Mikayla is an eighth grader at Lakewood Middle School who enjoys being a part of Orchestra and vocal programs at her school. She is especially looking forward to a trip with Orchestra to St. Louis next year. Mikayla’s vision for life after high school includes a job and perhaps college. She enjoys diamond art, has two siblings and a dog named Julie....

A senior at Central High School, Tessa loves lending a helping hand during her library science hour. She also enjoys her AP Literature class with Mrs. Byarlay. Tessa stays active through volleyball, basketball and softball and is involved with LINK leaders and a member of National Honor Society. After graduation, Tessa plans to attend Doane University and study radiology. Tessa cherishes the oppor...

Salina is a sixth grader at South Middle School. Some of her favorite things about SMS include talking with her friends and her social studies class. Describing her social studies teacher as nice, she feels motivated in the class and that it’s easy to get help when needed. For the future, Salina is interested in three different types of jobs and building a life that makes her happy. In her free ...

Sean is a senior at South High School who takes pride in representing South High as a member of the football, swimming and track teams. Sean is also a member of Student Council. He enjoys connecting with his friends and peers he has known since childhood. He values Mr. and Mrs. Massey’s teaching styles, as well as his connection with Mr. Barkley. After graduation, Sean will join the dental hygie...

Nancy is a seventh and eighth grade art teacher at Lakewood Middle School, where she has been inspiring students for 27 years. Her passion for teaching was sparked by her own former teachers, who recognized her natural leadership abilities, curiosity, and talent for making others feel welcome. Nancy enjoys the relationships she has built with both her co-workers and students. Her greatest joy in l...

Jenn is a culinary arts teacher at Central High School. She has been teaching for 21 years, with the last five at Central. Jenn's passion for teaching began in the sixth grade. She was also inspired by two of her own teachers, Tim Lambert and Ted Busse, from elementary and high school. Her favorite part of teaching is witnessing her students grow and succeed as they try new things. A fun fact abou...

Cindy is a seventh grade English teacher at South Middle School. She has been teaching for 26 years, 22 of those at the elementary level and the last four at the middle school level. Cindy was inspired to pursue teaching because she believes educators can make a meaningful impact in their students' lives. She especially enjoys the opportunity to connect with her students and build meaningful relat...

Sara is an interrelated special education teacher at South High School. She has been working at South for eight years total, her first four years spent as a paraeducator and the last four years teaching. Growing up, Sara was inspired by her teachers, their care for students, their heart and passion for teaching. She knew early on that she wanted to follow in their footsteps and make a difference t...