Wahoo Elementary and High Schools Welcome New Faces to Faculty
Launch the media gallery 1 playerFirst Grade
Another new teacher has joined the Wahoo Elementary Staff. Mrs. Heather Aude, the new elementary first grade teacher, is very pleased to start off the new 2007-08 school year.
After graduating from UNO, Mrs. Aude taught second grade for one year and first grade for three years in Omaha before she joined the Wahoo staff.
Mrs. Aude grew up in Blair and enjoyed drama and playing softball throughout high school.
Mrs. Aude became a teacher because she loves kids and was inspired to do so by her mother who was also a teacher.
Mrs. Aude moved to Wahoo with her husband Derek, stepdaughter Imogen and bulldog Vida in June and is looking forward to getting involved with the school and the community.
When she is not teaching, she enjoys boating and water skiing.
“I like Wahoo and want to get involved with the community,” said Mrs. Aude.
Her goals for this year are to get to know her students and their families and she is looking forward to helping each one.
Third Grade
Following in her grandmother’s footsteps and after having found a positive role model in college, Ms. Josey Smedra was inspired to become a teacher.
She chose to teach elementary school because the children are eager to learn and they make her laugh.
Ms. Smedra earned her bachelor’s degree at UNL and is in her first year of teaching.
Her first day at Wahoo Elementary School was exciting but nerve-racking because of all of the new responsibilities.
Ms. Smedra is looking forward to getting into the rhythm of teaching, staying organized, and making learning fun for the children.
“My goal is to prepare my third grade class for the future and help them mature from third graders into fourth graders and teach them skills they can use throughout their life,” said Ms. Smedra.
Ms. Smedra moved to Wahoo about a month ago with her four-year-old son Taten and has enjoyed meeting new people. She chose Wahoo because it is close to Omaha and Lincoln where her family lives.
Second Grade
Ms. Brooke Maschmann, a new second grade teacher at Wahoo Elementary School, tries to make learning a more fun and enjoyable experience for her young students.
Ms. Maschmann has always wanted to be a teacher because she enjoys being around kids. She chose second grade because they’re at the age when they are becoming more independent and it’s a fun group to teach.
“I enjoy how every day is never the same. It’s always something new and exciting,” said Ms. Maschmann.
Ms. Maschmann uses fun songs to help students learn about math and other subjects and believes reading is very important at this age.
“I hope to make every student successful,” said Ms. Maschmann, “while making learning enjoyable.”Ms. Maschmann grew up in Davenport, Neb., and earned her degree in education from Midland Lutheran College in 2005.
This is Ms. Maschmann’s second year of teaching. Before coming to Wahoo she taught special education at Raymond Central Elementary School.
Special Education
Having been inspired by her own teachers growing up, Mrs. Monica Smith knew she wanted to be a teacher from an early age. She was so inspired by them that she is now a teacher.
Mrs. Smith is the new fourth and fifth grade special education teacher at Wahoo Elementary School. Her first day with the kids was pure excitement. She is excited for the rest of the year. Having met her students, she is looking forward to getting to know them throughout the school year. She loves it thus far.
“I want to do everything I can to help kids perform their best,” said Smith.
Mrs. Smith went to college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Before coming to Wahoo she substituted at Lincoln Public Schools and Waverly. She now lives in Ceresco with her husband Blake. They are expecting their first child in November.
She loves spending time with her family and friends doing anything outdoors.
Mrs. Smith had many influences growing up. She had the teachers that taught her and her aunt and uncle. She wanted to become a teacher because she loves to be around kids and knowing she is helping them learn. She grew up with many kids because she was the oldest of six in her family.
First Grade
You might have seen Mrs. Laci Pebley roaming the halls of the elementary school last year as a substitute, but this year she has her very own first grade room.
Mrs. Pebley
grew up in Richey, Mont., and graduated from Rocky Mountain College
in Billings.
After considering a career in social work, Mrs. Pebley decided that
teaching was a better fit for her.
“I always knew I wanted to help children,” said Mrs.
Pebley.
Mrs. Pebley is looking forward to her first year of teaching and hopes to be able to work with parents so that their children will be successful in school.
“I love that each day is different,” said Mrs. Pebley. “I never know what is going to happen so it makes each day an adventure.”
Mrs. Pebley lives in Omaha with her husband Shawn and enjoys going to new movies, watching television, hanging out with her husband and wake boarding.
High School Mathematics
The math department added a new face to the equation this year. Mrs. Mary Nuckolls was offered a part-time math position to teach all Algebra I classes.
She went to Wayne State College where she earned a B.S. degree in biology and a minor in math. She then furthered her education by attending UNO and receiving a B.A. degree in secondary education. Mrs. Nuckolls previously instructed at Gretna High School and Westside High School, and is now in her seventh year of teaching.
However, the fact that her children attend Wahoo Elementary was an appealing quality, and drew her to the Wahoo school system.
Her aspirations for this school year are “that the students in the class, by the end of the school year, are no longer afraid of math and have the confidence to tackle any problem given to them,” said Mrs. Nuckolls.
High School Industrial Technology
“I want to help every student reach his or her maximum potential,” said Mr. Kyle Weyers, the new industrial technology teacher who was hired when Don Ball retired at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
Mr. Weyers teaches Electric Vehicle, Metals, Auto I, Auto Reconstruction and CAD classes, which is a good fit because he enjoys working on cars and using his hands. He also looks forward to getting involved with coaching.
Mr. Weyers
graduated from UNL and plans on returning to school to receive his
master’s degree.
Mr. Weyers’ teaching career was inspired by his mother, a
second-grade teacher in Lincoln and a 26-year veteran of the
profession.
He recently bought a house in Wahoo because he likes the small-town atmosphere and it’s close to Lincoln where his family lives.
Mr. Weyers enjoys his classes and is looking forward to a great year.
High School English
The English department underwent a revision this year replacing Mrs. Kim Snyder with newcomer Mr. Brian Ross.
The University of Wyoming graduate has now entered his third year of teaching. Mr. Ross began his career at Cheyenne East High School in Wyoming.
Although the Wyoming native commutes from Omaha every day, several characteristics led him to Wahoo.
“I liked the idea of a smaller school,” said Mr. Ross.
Mr. Ross said that he wants the students of Wahoo High School to know that he has an open door policy.
“I play more of a facilitator role,” said Mr. Ross. “I like the students to find their own ways of learning.”
Mr. Ross is
ready to address any questions or concerns students or their
parents may have.