Local grads among new teachers

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook School Board unanimously approved three teaching contracts for next year, with two recent area graduates beginning their career at McCook Schools.

At the regular meeting Monday night, the board approve a contract for Kim (Brown) Heimann as the junior high language arts teacher. Heimann graduated from McCook High school in 2005 and graduated in 2011 from Peru State College with Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a BS in K-12 physical education.

Joshua Kershaw, originally of Culbertson and graduating in 2007, was hired Monday night by the McCook School board as the seventh grade math teacher. Kershaw graduated from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2012 with a Mathematics 7-12 endorsement.

The board also approved the contract for Debra Florke, of North Platte, as the eighth grade science teacher. From 1996-2012, she was the sixth grade science teacher at North Platte Public Schools and the grade four teacher from 1990-1996 at Chadron City Schools. From 1978 to the present, she has pursued graduate studies at Chadron State, Kearney State, Concordia College and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Also Monday night, the board accepted three resignations from teachers in the district, with two applying for the early retirement program offered by the district.

With gratitude, the board unanimously accepted the resignations of George Briggs, who has taught social studies at the high school and has 31 years with McCook Schools; Denise Lee, 24 years as fifth grade teacher at Central Elementary and Kari Quigley, Special Education teacher for 12 years.

Brggs and Lee will be applying for the Retirement Incentive Program.

In her resignation letter, Lee said she will be moving with her husband to a new community.