“Andre Watts, has done a great job of getting the students to think outside the box when it comes to art,” said his nominator. Even with art classes happening in classrooms, Andre is still sharing student artwork for all to enjoy! Andre is #PLCSGreat!

Beth Payne has been nominated by a parent for helping her children. “Due to Beth, our children have made huge progress in their academics and social skills with others because of the skills she has taught them,” her nominator said. Beth is #PLCSGreat!

Lorri Soucie has been nominated for "being able to pick me up when I need encouragement, she keeps me informed when issues arise, and she ensures things in our building continue to run smoothly and efficiently. We couldn't accomplish what needs to be done every day without the help and support of Ms. Soucie," her nominator said. Lorri and all of our administrative assistants are #PLCSGreat!

Kelsey Dayan was nominated because she exemplifies patience, creativity, and flexibility when working with staff and all students. “She seeks out opportunities to build her capacity as an educator, and seeks out opportunities to help guide those around her,” her nominator said. Kelsey is #PLCSGreat!

Kristin Deicke has been nominated by a co-worker for always having her students’ best interest at heart. “Kristin took a band program at her four schools and turned them into a strong community for students to belong to, encouraging everyone to join band and seeing their potential,” said the nominator. Finding new methods of teaching students and making sure that no one is ever turned away from an playing an instrument, Kristin truly is #PLCSGreat!

Spencer Choquette has been nominated by multiple staff members for going above and beyond to make all students and staff feel welcome and safe during these times. Spencer surprises staff with jeans days, snack carts, and covering recess duty. “He makes sure to check in with staff one on one to see how our day is going or how he can help us out.  He is constantly talking to the kids and is making an amazing effort to learn all of their names.  His positivity is contagious which is so helpful during all of the uncertainty this year continues to bring.  We are so lucky to have him here at AG,” said the nominators. Spencer is #PLCSGreat

Tyler Powers has been nominated by a co-worker for filling in when help was needed. Mr. Powers volunteered for a last minute request to fill in for a substitute day custodian, even after he got done with his normal shift at 11:30 pm the night before. Mr. Powers then completed his first ever day shift in a new building the next day at 6:00 am, “This was his first response to a last minute duty call, but I know it won’t be his last because Tyler is #PLCSGreat!”

Nancy Gibb has been nominated by a parent for her kindness, caring and dedication to students. “Nancy has made my child feel safe at school when she was so nervous about the start of a new year, she made sure my daughter had fun roles to play in the classroom that made her feel important and welcome,” the parent said. Nancy has also sent photos to parents during spirit days to keep parents involved with their child’s education. Nancy is #PLCSGreat

Brittany Hoffman has been nominated for her willingness to support students or staff whenever possible. Brittany is willing to take home clerical work, create activities for students on alternative assessment and gather data for the students as well. “She is always patient and calm, even in the toughest of situations,” her co-worker said. Brittany and our paraprofessionals are #PLCSGreat!

Lloyd Mathews has been nominated by parents for going above and beyond. When their child was sick, Mr. Mathews checked on the student every day, not only asking about his health but provided resources and assignments for the student to work on while he was absent. “We can’t thank Mr. Mathews enough for being #PLCSGreat,” said the parents.

Brian Burden has been nominated by a co-worker for his willingness to go out of the way for students and staff. When Brian was installing a sensory swing, he also took down a nearby whiteboard to ensure that students were safe when using the swing, and moved the whiteboard to a new spot and came back the next day to paint where it used to be. “I appreciate Brian and his can do attitude,” said his nominator. Brian is #PLCSGreat!

Allie Elsasser has been nominated by a parent for her patience and kindness with students. Allie spends time getting to know each one of her students, and she finds ways to make each student feel special everyday. “Her passion for teaching shows with every email and SeeSaw post to her students’ families,” the parent said. Allie is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is #PLCSGreat: Jayme Wiederin has been nominated by a co-worker for helping her students achieve excellence through positive reinforcement. “Jayme celebrates the success of her students- the big and small. She recognizes that success for each student looks different, and takes the time to celebrate those steps with her students and their families.” Jayme is #PLCSGreat!

Terry Hoch has been nominated for being the “go to guy” in the building. His co-worker said he is always on the move and is willing to help anyone when they need him, no matter how busy he is and helps in the best way he can. Terry and all of our PLCS secretaries are #PLCSGreat!

