The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce their 2019 “Teacher of the Year”, “Staff Member of the Year,” and “Administrator of the Year;” award winners. These exemplary district employees will be honored at our upcoming Education After Hours event on April 26th.
There is two Teacher of the Year Award Winners.
2019 6-12th grade “Teacher of the Year” Adams Middle School Science Teacher Angela Soelberg
Angela Soelberg a Minnesota native teaches science at Adams Middle School.
She has been with North Platte Public Schools since 2015. Prior to that she taught 7th and 8th Grade Science in Minnesota, as well as for StarBase Minnesota where she taught a STEM program for 3rd-6th Graders.
Angela enjoys providing students with a hands-on experience and loves to help students find their passion. She implemented the Robotics Club and competition team, which has become a state qualifying team in two short years. She was selected to take part in the UNL Science Academy Leadership workshop and become a teacher leader for the new science curriculum last summer.
Angela was nominated by her building administration due to her willingness to dedicate her career to both her students and fellow teachers.
2019 PreK-5th grade “Teacher of the Year” Lake Kindergarten Teacher Harmoni Wagner
Harmoni Wagner, a 1995 Alumni of North Platte High School has wanted to be a teacher since 4th grade, thanks to teacher Joyce Scofield.
After attending Mid Plains on a Volleyball Scholarship, Harmoni finished her degree at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2000 and then obtained her Masters in 2009. She has taught for 13 years in North Platte. She also coaches middle school volleyball.
According to her nomination students and teachers alike hold her in high confidence to be dependable and reliable. Her husband John and she have three daughters, Kayleigh, Katie and Janee.
Harmoni will transition to the position of Washington Elementary Principal in the fall of 2019.
The 2019 “Staff Member of the Year” Bus Driver Alan Little
A native of Mullen, Nebraska and a graduate of Mid Plains Community College, Alan Little is the Staff Member of the Year.
After retiring from the postal service in 2009 Alan became employed by the North Platte Public Schools as an activities bus driver.
According to the students, he drives he is not only a bus driver, he actively gets to know the students and cheers them on at the events he attends.
He has been married to his wife Bonnie for 43 years and they have two children: Darrin and his girlfriend Amber and Janelle and her husband Drew. They also have two grandchildren, Samuel and Emmet.
The 2019 “Administrator of the Year” Student Services Coordinator Brandy Buscher
Brandy Buscher grew up in Sutherland and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1997. She then went to the University of Nebraska Kearney where she majored in Criminal Justice.
Brandy started her North Platte Public Schools career as the Dean of Students at Adams Middle School. She has also worked as the Community Liaison at North Platte High School and Teamates Coordinator before becoming the Student Services Coordinator in 2016.
Brandy has been instrumental in implementing the Dare to Go Five Below attendance program, NPHS Food Pantry, as well as developing programs for the Nebraska Systems of Care Mental Health Grant, Mckinney Vento Homeless Youth Grant and PASS (Alternatives to Suspensions Program). Removing barriers to a child’s education is what Brandy feels is her specialty; she is not afraid to fight the good fight for a student that is in a bad place.
She hopes never to stop being creative and supportive for students and families in North Platte. Brandy and her husband Brian have three boys. Jack is currently a freshman, Max is in 4th grade, and Gage is in Kindergarten.
Nominations for these outstanding staff members were made by students, parents, community members and employees from the North Platte Public School District. These awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of educational excellence in our schools.
Teacher and Staff Member Award Winners will receive a plaque and a $250 cash award. Administrators will receive a plaque and $1000 extra budget authority for their building/administrative area. Awards will be presented at North Platte Public Schools Foundation “Education After Hours” event on Friday, April 26th from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express. Tickets are $25 each ($20 for NPPSD staff) and available online at nppsf.org or at the Foundation office. Please call 696-3325 in advance to schedule pick up.