Nebraska Women in STEM talked to Emily Dein about teaching science and breaking stereotypes as a high school cheerleading coach.
Beatrice High School science teacher Emily Dean has always been drawn to science. “Since I was little, I had an innate interest in it,” she recalls. Early on, she imagined becoming a paleontologist or a marine biologist, but when she discovered she didn’t enjoy swimming, her path shifted. It was high school chemistry and watching forensic science shows like CSI that sparked her true passion. Emily pursued chemistry at Nebraska Wesleyan, initially planning to focus on forensics, but soon realized her calling wasn’t in the lab—it was in the classroom.
Emily has now been a teaching for 12 years, first at Lincoln East and now in Beatrice. Teaching gives her the variety and challenge she was seeking: “Every day is different because of the students. Even though I teach chemistry each year, the experiences and relationships are never the same.”
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges. Emily also works as a cheer and dance coach alongside teaching. As a coach for two female sports, she has encountered an array of stereotypes about what a woman in science should look like. Some colleagues questioned how she could embody both roles. But Emily never saw a contradiction. “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” she says. “There are layers to people. You’re not just a student, a cheerleader, or a science lover—you can be all of those things.”
Emily is a huge advocate for her students and her athletes. She believes that all young people have the capability to be leaders. “People put a stigma on what true leaders should act like. People don’t always fall into clear categories.”