Erin Seretta has been nominated for her ability to solve problems with students and staff with her “can do attitude.” She supports and problem solves with teachers during their PLC times and “is the go to person for so many in the remote learning program while simultaneously being a librarian and instructional tech coach in her buildings.” Erin is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Joe Linhart has been nominated by a co-worker for taking on evening custodial duties while another co-worker has been on leave, in addition to his day shift areas and football games. “We consider Joe to be the ultimate team player,” said his co-worker. Joe and the PLCS custodial staff are #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Anne Albracht has been nominated by a student who says they always feel supported by her. "She not only cares about our school work, but cares for us as people."

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Mike Costello is being nominated for being someone who is never afraid to jump in and help. He is described as being kind and helpful to anyone who needs a hand. 

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Mandy Condrey has been nominated by a co-worker who says she has been a constant for PLCS through all of the changes during the past year. She is described as always friendly and doing her best to help everyone.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Shannon McConnell is nominated for doing an excellent job at the health offices at Portal Elementary and keeping track of students who are out of school. She goes about her work with an excellent attitude and takes all challenges in stride.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Caren Starlin has been nominated for her positive attitude and ability to handle a busy health office with grace. “She asks great questions to make sure LVMS students are safe and she is always encouraging them to wash their hands. Her work ethic and competency make both health offices run smoothly.”

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Megan Nebel has been nominated by a parent who says time and time again Mrs. Nebel has been there for her child as an educator, mentor, and all-around amazing listener. This parent says Mrs. Nebel always has great advice for her child and has helped her gain confidence.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Lori Kupfer has been nominated for always coming to work with a smile on her face. “She gives you her full attention even while she is organizing the whole school.” She is described as someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty for staff and students.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Collin Mangus has been nominated by a parent who says he has made a tremendous impact on students this school year. Mr. Mangus has done everything he can to ease the transition to middle school for his 7th graders. He makes the kids laugh every day and goes above and beyond for each student. 

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: John Behounek was nominated by a parent for recognition for making their family feel calm this school year by reiterating what he would be doing to keep every child safe. This parent says that Mr. Behounek goes out of his way to make sure their daughter feels safe and included. “Mr. Behounek is not your average teacher and needs to be celebrated,” the parent said. He is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Joe Rohacik has been nominated by a student for recognition! The student says Mr. Rohacik is always so helpful. He takes time to make sure the students understand what he's teaching. "He's always making jokes and smiling. Yearbook is always so much fun with him!" the student said.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Lauryn Hilger, a Special Education teacher at G. Stanley Hall Elementary , is being recognized for being a team player with a can-do attitude. She not only volunteered to teach remote learning, but also pitched in to help the GSH team get ready for in-person school. She helped to move furniture to rooms, made adaptive materials, and got individual supplies prepped for small groups. Her co-workers are proud she is representing GSH so well.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: A parent nominated Caitlin Swoboda to give her credit for doing such a great job during her first year of teaching, although the year was not an ordinary school year. “She did not let any of that stop her from making sure all of her little friends and their families were where they needed to be. She reached out frequently to ensure we all understood and that if the kids just wanted to get on zoom and see her she made herself available,” the parent said.

Her nominator went on to explain that the parents appreciate her for caring and making sure the school year was as memorable as if it were a normal school year. Caitlin is #PLCSGreat.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: A coworker has nominated PLHS Math Teacher Victor Icenogle for helping create a positive environment within the math department. “Victor made a math team group Text and kept us all connected and laughing since March.” His nominator went on to explain Victor posts informative and comical information that they all appreciate.

“It’s nice to have a bond with the people you work with and even better when you feel like they are your work family. I appreciate the effort Victor made to keep our Math family connected during quarantine and all summer.”

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: A parent has nominated both Hickory Hill Elementary Special Education Paras Nancy Balletta and Stacy Phelps for making her child feel loved, respected, and supported. They work to keep up a routine and consistency for her child. The nominator's child even refers to Balletta and Phelps as “teacher best friends”. Both Balletta and Phelps are always giving their best to their students and are described as “the best support team”.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: PLHS teacher Dave Herbener is recognized for being someone who is a great listener, an advocate for staff and students, and a great representative of all that is GREAT about Papillion La Vista Community Schools. The individual who nominated him went on to say the following:

“He represents certified staff as the President of PLEA and does so with grace and understanding. He willingly gives of his time and talents to make this a great place to work. We are very lucky to have someone like Dave Herbener in PLCS!”

