The North Platte Public Schools Foundation has announced that Courtney Feeney, Dee Tuenge, Abigail Persinger and Vikki Carlson have been awarded the 2015 North Platte Public Schools Employees of the Year.

According to NPPSF Executive Director, Heather Halligan, these awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of educational excellence in our schools.

Courtney Feeney (2015 Teacher of the Year, PreK-5^th grade) is a first grade teacher at McDonald Elementary.  She received her degree in Elementary Education from Chadron State College and completed her Master degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Peru State College.  Last year Courtney was NTV’s Teacher of the Month for March after being nominated by her students and foster grandparent Sheila White.  She lives in North Platte with her husband, Drew Feeney.

“Courtney Feeney is very deserving of this recognition. She consistently places the needs of her students at the forefront of all her decisions,” said McDonald Principal Tim Vanerderheiden.  “With an inner drive to find what will best meet those needs, Mrs. Feeney continually collaborates with her colleagues and pushes herself to grow her instructional practice.”

Dee Tuenge (Dee Tuenge 2015 NPPS Teacher of the Year, grades 6^th-12^th grade) has been the Project Search Instructor since it began in North Platte in 2010-2011.

Project Search is a transition program for students 18-21 located at the Walmart DC 7018.

“On behalf of the staff of North Platte High School, we would like to congratulate Dee on this award,” said NPHS principal, Mike Brownawell. “She is an amazing teacher who develops unique relationships with her students that go beyond the classroom.”

Tuenge has been a Special Education teacher for NPPSD since 2002.

Abigail Persinger (2015 NPPS Staff Member of the Year) is the secretary at McDonald Elementary for the 2nd year.

She was born and raised in central Ohio and earned a Liberal Arts degree from The Ohio State University.

In 2012 Abigail and her family relocated to Nebraska with her husband’s job.  She currently lives in North Platte with her husband Kenneth and her 8 year old daughter Gracie.

In her spare time Abigail enjoys traveling and visiting with family and friends.

“The energy and personality of Abigail Persinger keeps McDonald Elementary rolling,” said McDonald Elementary principal, Tim Vanderheiden.  “Her smile and welcoming demeanor is always waiting to greet and assist new families and visitors.”

Vikki Carlson (2015 NPPS Administrator of the Year) has always been drawn to leadership.

From her early elementary school years at McDonald Elementary and Eisenhower Elementary here in North Platte, she participated in lead roles in musicals and athletic clubs.

As a student at Adams Junior High and then a 1987 graduate of North Platte High School, she continued her leadership journey participating in student council, swim team, softball and drill team, along with many other school and community organizations.

Her passion for leadership and learning landed her at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she held various offices in her sorority as well as various governing bodies for the Teachers College at UNL.  Service to these organizations included Assistant Rush Chairman and Public Relations Representative for her sorority, to name a few.  In addition, she was elected president of the Teachers College Advisory Board and served as a member of the committee for Promotion and Tenure of University of Nebraska professors.

Vikki earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Secondary Language Arts, Speech Communication, and Theatre in 1991.  In the year 2000, she completed her Master of Arts degree from Doane College in Curriculum and Instruction.  She earned her Masters of Educational Administration Endorsement for Secondary School Principalship in 2011 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Vikki has more than 22 years of experience in education.  She spent 13 years as a classroom Language Arts teacher at both the middle school and high school here in North Platte; was the regional coordinator for Tom and Nancy Osborn’s Teammates Mentoring program for four years traveling the 3^rd district to help manage current school based Teammates Mentoring Programs and assisting schools in opening new chapters.

She is currently in her 5^th year as an administrator for the NPPSD.

“Vikki is an advocate for students and teachers and she is a true professional in everything she does,” said Adams Middle School principal, Jeff Steinbeck.  “Vikki has a passion for the North Platte school district and she is very deserving of this award.”

These individuals will be honored at the Foundation’s “Education after Hours,” Friday, April 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and can be reserved online at www.NPPSF.org.

 

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An attempt to repeal Nebraska’s motorcycle helmet law has stalled in the Legislature.

Supporters on Monday fell nine votes short of the 33 needed to halt debate and vote on the measure. The repeal bill now falls to the bottom of this year’s agenda, likely killing it for the year.

The repeal measure would have lifted Nebraska’s restriction on motorcycle helmets for riders who are at least 21 years old. Operators would still have to wear eye protection.

Motorcyclist groups have tried to repeal the law for more than two decades. Nebraska is one of 19 states that require helmets for all riders.

Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins says he introduced the bill because riders should have the choice. Opponents say the law saves lives.

DETROIT (AP) — Families of at least 74 people killed in crashes caused by defective General Motors ignition switches will get compensation from the company.

Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the total Monday. It was up from 67 last week.

An additional 126 injured people also are eligible for compensation.

The fund received a total of 4,342 claims by the Jan. 31 deadline. Of those, 1,326 are still under review. Feinberg says more than half were ineligible or lacked documentation.

GM knew about problem switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but recalled them only last year. They can slip out of the “on” position, which cuts off the engine, knocks out power steering and turns off air bags.