After 16 years of teaching and coaching at Hastings Senior High, Ms. Ashley Speak will be leaving the school to go teach at Elkhorn North.
Coach Speak teaches in the Math department and has taught all math classes from Algebra 1 to Pre-Calculus.
“I am going to miss the relationships I have built. When you’re here for as long as I have, you know a lot of people, and a lot of people know you. I’ve had many students’ siblings and now some of their children. Relationships are key anywhere you go and I’ve built many relationships here at Hastings High,” Speak said.
Ms. Speak has been coaching the softball program at Hastings High since she joined the school 16 years ago. Additionally, she spent ten years as part of the girl’s High School Basketball program before transitioning to 8th-grade basketball, where she spent the next six years. Recently, Ms. Speak has been coaching soccer for the past three years, showcasing her versatility and passion for guiding young athletes toward success.
“I love to teach and I feel like coaching is just another branch of that. Helping kids succeed, when you get kids going out for extracurricular activities, they have a place here in the school. They become involved and take ownership of their school, and that’s key in good schools, students having ownership and enjoying wearing that tiger paw,” Speak said.
Three years ago, Ms. Speak took on the role of Head Coach of the softball team. That same year, the team went on to become state runner-ups, and then again the following year.
“My favorite memory here is making that championship game in softball three years ago. It was a bridge we could never cross. So finally making it to championship Friday was incredible,” Speak said.
Many of her students and players were sad to hear Ms. Speak will be leaving for another school. Hastings High losing Coach Speak means losing a teacher, but also a coach of three sports.
“I was shocked when I found out Coach Speak was leaving. She built a great program within the years she was here leading us to two-time state runners-up and having countless records broken. She helped make history. It will be sad watching her leave, but I know she will do amazing things at Elkhorn North,” senior softball player Samantha Schmidt said.
Throughout the last 16 years, Coach Speak has left a positive impact on many of her students and players.
“Coach Speak meant the world to me, she believed in me when no one else did. She always knew what was best for me and knew the player I could be. She pushed me hard every day and she always told me to get my head out of the dirt when I was going through a slump. I miss her every day and would kill to just be her player again. I appreciate everything she has done for me and she has impacted me greatly. She will do more amazing things in her new future,” Former student and player Kaelan Shultz said.