Ronna Kutlas is recognized for the work she has done this summer to make sure materials and supplies are ready for teachers when they return to school. Her nominator says Ronna has worked on and off through summer to order materials, check in supplies, and reorganize storage space to accommodate new science materials. Ronna has also kept up with new student registration, parent emails, and phone calls. She has been a huge help to Principal Mary Derby with keeping up with updating the safety handbook, preparing staff notebooks, prepare class lists and other summer tasks. “She always demonstrates PLCS Greatness in all her work!” her nominator said.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Special Education Teacher Kim Gess at Carriage Hill Elementary. A parent nominated Kim who is described as working very hard to make sure her child was getting the most out of school. “This was the first year he came home from school talking about how much he liked school! She loved my son and it was so nice knowing that my son had someone at school that cared for him as much as she does,” the parent said. When remote learning started, this parent explains that she appreciates that Kim continued to work with her child to make sure he was doing well with online learning.

Kim is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to kindergarten teacher Michaela Overby. A parent nominated her because she helped her child who was having a hard time at school this year. “When COVID came along, Mrs. Overby went above and beyond to help my son with his work and getting him more involved.” The parent says she nominated Mrs. Overby because “it’s always great to have a teacher to be able to have your child’s best interests and hear you concerns. There are not enough words to explain what a great teacher she truly is.”

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Today’s recognition goes to the Athletic Trainers at both high schools: Marcus Hurrington and Shyanne Saladino, who were nominated by several individuals.

 “We are very fortunate to have Marcus Hurrington on the Monarch Team and Shyanne Saladino on the Titan Team. They are two very dedicated individuals who have they opportunity to work with many of our students through difficult times. They work collaboratively with one another, teachers, and coaches to advance our athletic training practices in PLCS,” their nominators explained.

 Marcus is described as constantly going above and beyond working with student-athletes, which make up around 40% of PLHS. “His commitment and pride to PLHS is second to none,” his nominator said. “Shyanne has also noted that Marcus has been an excellent mentor for her. We appreciate Marcus’s professionalism and dedication to serving our students!”

 Shyanne is described as the ultimate professional and develops great relationships with teachers and student-athletes. “Shyanne communicates extremely well and has our student's best interest at heart. She wants to get them "back in the game" as soon as possible realizing that their health and long-term ability to participate as priority number one.”

 Papillion La Vista Community Schools is proud to be able to work in conjunction with UNMC to have these two incredible resources as our full time Athletic Trainers.

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Instructional Facilitator Kristin Delehant who is described as diligently serving countless secondary teachers in her role. “Teachers can rely on Kristin to facilitate highly-productive toolbox sessions & to process any questions they may have regarding curriculum, instruction, or assessment,” her nominator said. She is described as someone who is a MAP expert who can help any group with distilling their data to manageable and usable information as well as helping boost student performance when it comes to the PLCS ACT Prep Course development. “PLCS is fortunate to have Kristin in this district leadership role!”

Spotlight a staff member here: http://bit.ly/2m1ZHJJ

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to PLHS Band Teacher Tim Keller. He was nominated by a former student who says Mr. Keller takes time to get to know each of his around 200 students very well. “He puts in an exceptional amount of time beyond what is required to help the Monarch band program be a life-changing experience for each student,” the nominator said. The former student went on to say their four years of high school was memorable because of Mr. Keller and gave countless others a reason to be excited to come to school every day.

Tim Keller is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Portal Elementary Principal John Strohm. He is a first year principal and is described as doing amazing things for Portal Elementary and the community already. “He is compassionate, understanding, and a leader. He is also very positive and always does what’s best for kids and families,” his nominator said.

While students and staff were still in school, Principal Strohm wasn’t afraid to step into multiple school roles including nurse, janitor, paraprofessional, and teacher. His specialty is described as being in the classrooms building relationships with kids. When the pandemic hit, relationship building was still a priority for him as he was on Facebook live checking in with students and providing guidance daily. He even made videos to share with students who will be transferring in to help them feel more welcome.

