Omaha Public Schools honors two teachers with Nebraska Awards of Excellence
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Summary
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education recognized Catherine Zierwick of Beveridge Middle and Miss Watson of King Elementary with Nebraska Awards of Excellence and discussed ways the district can support classroom needs such as sensory spaces and field experiences.
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education recognized two teachers as recipients of the Nebraska Award of Excellence and heard classroom-focused requests from both honorees.
Catherine Zierwick of Beveridge Middle School was introduced as a recipient of the Nebraska Award of Excellence. Zierwick told the board the honor “means more to me than I can put into words,” and described a seven‑year teaching career that grew from sixth‑grade English language arts to journalism, yearbook and other student programs. She said family members and mentors shaped her belief that all students can learn and emphasized that the award “belongs to my students.”
The recognition came as the board spotlighted multiple teachers to highlight classroom practice across the district. Miss Watson, a second‑grade teacher at King Elementary, told the board she focuses on emotional safety and supports that let students “be themselves, but more importantly, brave enough to try.” Watson said the award “is not mine. It belongs to the students who trust me with their learning.”
Board members asked both teachers what district actions would help sustain their work. Watson requested a sensory or emotional‑regulation room for King Elementary and more community partnerships and field experiences—such as visits to local authors, high‑school yearbook programs and newsrooms—for her journalism and yearbook students. Zierwick described adding programs over time with administrative support and emphasized the value of field experiences and mentoring.
Superintendent Ray praised the teachers and said community‑supported activities, such as a recent metro holiday tournament that featured OPS teams, show district pride. The spotlight segment included brief remarks from board members thanking teachers for their service and noting the challenges of early‑career teaching during and after the COVID period.
The board did not take formal action on the spotlight items; the meeting moved on to business items after the presentations.