NCSA Honors Retirees

Each year NCSA is sad to lose but happy to congratulate our members in education who are leaving the profession due to their long-deserved retirement. We are honored to share with you a glimpse of their future plans or just a bit of advice that only those who have worked with children and parents for so long can give!

Please Note: The NCSA staff made every effort to include all those individuals who responded to our request for information on retirements.

Dr. Mark Adler Superintendent Ralston Public Schools

It has been a privilege and honor to serve the students, staff, and communities of Petersburg, Elgin, Nebraska City, and Ralston for 32 years. I am very proud to say I am an educator in Nebraska.

Shane Alexander Superintendent Bloomfield Community School

Thank you to everyone who made my career a success. Thank your NCSA for your support and leadership!

Greg Appleby 7-12 Principal / AD Summerland Public Schools

Being a teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal for the past 34 years has been a great experience and I have enjoyed it immensely. I cannot imagine a more rewarding career to have chosen. I have been fortunate to work at great schools with amazing co-workers and kids. We have a great profession –Keep Up The Great Work.

Duane Arntt Principal Silver Lake Public Schools

I have been in education 37 years and been a principal in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. I have to say that Nebraska has the best educational system. That is a credit to all the staff, teachers, and administrators who work in our school systems. During my time in the Friend, Southern, and Silver Lake schools, I was blessed to be able to work with great people!! I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone!

Pam Barker Elementary Principal Lincoln Elementary Schools, Gering

During my 48 years in education, I have had the opportunity to work with many outstanding educators, parents, and students. It has been an honor and joy to serve beside so many great individuals at Gering Public Schools. I will miss the relationships built over the years and thank my family for their unending support. Continue your great work and take care!

Jodi Bensen Principal Scottsbluff Public Schools

I have been blessed to work alongside such a hardworking and dedicated State and District of individuals who value the WHOLE CHILD and serve as models of professionalism in their work with children. I believe it is in the power of the TEAM that ensures the needs of individual children are met while also being mindful of the personal support needed for staff. It has been an honor to SERVE with all of you!

Public Schools

Thank you for all the advice and insights through the years. Keep doing what is best for all children.

Teresa Bray Elementary Principal Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools

It has been an honor to work alongside the dedicated teachers, support staff, and administrators at Ashland-Greenwood Schools where the primary focus is always what’s best for students. After 32 years serving as elementary principal, I will treasure the wonderful memories and friendships I have made. I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life but will surely miss my AG family and interacting with students every day. I wish all of my colleagues the very best and know the important work of educating and caring for students is in good hands.

Debra Brownfield PK-12 Principal Riverside Public Schools

Good luck and keep up the good fight. It has been an honor to work with you all.

Bob Cook 6-12 Principal Superior Public Schools

It has been a great 30 years in education (8 yrs in teaching and 22 yrs in administration). I have been fortunate to stay at the same school for 22 years as an administrator. I have worked with some great people throughout my 30 years and have some great memories to take with me as I enter into retirement. I wish everyone the best of luck going forward in their careers. I also want you to know that when I started out in education I had hair on my head and much darker facial hair. Working in education will change you in more ways than you will ever realize! Good luck and God Bless.

Kurt Glathar Principal Lincoln Public Schools

I am filled with memories of the communities I served, the students their families, and the educational colleagues I worked with. I had the opportunity to work in Beatrice, Gretna, Louisville, Glenwood IW, and Lincoln Nebraska at Lincoln Northeast, the Science focus program, Arts & Humanities focus program, and The Career Academy. A special thank you to my wife Kim for supporting me throughout my career.

Jan Glenn CFO | ESU 3

I've been privileged to work at Elkhorn Public Schools and ESU #3 over the past 25 years. It's been a challenging and rewarding career and I've worked with wonderful people who have a heart and passion for education. A big offer of gratitude to you all. They say "It takes a village" and my work has been successful because of the collaborative work of the village!

Dr. Terry Haack Superintendent Bennington Public Schools

I would like to say thank you to all of my NCSA colleagues, both past and present. My career has been filled with tremendous joy and pride in being a part of a profession that truly makes a difference in the lives of many.

Dr. David Hemphill Assistant Principal Kiewitt Middle School, Millard

After 34 years of work with middle school students, (16 years teaching science & 18 years administration) I have come to the end of my education career. I am still too young to "retire" retire, but am fortunate that I can retire with a pension. I am actively looking for a full-time job to stay active, learn something new and earn some health insurance benefits. Best wishes to all of you still fighting the good fight! Remember, "Life is a tough teacher, she gives the test first and the lesson after."

Dr.

Linda Hix Director of Federal Programs Lincoln Public Schools

I have enjoyed my work in the field of education during the past 34 years as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. Thank you to all of my colleagues for their support and for the good work that will continue. A special thanks to NCSA for keeping us informed and growing professionally.

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NCSA Honors Retirees (Continued from page 15)

Dan Hoesing Superintendent Schuyler Community Schools

The past 43 years afforded me the privilege to work with educators in the classroom and in administration to impact the lives of students and families in many communities. Like many other professionals that have moved on from a position in public education, I will continue to foster relationships, build trust and belief in public education, and support continued efforts to meet the changing needs of our communities, schools, and students. Life is too short to live the same day twice. Focus on the future, learn from the past, and live in the present.