The relationship building doesn’t end with the students. “He is always letting his staff know that he’s available at anytime and shows that he truly cares,” the nominator said. “As a teacher of 20 years in the district, he truly represents greatness and deserves to be recognized for all the amazing things he does (and it’s always with a smile).”

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Carol Nielsen, the secretary at Papillion Middle School. Her nominator describes Carol as a life saver in their building. “She quietly works her tail off in the office. She is not only Mr. Johnson’s right hand man (or woman) this summer working in the office, answer calls but she does it all year long. She is an incredible administrative assistant who will do anything for you,” her nominator said. Carol is described as someone who doesn’t like attention, but her nominator wants her to get the acknowledgement and recognition she deserves for doing an incredible job. Carol is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Papillion La Vista High School Art Teacher. A parent nominated, describing him as an OUTSTANDING art teacher, especially during remote learning. “Mr. Blevins did not give his students the idea that honing their art skills was any less important than math or English. Mr. Blevins gave students meaningful, interesting assignments and provided feedback,” this parent said. The parent explained that Mr. Blevins lessons gave her daughter a significant morale boost during a time of isolation and anxiety.  “She was encouraged to think in a different way and use her creative mind which gave her something to look forward to and improved her mood (much needed!). Mr. Blevins demonstrated greatness during a time when it would have been easy and even understandable for him to do less,” she said. Mr. Blevins is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Information Technology Specialist Michael Kelly who was nominated by someone who says he did a ton of work on the technical side of the backend of systems to make the switch to google possible. “It definitely wouldn’t have been smooth without his efforts” his nominator said. “He put in a ton of time last weekend to make the magic happen!” Thank you Michael! You are #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to PLSHS math and dual enrollment teacher Karlie Hermsen. Karlie was recently chosen out of all of the UNO Dual Enrollment faculty as UNO’s Outstanding Dual Enrollment Teacher. She was nominated by several peers, past students, and colleagues from other school districts. She was chosen because of her high level of professionalism, teaching abilities, and the impacts she has made on her students. The UNO committee was particularly impressed with the work she has done in the classroom to provide a highly engaging and impactful experience for her students. Way to go! She is #PLCSGreat

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition today goes to Technology Project Facilitator Matt Moore. Matt helped facilitate the project of moving from Outlook to Google and worked with different groups/stake holders to coordinate everything. He also helped to oversee the process of transferring PLCS staff/student email accounts (and the emails/folders in those accounts) to Gmail. Thank you Matt!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition goes to Instructional Facilitator Jenna Reeh! Jenna has been instrumental in helping to prepare the PLCS staff for the transition to Google products. She created a majority of the tutorials and materials for training.Thank you Jenna! She is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition on June 17, 2020 went to PLCS Information Technology Director Lucas Bingham for all of his work in leading PLCS in the transition to Google products. He has been working tirelessly to make sure the transition goes off without any issues. The switch will allow better collaboration, more reliability, will be easier to use, and will provide access to training and professional development. Thank you Lucas for all you do!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Recognition on June 15, 2020 went out to the PLCS Technology Team. The district officially switched from Outlook to Google. The team has done a great job preparing everyone with resources and help. They are offering several ways to help staff with google support during this transition! Thank you for all you do!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Elizabeth Lyle, a fifth-grade teacher at Prairie Queen Elementary, is nominated for having great relationships with her students. A parent nominated her saying, "Ms. Lyle goes above and beyond in a regular classroom setting, but her dedication to her profession and her students has never been more clear since the school closure." The parent said her daughter was concerned about not seeing her teacher again once school shifted to remote learning. The parent reached out to Ms. Lyle about the issue and within minutes she replied to have her daughter help her test a zoom call. "Seeing my daughter after that zoom call spoke volumes to me about the connection she has with Ms. Lyle. Just being able to see her and talk to her eased her anxiety and gave her the strength she needed to continue moving forward," the parent said. This parent is forever grateful to Ms. Lyle for taking time to maintain her connection with her students through phone calls and mail. 

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Anne Fraser is being recognized for walking in everyday with a smile and going out of her way to make others laugh. Her nominator describes her as someone who creates a classroom that is welcoming and fun. 

"She truly cares about all of her students and works hard to create an engaging classroom," her nominator explained.

Anne Fraser is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: HR Specialist Melissa Quesenberry is recognized for being patient, knowledgeable, kind and extremely helpful. She takes time to answer questions and explains difficult topics in a very simple easy to understand way. 

