Career Teachers

NMEA will recognize Career Teacher members who have completed at least 25 years of teaching. Awards will be given in five year increments only, for 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, etc. years of teaching. The only exception to the five-year increment recognition are educators retiring in the current academic year, or those who have previously retired. Retirees may request a recognition for the total years of their teaching career, regardless of the five-year increment rule. To receive this recognition, NMEA membership is required; however, attendance at the conference and/or banquet is optional.

The Career Teacher Recognition application to be recognized at the 2023 Awards dinner is now open. Click the link below to complete our form and submit your recognition. The application form must be completed electronically by October 1 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.

Submit Your Career Teacher Recognition for 2023

2022 CAREER TEACHER RECOGNITION

Congratulations to the following teachers for their dedicated careers in music education!

25 YEARS

30 YEARS

Jeffery Peabody, Columbus High School

Chad Dean, O'Neill Public Schools

Rebecca Wilhelm, Moore Middle School

Debra Rhodes, Adams Central Public Schools

Dan Sodomka, Aurora High School

Brad Ronne, Scottsbluff High School

Debbie Martinez, Millard North High School

Kristi Hiles-Smith, Kimball Public Schools

Julie Patchen, Manchester Elementary

  

 

35 YEARS

45 YEARS

Clark Potter, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Victoria Hines, East Butler Public Schools

Michael Koch, Bluffs Middle School

Mark Jones, Fort Calhoun High School

 

RETIREES

Jill Doedeken, 28 Years, Lakeview Community Schools

Tom Doran, 32 Years, Johnson County Central

Curtis Forsch, 38 Years, York Public Schools

Diane Pendrock Diffey, 41 Years, Omaha Public Schools

Helen Ostdiek, 43 Years, Aquinas High School

Mindy Smith, 43 Years, Spalding Academy

 

PAST CAREER TEACHER RECOGNITION LISTS

2019 Career Teachers Recognized

2017 Career Teachers Recognized