Jeff Hoesing Superintendent Randolph Public Schools

Feeling nothing but appreciation for the career experiences I've been blessed with the last 40 years. Especially important were the friendships gained through 25 years of involvement with the NCSA. I'm grateful to know so many of you.

Chuck Lambert Superintendent Bridgeport Public Schools

It has been an amazing 31 years in Nebraska and now the next chapter as a Kansas Superintendent begins.

Dr. Wendy McCarty Professor University of Nebraska - Kearney

In my years as the director of the Transitional Certification Program at UNK, it has been my pleasure and honor to have served school districts and their administrators across the state of Nebraska in finding unconventional ways to fill teaching positions. Working with the teachers who are coming into the profession from other career paths has been so rewarding! I encourage all school administrators and current educators to find the "buried treasures" in their own backyards--the future teachers who are already living and working in your communities who are poised to become the excellent educators our students deserve.

Julie Otero Superintendent

South Central Nebraska USD #5

I wrapped up my 36th year in education and what a ride it has been having worked in inner-city, urban public school districts to smaller, rural public school districts. I have always felt fortunate to have made the move back to Nebraska, when our kids were younger, in order to raise them in Nebraska public schools. Nebraska schools are top-notch nationwide and I have been blessed to be part of them for the past 25 years!

Deb Paulman

ESU 16 Administrator

ESU 16

I started my teaching career at Ogallala Middle School in 1980. Since that time I have taught in some of the largest (Millard Public Schools) and smallest school districts (Wallace) in Nebraska. In 2005 I accepted a position with ESU 16 as a staff development consultant and subsequently served as the Director of Teaching & Learning. For the past six years, I have served as the ESU 16 Administrator. I will forever be inspired by the caliber and quality of Nebraska's educators. I am honored to have been a part of the good work. Keep the faith!

R. Todd Porter Superintendent Southwest Public Schools

My 31 years in education in Nebraska and Iowa are filled with great memories, and I give thanks to those many professionals that helped me along the way. There are many challenges that face education in Nebraska, and my hope is that with a lot of hard work and a little luck the trend will change towards the positive. Good luck to all of you that continue your efforts in making education better for our students and co-workers in the state of Nebraska. It’s time for me to spend more time enjoying time with my wife and family and enjoy the beauty of the desert Southwest.

Joyce Rozelle Principal Rockwell Elementary School, Millard

I've enjoyed my 14 years in Nebraska and 33 years in education. I'm looking forward to retirement from education and my next journey as my family relocates to warmer weather.

Steven

Schrad Assistant Principal Ralston Middle School

Thank you Dr. Renee Jacobbsen and EustisFarnam Public Schools for giving me the opportunity to begin my administrative career as a building principal. Thank you, Dr. Marlene Uhing and Dr. Greg Barnes, and Seward Public Schools for my time serving your students and staff. Thank you, Dr. Bert Jackson and Dr. Andrew Rikli as being mentors to me when I was the middle school principal at Westside Middle School. Finally, thank you Dr. Ken Rippe and Dr. Mark Adler for allowing me to begin and finish my career in the Ralston Public Schools with 20 years of service as a teacher, asst. principal, and principal.

Dr. Greg Shepard Superintendent Cambridge Public Schools

God blessed me and my family with a 38-year career in education filled with many challenging and gratifying days in Nebraska and Illinois. Thank you to all at NCSA for your support over the years and continuous work for Public Education across the State. My dad was my greatest mentor and through his support and leadership, my 3 siblings and I were all successful teachers, coaches, and administrators. I also have to thank Dr. Virginia Moon, Doug Lewis, Dan Novak, and my brother Mark for all of their mentoring and assistance along the way. I hope that all current and future administrators will have great experiences as I did over the years and wish everyone the best!

Todd Strom Superintendent South Sioux City Schools

I am extremely grateful to have shared 33 years of collegiality in Nebraska Public Schools with such dynamic leaders! A fantastic group of humble men and women with exceptional skills and driven by the same, larger purpose of doing the best for our kids, our employees, and our communities! I plan to retire from the Superintendency, but likely not from leadership, as I have already transitioned into a credentialed executive coaching role in positive psychology and wellbeing. My wife and I have moved to our century-family farm near Bloomfield. I hope to continue to see all of you from time to time at administrative events and school activities or possibly work with you in my new role, but just not on snow day conference calls at 4 am trying to outguess the NWS anymore...lol. Blessings to you all and your families...we truly are the leaders of the greatest profession on Earth!

Mike Tomjack Principal Elkhorn Public Schools

Being a school administrator for the last 25 years in Nebraska and the community of Elkhorn has been a great honor. I will miss everything about it. To all my fellow administrators, keep up the great work!

Laurie Witte

Business Manager Ainsworth Community School

I have enjoyed working in the District office at Ainsworth Community Schools for 30 years. The Administration, Staff, and parents were great to work with. I would recommend if you are office staff NAESP has a great discussion board for all members to share ideas and solve problems with other office staff throughout the state.

Brad Wolfe Principal Westridge Middle School - GIPS

It has been rewarding to work with so many dedicated professionals serving students during my 38 years in education. I enjoyed the ride and look forward to continuing my journey down a different path. Colleagues, keep up the good work!

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National Convention Dates

July 10-12, 2023

July 12-15, 2023

Oct. 19-22, 2023

– National Harbor, MD

– Denver, CO

– National Harbor, MD

Feb. 15-17, 2024