Her nominator said Melissa's sense of calm and can-do attitue helped her during a stressful situation. 

"She knew exactly what to do to help me and I am so appreciative. Thank you Melissa!" her nominator said. 

Melissa is #PLCSGreat!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Carriage Hill Elementary teacher Megan Calfee has been nominated by a parent who appreciated the level of support her child received from Megan Calfee last school year. The parent says she went out of her way to help her child improve his reading skills by going out of her way to find things that were important to Parker, so he could enjoy reading more. When school was switched to remote learning, Megan continued to go above and beyond for this student by sending weekly letters and taking a true interest. "Thankful for everything she is doing to help my child be successful in school," the parent said. Way to go!

PLCS Staff is PLCS Great: Hickory Hill Principal Monica Thompson is recognized as someone who truly demonstrates, leads, and fosters #PLCSGreat. Her nominator said, "We are blessed to have her as part of the Papillion LaVista Schools Community and proud of her leadership at Hickory Hill."

Parents and staff loved her Facebook Live morning meetings during remote learning. She used the broadcast as an opportunity to talk through emotions, do birthday shoutouts, bring on guests, share a story, and even tell a few dad jokes. Principal Thompson is #PLCS Great!

Jackie Torczon is nominated for recognition because of her way of going the extra mile for not only every student in her classroom, but those outside her classroom, and for parents/staff. Her nominator described Torczon's energy level and skill set as the same level of a "super hero". She is described as being a teacher who always encourages her students to learn more and work hard. The nominator went on to say, "If something is getting in the way of their learning, she will do everything she can to provide what is missing. This looks like eating lunch with students every day, providing transportation to and from clubs, buying books for students at the book fair, and even purchasing clothes for some. Her heart is evident in her service to others."

She is #PLCSGreat!

Allyson Judson is nominated for recognition because as the PLSHS Special Education Deptartment Chair, she exemplifies what a true leader is, someone dedicated to the success of others. Her nominator said that "Allyson Judson is #PLCSGreat personified." Allyson enters every day willing to breakdown barriers in order to facilitate the growth of all students and staff she comes into contact with. Her nominator went on to say, "She fosters the development of new and innovative ideas. She celebrates victories no matter how small, and she supports when life doesn’t deal kids a fair hand. She is a voice for students and families when they feel unheard." She is #PLCSGreat!

Portal Elementary Special Education Para Gayla Ezra has been nominated by several people for special recognition. She is described as someone who goes above and beyond to help students and staff. Gayla Ezra enthusiastically has been participating in the PLCS food program. During the school year, she made sure to hop on Zoom to work with students in big and small groups. "It is so amazing to see her connection with students. Gayla is #PLCSGreat," one nominator said. She even went out of her way one day to buy lunch for custodians. "She always displays a positive attitude with staff and students and always has a smile on even with a mask covering it up."

Stacie Leonovicz, 6th grade teacher at La Vista West Elementary, worked to make the end of the school year special for her 6th graders even though they were missing out on special activities because of COVID-19. She wanted to keep morale up so she encouraged her students to power through the last two weeks of school with a gift card incentive. Her nominator explained: "Using the money she would have normally spent on her class's end of the year party, Stacie bought gift cards to her student's favorite stores. Student's names were entered into a raffle drawing to win these gift cards for attending Zoom meetings and completing assignments on SeeSaw." Stacie Leonovicz is #PLCSGreat!

PLHS Social Studies teacher Joe Pilakowski or "Coach P" has been nominated for sending encouraging messages to the runners year-round. He is described as a coach that is welcoming of all skill levels and sets students up with realistic, achievable goals, and encourages them to even step it up a notch. The nominator went on to say, "He appropriately shares information about his successes and struggles in life and turns them into learning opportunities for his athletes. He also offers himself as a sounding board for difficulties athletes may be having in sports, academics and their day-to-day happenings." Coach P is described as someone who offers a safe and inclusive atmosphere for student athletes. He is PLCS Great!

Tara Heights Elementary 2nd grade teacher, Heather Svehla, is being recognized as “PLCS Staff is PLCS Great”! She was nominated by a parent and they said “During the closure, Heather continues to be an exemplary teacher. Heather, from the start, has found ways to support her students through different uses of technology. She is one that does not consider herself 'advanced' with technology, yet she has found ways to connect with her students and families.” Thank you Heather!

