Jacob Eitzen employs an unconventional approach to engage his students, often initiating class discussions with intriguing challenges such as guessing the top 10 downloaded apps on an iPhone from the previous year.

If students are disengaged, he uses a ‘commercial break’, an opportunity to inject some fun and recapture their attention.

In November, Eitzen, a Bellevue West High School Teacher and University of Nebraska at Omaha alumnus was presented with the Milken Educator Award, nicknamed the ‘Oscars of Teaching’ Award, and a $25,000 prize. Recognizing his exceptional teaching skills, the award highlights his dedication to fostering a dynamic learning environment. Eitzen, who earned a master’s degree in mathematics in 2018 through a scholarship from UNO, now leads the AP Statistics program at his school.

Bellevue West High School Principal, Kevin Rohlfs, nominated him for the award and said Etizen’s passion and compassion make him a good teacher. His innovative teaching methods are also key to his success.

Rohlfs said Eitzen’s classes begin with thought-provoking questions, such as the odds of winning the lottery or the economics of a monthly Panera “Sip Club” subscription, which immediately captivate his students.

For Eitzen, it isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about forging connections with each student.

“As a teacher, you’ve got to be a Swiss army knife of relationships just to know what is it that this kid needs versus that kid,” he said, highlighting the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of every individual.

Eitzen’s curriculum emphasizes not only mathematical reasoning but also effective communication of findings and conclusions. For example, he often utilizes scenarios from a TV series featuring legal proceedings to challenge students to decipher the underlying mathematics and articulate their interpretations.

“The math is going say some pretty powerful things, but it won’t mean anything if you can’t communicate about it,” Eitzen said.

Beyond the classroom, Eitzen extends his innovative approach to other roles, particularly as a leader of Bellevue West’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). He said the master’s program at UNO deepened his expertise in mathematics. It fueled his interest in leveraging spreadsheets and statistics to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of educational data, benefiting the staff and the school district.

Reflecting on the evolving landscape of statistics education, Eitzen underscores the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills.

“We need to continue to educate students who can rationally and critically think, analyze a situation and follow a set of process steps,” he said.

Debunking the notion of mathematics becoming obsolete in the era of artificial intelligence, he asserts, “It still needs a human to tell it what to do.”

As a father of three young children, Eitzen is driven by the belief that mathematics serves as the cornerstone for shaping the future. “We want to raise young adults to be the generation who will take our world and our communities to greater heights,” he said.

Kelsey Larsen, one of Eitzen’s first AP Statistics students, earned math and computer science degrees at UNO and is now employed by CATCH Intelligence as a data science consultant. She reflects on his impact.

“He shared personal and public examples of ways statistics could not only be applied to our own lives but also the world around us,” Larsen said.

Similarly, Nathan Walther, inspired by Eitzen’s passion for teaching, is now pursuing degrees in mathematics and education at UNO, aiming to follow in his footsteps.

“Through his actions, [he] showed how great it can be to be a teacher, and I wanted to be like that for future generations.”