Teacher and former student reunite as first-grade colleagues

OMAHA, Neb. —

Ariana Ortega spent her childhood at Crestridge Elementary, attending the school from kindergarten through sixth grade and participating in its dual-language program. Now, she’s returning to Crestridge as a first-grade teacher.

Even more special, one of her former first-grade teachers, Amanda Dowling, is now her colleague.

Ortega says first grade was one of her most memorable years and helped inspire her love of learning. She remembers Dowling as an enthusiastic teacher who made learning exciting.

Last school year, Ortega returned to Crestridge as a student teacher, working alongside Dowling. Now, the two will share first-grade students, with Ortega teaching English and Dowling teaching Spanish as part of the school’s dual-language program.

Ortega is even teaching in her old first-grade classroom.

“I actually teared up a few times because it was really exciting to find some of my own, like classwork in here, or like notes that we had written her from my grade,” Ortega said.

For Dowling, seeing her former student become a teacher is a proud moment.

“I wanted to tell everybody that Ariana was now my partner,” Dowling said. “She was my student all those years ago, but now she’s my partner.”

For Ortega, returning to Crestridge feels like coming home — and beginning the career she always imagined for herself.