Portal Elementary 5th grade teacher, Kara Garcia, is being recognized as “PLCS Staff is PLCS Great”! Ms. Garcia is described as caring, silly, fun, energetic, positive and more. Kara was nominated by a parent that said “Ms. Garcia has helped my daughter love school again! She goes above and beyond by staying on zoom to help my daughter with math, reading or just talk about how they are doing.” Thank you Kara!

Papillion Middle School Special Education Teacher, Miranda Bush, is being recognized as “PLCS Staff is PLCSGreat”! She is described as going above and beyond for her students during this difficult time. She was nominated by a parent and they said “She has been a bright light and the highlight of my son’s day in quarantine. She has arranged zoom meetings for students so they can all get together and play a game." Thank you Miranda!

Golden Hills Elementary teacher Jenny Keller is being recognized as "PLCS Staff is PLCS Great"! She is described as going out of her way to make sure students are connected and learning to the best of their ability. Her nominator went on to say, "She has driven books over to students homes so they are able to read what they want. Another positive aspect is that Jenny will work with such a positive attitude, always saying, 'We'll get what we can and make the best of it'. Her positive attitude is such a boost!" Thank you Jenny!

Longterm substitute Jamie Vance, had only spent five days in the first grade classroom she's subbing in before school buildings closed due to COVID-19. Her nominator describes Vance as a total pro during this time of new learning.  The nominator went on to say: "The first day of class after spring break, Mrs. Vance sent a welcoming email along with many sites and resources that she had prepared for the students. I can only imagine that she must have worked the entire spring break! Each week she has used SeeSaw to make the learning very manageable and engaging for the students. She is quick to respond and praise the students for their work. She has conducted several class zooms and does a great job navigating all of the bouncing 1st graders on the screen. Each student is celebrated and has sharing opportunities. Her love for her students yet complete control of the classroom is so impressive! I'm so glad that Ms. Vance is going to be an official 1st year teacher here in PLCS next year!"

Kay Lyman, a Special Education Para at Portal Elementary and is described as someone who personalizes lessons for her students with special needs to make sure materials are at their level. For example, for one student she knew the material would be difficult, so she customized the lesson so the student could create artifacts that would represent what the student needed to learn from that time period.  Her nominator went on to say, "The student was able to explain his learning to his mom, who quickly had tears! Kay went above and beyond, even purchasing materials herself so that she could enhance the learning of this student! Kay never brags about the extras she does for students, she just puts their learning first! Thank you Kay!" #PLCSGreat

Carriage Hill Elementary Teacher, Lauren Widner, was nominated by a parene for being a true asset to her class during quarantine. She describes Widner as being clear, comprehensive and reliable. The parent went on to say: "Every morning, Mrs. Widner shares Dr. Tapp's announcements with her students on SeeSaw along with a briefing for the day. She makes it a point to directly respond to each of her students through SeeSaw, email or Zoom. Not only does she respond, she shows true interest in what the students are doing. Mrs. Widner records herself reading a chapter of a book to her students every day so they can continue to listen and learn together. She also shares videos of herself doing silly things that make her even more relatable. Mrs. Widner obviously loves her class. In times like these, the real stars shine bright and Mrs. Widner is the brightest star in the sky. #cougarproud".

Papillion Middle Counselor, Shannon Tolstedt was nominated because she is a great role model for students. Her nominator went on to say: She is very dedicated to her craft as a counselor, she is very professional and handles difficult situations with poise and a calm demeanor." Her nominator went on to say she is the ultimate team player. She is #PLCSGreat! 

Leah Gintz, Administrative Services Manger and Christy Shuput, Data Specialist are both described as being a huge help to the payroll department. They are described as being very dependable and make themselves available whenever a problem arises. Christy is described as "patient and kind and very knowledgeable." Leah is described as "knowledgeable and is a problem solver." Thank you for being #PLCSGreat. 

Riley Lampman is a Special Education Para at Portal Elementary. His nominator said, "Riley has such a passion for the work he does at Portal and for the special education community as a whole. It is inspiring to see the connection he has with his students." Thank you, Riley! 

