Elementary Guidance, Media & Special Education Faculty Members
Jill Colgan
Speech & Language Therapy Technician
Teacher Since: 1987
Hometown: Fremont, NE
Bachelors: 1987, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: n/a
Favorite Books
Staggerford by Jon Hassler
Favorite Movies
"You've Got Mail"
"A Beautiful Mind"
"When Harry Met Sally"
"The Family Stone"
"A Series of Unfortunate Events"
"A Few Good Men"
Interesting Facts: "My life revolves around college football. I can't get enough of it!"
Favorite Quotes:
“Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” --Vince Lombardi
"Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." --Warren Buffet
"Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment." --Rita Mae Brown
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Paula Conrad
Reading Recovery & Title I Reading
Teacher Since: 1990
Hometown: Morrill, NE
Bachelors: 1981, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: 2006, Doane College
Favorite Books
Chicken Soup for the Soul series
Favorite Movies
"Mrs. Doubtfire" among many others!
Favorite Quote: "The most important thing about having goals is having one." --Geoffrey F. Abert
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Bridget Dobesh
4th & 5th Grade Resource Teacher
Teacher Since: 1999
Hometown: Valparaiso, NE
Bachelors: 1999, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Masters: 2008, Wayne State College
Favorite Books
"It is so hard to narrow it down to just a few books! I LOVE TO READ! Lonesome Dove has to be my ALL TIME favorite, but there are simply too many others to name!"
Favorite Movies
"Wizard of Oz and all the Shrek movies."
Interesting Facts: "I have two older brothers and two younger brothers (no sisters). Growing up I just had to be tough!"
Favorite Quote: "By God Woodrow, it's not dyin' I'm talking 'bout, it's livin'." --Gus talking to Call in Lonesome Dove
and
"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." --Mark Twain
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Mandy Eddie
2nd & 3rd Grade Resource Teacher
Teacher Since: 2000
Hometown: Gothenburg, NE
Bachelors: 1999, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Masters: in progress, Doane College (Crete, NE)
Favorite Books
Jellybeans for Breakfast by Miriam Young
Favorite Movies
"The Little Mermaid"
Words of Wisdom: "History doesn't HAVE to repeat itself . . . Learn from your mistakes!"
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Ann Egr
Elementary Guidance Counselor
Teacher Since: 1990
Hometown: Wahoo
Bachelors: 1999, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: 2006, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Favorite Books
Little Black, A Pony by Walter Farley (children's book)
Favorite Movies
"The Notebook"
Interesting Facts: "I lived in New Zealand."
Words of Wisdom: "My father always told me . . . you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. So in other words . . . Nice Matters!"
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Abbee James
Speech & Language Pathologist
Teacher Since: 2010
Hometown: McCook, NE
Bachelors: 2008, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Masters: 2010, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Favorite Books
"Anything by Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury."
Favorite Movies
"The Notebook"
"She's the Man"
"Cool Runnings"
Interesting Facts: "I just moved to Wahoo in April of 2010 with my husband, Mike. We have two dogs, Roxi and Reese, that keep us pretty busy. During the summers we spend most of our time on the road visiting family and friends."
Favorite Quotes:
"Minds are like parachutes. They only function if they are open." --Thomas Dewar
"If you can dream it, you can do it." --Walt Disney
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Jennifer Johnson
School Psychologist
School Psychologist Since: 2006
Hometown: Madison, South Dakota
Bachelors: 2002, Midland Lutheran College
Masters: 2004, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Educational Specialist: 2006, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Favorite Books
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Favorite Movies
"Elf"
"Sweet Home Alabama"
"The Wizard of Oz"
Interesting Facts: "I spent the entire summer with my grandparents."
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Valerie Lindgren
K-5 Special Education
Teacher Since: 1981
Hometown: Beaver and Carroll, Iowa
Bachelors: 1981, Iowa State University
Masters: 1996, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Favorite Books
Anything by J.D. Robb or Nora Roberts
Favorite Movies
"It's a Wonderful Life"
Interesting Fact: "My first teaching job was elementary special education on the reservation in Winnebago."
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Shelley Maass
Special Education Advisor
Teacher Since: 1994
Hometown: West Point, NE
Bachelors: 1992, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Masters: 1994, University of Nebraska at Kearney; 2006, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Favorite Books
"I love to read and will read anything!"
Favorite Movies
"Indiana Jones"
"Shrek"
"Hoosiers"
Interesting Facts: "I attended elementary/middle school in Brooks, Alberta, Canada. I have lived in Wahoo longer than I have lived anywhere else - 13 years! I love to fish!"
Favorite Quote: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." --Theodore Roosevelt
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Joni Pearson
K/1 Inclusion
Teacher Since: 1989
Hometown: Lyons, NE
Bachelors: 1989, Concordia University (Seward, NE)
Masters: 2003, Doane College
Favorite Books
As a child: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
As a preteen: books by Judy Blume
As an adult: any book by Nora Roberts
Favorite Movies
"Notting Hill" and "Friday Night Lights"
Favorite Quote: "Live your life in the manner that you would like your kids to live theirs."
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David Privett
District Media Director
Teacher Since: 1994
Hometown: Fremont, NE
Bachelors: 1994, Wayne State College
Masters: 2005, Peru State College
Media Endorsement: 2008, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Favorite Books
The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Favorite Movies
"The Untouchables"
"The Green Mile"
"O Brother Where Art Thou"
"Dead Poets Society"
Favorite Quotes:
"Those who don't read have no advantage over those who can't." --Mark Twain
"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." --Thomas Hardy
Interesting Fact: "I have a brother named David."
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Vicki Ruzicka
District Technology Coordinator
Tech Coordinator Since: 2006
Hometown: Cedar Bluffs, NE
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Mary Specht
District Nurse
Nurse Since: 1970
Hometown: Cedar Bluffs, NE
Registered Nurse: 1969, St. Elizabeth School of Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 1994, Midland Lutheran College (Fremont, NE)
Favorite Books
any Nancy Drew mystery
Favorite Movies
"Titanic"
"Lion King"
Interesting Fact: "I have eight lovely grandchildren."
Favorite Quote: "Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic." --Source Unknown
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Pam Trutna
Title I Reading
Teacher Since: 1979
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Bachelors: 1979, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: 1992, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Favorite Books
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Favorite Movies
?
Interesting Fact: "I seldom miss watching a St. Louis Cardinal baseball game."
