her personal record time placing 10th with a time of 26:03.  Junior Addi Janousek ran a personal best placing 12th with a time of 26:51.  The Lady Spartans placed 3rd over all as a team.

In the boys varsity race senior Ethan Zeisler raced in just behind Nelson.  E Zeisler finished in 3rd place with a time of 18:11.  Senior Issac Jensen has a great race, getting close to his personal best, placing 5th with a time of 19:40.  Sophomore Aidyn Garwood slipped in the chute for 7th place with a time of 20:08.  Brook Strom, senior, grabbed 11th place with a time of 20:28.  Freshman Hayden Warnke completed his first cross country season placing 16th with a time of 21:12.  And last but not least, senior Alex Lechtenberg completed his high school career in perfect fashion, setting a personal record!  Lechtenberg placed 22nd with a time of 22:36. Congrats Alex!  As mentioned above, the boys team grabbed the team title with just 9 points.  North Central was runner up with 19 points, followed by Ainworth with 25 points, and Niobrara/Verdigre with 39 points.

Following B Koenig’s example of winning a medal in the girl’s junior high race, the other four Spartan Ladies, all 8th graders, grabbed medals of their own. Savannah Zeisler placed 6th with a personal record time of 7:43.  Trina Bennet also had a personal record placing 7th with an 8:06 time.  Corinna Reiser had a personal record time of 8:25 earning herself the 9th place medal.  And Brynlee Janousek grabbed the 10th place medal with a time of 8:28.  

On the boys side both competitors obtained personal records as well. Reiman’s finish is mentioned above and 7th grader Gage Schochenmaier placed 13th with a time of 7:15.  Congratulations junior high on a great last race of the season!

The Spartans will lace up their running kicks for district action on Thursday, October 16th in Ainsworth.  Yes, Ainsworth again.  Girls varsity race starts at 4:00pm with the boys varsity to follow.  The district race is the state qualifying race.  Top 15 competitors will go to state as individuals and top 3 teams will qualify as teams.  Hope to see you there!