Barbara Brimmerman
Lewis & Clark Middle School
English as a Second Language
Barbara Brimmerman has been with OPS for 17 years, the last seven at Lewis & Clark. She has a B.A. from Midland Lutheran College, and an M.A. from Doane College. A colleague wrote: “Her students have such a range of abilities that Mrs. Brimmerman has to literally write a lesson plan for each of her students, for every day they are in school! She goes from teaching a 12-year-old how to read, to helping a more advanced student with algebra. And not only does Mrs. Brimmerman have academics to teach, she also teaches her students, new to America, about our culture. She truly prepares them for high school, and helps them to take their place in our community.” A former student said: “She is always ready to help with my schoolwork. She puts her students before herself. She always makes sure that we understand everything she has told us. She takes the time to tutor us in our other subjects too. She is one outstanding teacher.” Ms. Brimmerman is from Fremont, Neb.

Mary Ann Caputo
Burke High School
Business
A Bloomfield, Neb., native, Ms. Caputo has been with OPS for 16 years, 14 of them at Burke. She has a B.A. from Kearney State. A student said: “Mrs. Caputo has always gone out of her way to help her students, whether pulling strings to bring extra students on trips, or staying five hours after school to ensure we have an understanding of what we are learning. She is the ideal teacher.” Another said: “Mrs. Caputo is one of the smartest and most compassionate teachers I have ever had in my life. She has a spark that makes her not only teach her students, but to also place into their hearts a desire to learn and achieve all they can.”

Benjamin Darling
Dundee Elementary
4th Grade
Mr. Darling has been with OPS for 10 years, all of them at Dundee. An Omaha native, he has a B.S. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A parent wrote: “Mr. Darling has a very happy personality, and is always very calm with his students. He loves math and makes math very fun for the students. Mr. Darling has also taught a number of our after school enrichment programs. He regularly has wait-lists for his 'Math Geeks' class, because it is so popular.” Another said: “Ben Darling makes teaching look effortless. I believe that being a teacher is an innate part of who he is. He has fun and it shows. I believe he gives many students the confidence to believe that they will go to college one day.”

Howard Faber
Dodge Elementary
5th and 6th Grades
Dr. Faber has been with OPS for 35 years, the past 17 at Dodge. He has a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A former student said: “Mr. Faber was special, because he invested so much of his personal energy in us, and chose to be involved with us to a much greater degree than what was required. Many kids in my class came from homes that were not ideal. Mr. Faber was not only an outstanding educator, but also a wonderful example of a loving, giving, caring adult. He was a great role model.” A colleague wrote: “I cannot think of a teacher who is more dedicated to the training and molding of well-rounded young men and women than Howard Faber. He is a model of patience and integrity, even with the most difficult classes. It is a very rare day that I find Dr. Faber has left our building when the teacher workday has ended. Any student, teacher or parent who has the opportunity to work with Dr. Faber is truly blessed.” Dr. Faber is from Hull, Iowa.

Sherri Frisbie
Travel
Visually Impaired Resource Teacher
Sherri Frisbie has been with OPS for 30 years. She has a B.S. from Iowa State University, and an M.A. from Doane College. A colleague said: “She is an individual who is innovative, creative, and has a huge heart for children with disabilities. Sherri is a teacher who 'goes that extra mile' to do great things for children. She is reliable, dependable, and a huge asset to our school.” Another wrote: “Many of Sherri's contributions are over and above the traditional expectations of her job. In short, Sherri is a resourceful and creative educator.” Ms. Frisbie is from Sioux City, Iowa.

Shana Frodyma
Beveridge Middle School
Special Education
Shana Frodyma has been with OPS for 17 years, the past 16 at Beveridge. A Grinnell, Iowa native, she has a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa. A colleague said: “Preparing her students for the future, by developing their skills in the workplace, is a key priority for Mrs. Frodyma. She is a full-time educator who sees potential in every student, but sees a light that shines from within these special children.” A parent wrote: “Shana went way beyond the call of duty with our daughter, and we are so thankful and lucky to have such an awesome teacher and friend. We feel she deserves this award not for being just a great teacher, but also a mentor and someone who would do anything to help in and out of the classroom. Teaching is such a gift, but teaching kids with special needs takes a person with a huge heart, strong backbone and tons of patience and love. Shana has all these qualities and many more.”

Jan Haun
Picotte Elementary
1st Grade
Jan Haun has been with OPS for six years, all of them at Picotte. She has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, a B.S. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and an M.A. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A parent said: “Jan Haun puts forth a tremendous amount of love and effort to every child in her classroom, every day of the school year. She goes above and beyond her duties, arriving early every day and staying late. There were weekends where she was swamped with extra activities she was completing for her students, yet she was always available if I needed to speak to her about my daughter.” Another wrote: “I love how Mrs. Haun creates an environment that allows her students to excel. Her expectations are clear and she sets the bar high. Her students are genuinely listened to and cared for, and it gives them freedom to reach higher, knowing that they'll learn from their mistakes, not be punished or embarrassed.” Ms. Haun is from Wayne, Neb.

