Students Lead the Way for Team KSD at Convocation 2026!

Posted Date: 08/24/26 (04:25 PM)

Nearly 500 Kearney School District employees came together Friday morning, Aug. 21, at Kearney High School for our 2026 Convocation. This year, we let our students lead Team KSD into the new school year!

KHS student leaders served as emcees, introduced speakers and recognitions, led some very spirited competitions between our schools and helped bring an incredible amount of energy, humor and heart to the morning.

Convocation is an opportunity for our entire team to come together before the school year begins, celebrate the people who make our schools special and remind ourselves why we do this work. Having students help lead that experience kept the most important people in our school district right where they belong: at the center of it.

One of the morning's most meaningful traditions was recognizing employees who have reached significant milestones in their service to Kearney School District. Together, these colleagues represent years of experience, relationships and commitment to generations of Bulldogs.

Years-of-Service Recognitions
10 Years

ANGIE CARPENTER
RACHEL CERRA
BRADLEY COLHOUR
LACY HOWDESHELL
MOLLY KUEBLER
AMORY MALEY
SARA OWEN
BRITTINI STARZL
RACHEL TERRILL
WHITNEY THOMAS

15 Years

BRENDA DAVIS
SHELLY DUNN
DAVID ERWIN
JACOB HILL
JILL LYTTEN
JEREMY MILLER
HEATHER OLDHAM
SHANE REMLEY
SARA ROSS
MENDY SALMONSON
ANDREW SAWALL
STEVEN WILSON

20 Years

ZACHARY BOSWELL
MELISSA COLHOUR
ELIZABETH MAEL
LORI PARKER
MICHELLE RAINES
SUSANNAH SMITH
KARA YARC

25 Years

JILL GERBER
SARA HALEY
TROY RESLER
LISA ROACH
KASEY STEGALL
ERIC TODD
ASHLEY WEAVER
BRIAN WEBSTER
DIANNA WEBSTER

30 Years

CHRISTOPHER MACKIE

We are incredibly grateful for each of these employees and for the time, talent and care they have invested in our students, families and schools.

The morning also included recognition of our outstanding teachers and support staff, some good-natured competition between our schools and a few wonderful reminders of the lasting difference an educator can make in the life of a student. Our theme for the morning was Great Schools = Great Community, and it was on full display.

We are grateful for the students who helped make this year's Convocation such a memorable event, and for every teacher, support professional, administrator and staff member who has been working to make our schools ready.

Tomorrow, the hallways fill up again. Team KSD is ready. We can't wait to welcome our Bulldogs back!