Teacher Appreciation Week

This is Teacher Appreciation Week! As educators, Steve, Melissa, and I have become part of this wonderful celebration. As we follow Melissa on her journey, it has taken on an even deeper meaning to us!

Melissa continues to teach her kindergarteners partly due to her positive attitude and mostly due to her fabulous Kindergarten team, her caring and supportive principal, and her dedicated para. All of the Thomas Elementary staff are there to support her!

Principal Patti Brownlee and Melissa



The Kindergarten team: Melissa, Beth, Marla, Paula, and Tiffany

Steve retired from the Omaha Public Schools after 32 years. Many of the staff and close friends that Steve worked with at TAC (the central office) surprised Melissa with a card and nice present! Melissa will use the gift to pamper herself and indulge in special spa treatments as she continues with chemotherapy.

I taught kindergarten and first grade for the Omaha Public Schools for 33 years. My last 12 years were at Sunny Slope School. The staff becomes family to you. You share good news, bad news, tears of joy, and tears of sorrow with each other. My staff had dozens of donuts delivered to Melissa's school. A beautiful card accompanied the donuts! All of the Sunny Slope staff members wore purple and had their picture taken in my former kindergarten classroom. What a classy group!

Sunny Slope Staff

When our family goes through a journey like this, we truly appreciate the prayers, love, and support  that we receive from all of our colleagues and friends.