OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A Millard Public Schools teacher is making a change in her life by taking a lesson out of her own classroom. Emma Beck, a second grade teacher at Cather Elementary, wanted to make sure her students got a chance to be a part of it too.
"We talked about how making that promise is a big promise," Beck said. "I mean we're teaching about it, we're on a citizenship unit now."
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Office made a special ceremony Friday afternoon for Ms. Beck and more than 400 students, allowing them to watch her naturalization in the school's gym.
"We are mentors and play so many roles in their lives, I want them to know what I think it is to be a good citizen."
Ms. Beck's class got to be a part of the ceremony, telling the school about her journey to becoming an American citizen after moving to Nebraska from England.
This was a decision that took over 20 years to make.
"It had been in my mind and I wanted to include the school," Beck said. "It was important to help the students make a connection to what we're teaching because most of them will not see a ceremony like this."
Mrs. Beck had her husband by her side as she was given her certificate of citizenship.
"I've been here a long time, but this is where my family is and this is where we're raising our children," Beck said. "We teach citizenship, civics and government. I had a smile on my face watching them wave their little flags."