Darren Holley
North High School
Math
Dr. Darren Holley has been at North for his entire 29-year teaching career with OPS. He has a B.S. and an M.S. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A student wrote: “He is very good at taking complex concepts and breaking them down so that they are easy to understand. He has a way of showing how everything fits together clearly. One of the best things about Dr. Holley is that he is always there to help. He is always there before school and will make time to help you during lunch or after school.” Another said: “Dr. Holley has a clear, precise style of teaching, takes time from class to go over difficult problems, and routinely stays after school to help students who are struggling. His goal is not to have us memorize countless formulas, but rather to have us understand the key concepts, and be able to apply that understanding to new problems and situations.” Dr. Holley is a native of Denver, Colo.

Lisa Jorgensen
Central Park Elementary
Speech Pathology
Lisa Jorgensen has been with OPS for 15 years, the past 11 at Central Park. A native of Minden, Neb., she has a B.S. and an M.S. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. An admirer said: “She typically works with a wide array of students, at many different ability levels, and even more different personalities. She is able to calm the most outgoing and energetic students with her clever games that channel the students' energies in a way that actually helps them learn. She also is able to coax the more introverted student into learning, with role-play, games, props, and a sense of humor, which no student can resist.” A student said: “Now I can socialize without stuttering or making it sound like I'm saying a different word. She is the nicest and best teacher in the universe.”

Robin Knudtson
Beveridge Middle School
Special Education
Robin Knudtson has been with OPS for 11 years, all of them at Beveridge. She has a B.S. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. A colleague wrote: “She is always actively engaged in teaching her students according to their abilities. She is inventive. She is patient and waits for her students to try the tasks they are given, instead of hurrying them or doing it for them. She is caring and passionate about what she does.” A parent said: “To me, Mrs. Knudtson is like a second mother to her kids. Every time I go to her classroom, everything is in order. The kids always look neat and clean, they are very polite, and they are always happy.” Ms. Knudtson is from Ralston, Neb.

William Lovgren
Northwest High School
Music
Mr. Lovgren has been with OPS for 27 years, all of them at Northwest High. He is from Holdrege, Neb., and has a B.M.E. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and an M.M. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. A parent wrote: “Mr. Lovgren doesn't simply teach music, he motivates and inspires his students to continue exploring their instruments and different musical styles. These young musicians are enthusiastic about music. They are not only learning to play and appreciate music, they are learning the importance of teamwork, the importance of acceptance, and the importance of giving of themselves when someone needs help.” A colleague said: “First and foremost, Mr. Lovgren is dedicated to his students. His compassion and empathy allows him to understand each student on an individual basis, and to build an excellent rapport.”

Angela Meyer
Central High School
Guidance
Angela Meyer has been with OPS for 19 years, the past 10 at Central. She has a B.S. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and an M.S. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. A student wrote: “Even with almost 500 seniors, Mrs. Meyer still tries to cater to everyone's individual needs. Even when students approach her with a lengthy list of questions regarding everything college-related, she drops what she is doing and makes sure that every single one of their questions is answered.” An admirer said: “Mrs. Meyer is a wonderful person who works tirelessly to help seniors navigate their way through all their college applications and scholarships.” Ms. Meyer is from Hooper, Neb.

Gregory Sand
Central High School
Math
Gregory Sand has been at Central for nine of his 13 years with OPS. He has a B.S. from Doane College, and an M.S. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. A student wrote: “Mr. Sand is a great teacher. A man whose passion for mathematics is evident in all of his actions; he challenges students in unique and engaging ways. He is a teacher who invests hours upon hours of his own time creating new math problems, researching interesting topics to explore in class, developing challenging, but enjoyable, class projects, and offers his services via email or phone to students outside of class.” A parent said: “One of our daughters has always been very good at math, while the other has had more difficulty with this particular subject. Mr. Sand is an outstanding teacher who somehow manages to meet the needs of students with different aptitudes for math.” Mr. Sand is from Crete, Neb.

Anton Schmidt
Lewis & Clark Middle School
Social Studies
Anton Schmidt has been with OPS for six years, all of them at Lewis & Clark. He has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. A colleague said: “Tony takes his teaching very seriously. He spends many Sunday mornings at school, preparing his classroom for the week ahead. Mr. Schmidt runs a disciplined classroom that thrives on the relationships he builds with his students.” An admirer wrote: “To him, success is seeing his students develop a love and understanding of social studies. It is evident that his focus is on enriching the minds of 7th and 8th graders. It is not exaggeration when I say he lives at Lewis & Clark.” Mr. Schmidt is from Williston, N.D.

Maria Walinski-Peterson
South High School
Social Studies
Maria Walinski-Peterson, an Omaha native, has been with OPS for nine years, all of them at South. She has a B.A. from Grinnell College, and an M.A. from Drake University. An admirer wrote: “Maria spends hours upon hours preparing lessons and making herself a better teacher. If she is not at her desk until 5:00 each night preparing lessons or writing curriculum, she is most likely off at one the many conferences or workshops she attends. In the end, my words don't do justice to what Maria does for her students, co-workers and school. She is, without a doubt, the most compassionate, creative, hardworking and competent teacher I have ever known.” A student said: “She is very special to me, because she is like no other teacher. She is like an angel that guides me through high school, and gives me the right advice to keep on going in the right direction, and not the wrong one.”