Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) International named administrator Aaron Bredenkamp an Emerging Leader this year. Being an Emerging Leader means the person is identified nationwide as being progressive in their practice and on the pathway to being a stronger educational leader in the future.

Bredenkamp applied for this position and had to answer a variety of questions that allow the board to evaluate his leadership style.

A statement on the PDK website about the Emerging leader says, “These young leaders in education were selected from a competitive field of applicants on the basis of their outstanding professional accomplishments.”

Becoming an Emerging Leader is a rarity. Bredenkamp is the fifth educator from Nebraska to ever receive this achievement.

“I’ve always enjoyed having a nationwide network of educators I collaborate with,” Bredenkamp said. “This was just another opportunity to expand my network of educators I work with.”

Bredenkamp went to the Emerging Leader conference, Thursday, Dec. 4 through Friday, Dec. 5. At the conference, the 25 Emerging Leaders from across the country got together to talk about the current initiatives dealing with education and share their insight with the group.

Also at this conference, Bredenkamp had a chance to hear what other states are doing.

“Overall as a state, Nebraska is pretty black and white when it comes to education; we perceive things as either right or wrong,” Bredenkamp said. “I don’t think the rest of the nation is as conservative with that view as we are. It’s always nice to be in an educational place where you can openly discuss things, disagree with people. At the same time, it’s always great to hear what other states are doing.”