La Vista West Kindergarten Teacher Named Finalist for 2027 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, 9/9/2026

Lisa Elsasser, a kindergarten teacher at La Vista West Elementary, has been named one of three finalists for the 2027 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, the Nebraska Department of Education announced.

Elsasser was previously honored as Papillion La Vista Community Schools' 2025 Elementary Teacher of the Year, a distinction that put her name forward for the state's selection process. As an Award of Excellence Teacher, she now stands among the top educators in Nebraska and is eligible to be named the state's official Teacher of the Year..

Colleagues and parents describe Elsasser as an educator whose classroom sets the tone for what early childhood education should look like. "Mrs. Elsasser is the definition of an outstanding educator and mentor," one colleague she has mentored wrote in a letter supporting her nomination. "Her unwavering dedication to her students is evident in the way she creates a nurturing and engaging classroom environment where every learner feels valued and supported."

That impact extends well beyond the walls of her own classroom. The same colleague credited Elsasser with shaping their own path as an educator, writing that her "guidance, patience, and encouragement" had provided the support needed to grow in the profession, calling her "an invaluable teammate and a true leader in education."

Parents see it too. A La Vista West parent said Elsasser's patience and kindness made a lasting impression on her children. "She has a knack for making learning fun and my children grew exponentially during their kindergarten years at LVW," the parent wrote. "My kids always came home excited to tell me about their day... they absolutely learned to love school because of Mrs. Elsasser."