Six Educators Named “Teacher of the Year” by the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation
The start of school brings excitement and nerves, but for a few staff members at Grand Island Public Schools, the year started with a humbling surprise.
During the district’s all-staff welcome back assembly on Monday, August 12, the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation celebrated and honored six educators as part of their Teacher of the Year awards. The award winners represent different categories, which include: Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Middle School Teacher of the Year, High School Teacher of the Year, Specialist of the Year, Staff Member of the Year, and Administrator of the Year.
“We want to be sure that we honor our teaching staff, but not just our teaching staff,” said Kari Hooker-Leep, GIPS Foundation Executive Director. “We want them to know that what they do is important…they’re changing lives.”
The GIPS Foundation opens Teacher of the Year nominations in the spring. Parents, students, colleagues and community members can nominate a current GIPS staff member for the honor. This year, more than 1,600 nominations were submitted, nominating 442 different staff members.
“It means the world to me,” Michelle Enck, Academy Secretary at Career Pathways Institute, expressed. Enck was awarded the GIPS Staff Member of the Year. “It’s such an honor, because I know there's so many people that deserve it. I don’t take it lightly, and I just want to do better every day.”
The Foundation receives all the nominations and a volunteer committee composed of retired teachers and Board Members reviews the nominations. The Foundation also provides each nominee with copies of their nominations.
“If I were to say something to the people who nominated me, I would say, ‘We don’t do it alone,’” said Tonia Schmall, third grade teacher at Starr Elementary and GIPS Elementary Teacher of the Year. “We are a team. My school is amazing, and my teaching partners are amazing,” Schmall said.
The Teacher of the Year award program is sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha. This is FNBO’s 20th year partnering with the GIPS Foundation to celebrate GIPS staff and sponsor the awards. Staff winners receive a plaque and a $500 cash award. The Administrator of the Year receives a plaque and $1,000 of extra budget authority for their building or department.
“We are so thankful to be able to appreciate teachers and staff,” said Lynne Werner, FNBO’s Senior Director in Business Owner Advisory Services in Grand Island & Kearney.
Staff winners receive a plaque and a $500 cash award. The Administrator of the Year receives a plaque and $1,000 of extra budget authority for their building or department.
“It's a really incredible feeling to have the hard work acknowledged this way,” stated Jesse LaBrie, vocal music teacher at Grand Island Senior High and High School Teacher of the Year. “I’m very fortunate, because I get to work with amazing students and staff.”
“I’m grateful for the [GIPS] Foundation not only for awards like this,” LaBrie said, “but for all the work that they do for the community of learners here at Grand Island Public Schools.”
The following six people were named Teacher of the Year winners by the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.
Elementary School
Tonia Schmall, Third Grade teacher, Starr Elementary School
Middle School
Tyler Madison, Social Studies teacher, Walnut Middle School
High School
Jesse LaBrie, Vocal Music Educator, Grand Island Senior High
Specialist
Michelle Thorne, Academic Support Coach, Wasmer Elementary School
Staff Member
Michelle Enck, Academy Secretary, Career Pathways Institute
Administrator
Nathaniel Balcom, Principal, Newell Elementary School
Congratulations to the six "Teacher of the Year" honorees and to all the district educators who were nominated.
View photos of the winners here.
