Written by Aylee Herke
For over three decades, Brian Connick has been making a huge impact on the Algona Community School District and the community of Algona. Connick has been a tremendous asset to Algona CSD. He has been teaching at Algona since 1994. That is 31 years!
Connick began his coaching career early, as a high school junior, he coached baseball in Hampton, Nebraska, and then, while in college, he coached softball for the Kearney, Nebraska recreational league and the city all-star team. During his last two years at KSC, he coached football and track at Gibbon, Nebraska.
After completing college, his first teaching and coaching job was in Walthill, Nebraska, a small town south of Sioux City, Iowa. In addition to teaching social studies for a variety of grades, he was the head football and track coach, middle school basketball coach, golf coach, and the leader of the Renaissance program. In 1994 Mr. Connick joined the staff at Algona High School.
Mr. Connick has taught a variety of social studies courses throughout his 32 years at AHS. Connick says, “I am proud of the classes that we have started over the years and the opportunities that kids have had in regards to history.” In addition to teaching at Algona, he has coached football, basketball, and track at various levels over the years.
Connick says the most satisfying part about teaching is “seeing students become successful in their life and thinking I may have played a small role in that.” Mr. Connick always finds ways to keep his classes interesting and entertaining. He does a great job incorporating personal stories into the content. Students can tell how much he truly cares about each and every one. “It hurts my heart to think about the upcoming upperclassmen and how they will never get to experience one of his classes,” Aylee Herke states.
One thing Connick will miss the most about teaching is being around students.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Connick has been instrumental in helping with the Camp Algona POW Museum project. Through helping with exhibits, making artifacts last longer, and bringing in more personal experiences from veterans, he has helped make the museum a great place to visit and learn about history right here in Algona. He plans to continue helping with this organization in retirement.
In retirement, Connick plans on fishing, hunting, and spending time outdoors. This summer he plans on traveling to Alaska and will hopefully catch Yankees Spring training next year.
Thank you so much Mr. Connick!