Jenna Reeh, an instructional facilitator for the district, is described as so willing to help teachers in any and all areas. Her nominator went on to say: "She uses her technical expertise to make teaching in this virtual world easier for all of us! She never makes me feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. She gave me ideas for organizing and simplifying my plan and she’s been extremely encouraging to me along the way. We are so lucky to have her in PLCS!"

Several Monarch seniors nominated their school leaders saying, "They care about each and every one of their students and are helpful in any situation. They also want what is best for their students and will do anything they can for them to be successful."

La Vista West Elementary Special Education Teacher Leslie Roth has had a huge impact on her students during the transition to online learning. She went out of her way to create individualized bags for every one of her students. Her nominator went on to say, "She has helped our team with many ideas and positive uplifting messages during the changes. She has made sure her students have what they need to continue learning and has supported their families through the changes."

Eileen Kolbo, a Special Education Para at Papillion La Vista South High School, went above and beyond recently to help out her fellow colleagues. The nominator explained that paras were called and encouraged to wear masks when reporting to do the food program work. The nominator says Eileen contacted them immediately to share that she would sew masks. She showed up with a whole bag of masks sewn, washed, and bagged. Her nominator explained, "We are so impressed by her spirit of giving! Well done, Eileen!" 

Social Studies Teacher
Health Systems Academy
A Monarch Senior nominated Jennifer and describes her as someone who truly cares about her students as people. The senior went on to say, "She works to have more of a relationship with us than just our teacher that does schoolwork. I can always talk to her about anything that is going on & she is very supportive & kind." She is #PLCSGreat!

English Teacher
La Vista Middle School
Christine is described as being amazing during this time of online learning. A mother of a student nominated her to be recognized because she makes learning fun. Her nominator explained, "She invited the students to do certain educational things to earn points. She has been giving out rewards for students who earn points. My son starts his school day with her videos and it gets him motivated!" She is #PLCSGreat!

EL Teacher
La Vista West & G. Stanley Hall
"I've never seen Ellen not helping someone," said her nominator. Ellen is described as always having a student with her at all times while school is in session. "Whether it be helping them check in, get to class, get breakfast, or just walking down the hall. Ellen is always helping them with a smile and putting them at ease." The nominator wasn't surprised to see Ellen putting meals together for families in need at LVMS. "She truly cares, and we are lucky to know and work with her." Ellen, you are #PLCSGreat.

Custodian
Rumsey Station
Jacquie is described as an amazing custodian and staff member who works tirelessly to keep the building clean and disinfected. The nominator went on to say, "Ms. Turkle is all about teamwork. She is willing to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done. Jacquie genuinely cares about the students and staff at Rumsey Station and it shows. Congratulations Jacquie! You are #PLCS Great!!!! Thank you!" Way to go!

Special Education Para
Papillion La Vista South High School
Becky is being recognized for all of the hours she has put in coaching the Papio South Cheerleading Squad consisting of students with special needs. Her squad partners with PLSHS Varsity cheerleaders to cheer at different events. Becky doesn't just coach, she does so much more. Her nominator explained, "She acquired their cheerleading uniforms, arranged their practices with the Varsity cheerleaders, decorated their lockers & infused a tremendous amount of enthusiasm & confidence into our cheerleaders with special needs." Becky is described as making a tremendous impact on the students by being a wonderful mentor to them. Thank you, Becky! You are #PLCSGreat and make a difference.

English Teacher
Papillion La Vista High School
Lori was nominated for recognition from someone who says that Lori has been an essential part of this "new way of life" for the online learning transition. They went on to say, "She is one who will ask the tough questions, lead not only her department but others asking for help, give advice orsuggestions, help review material, the list goes on...Her leadership is beneficial to staff, parents, and students. She is a comforting figure in an extremely stressful and unknown time. Lori is a prime example of #PLCSGreat."

Kelly Boyte, Golden Hills
Lisa Breakfield, Carriage Hill
Lorri Soucie, Parkview Heights
Trish Foster, La Vista West
A fellow school secretary described them as "amazing".  They went on to say, "We are able to consult with each other, give advice, motivate, and encourage each other through some trying times. It doesn't matter which building they work in, they care what is happening in yours too. They will let me know if I should be doing something differently and always lend encouragement. Seriously, I love working, talking, and being with these women. They truly matter." #PLCSGreat #PLCSBeKnown