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WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2022
2022 Women of Achievement nominees in Education Angela Blaesi
ed work on her associate degree. She will graduate in May with her associate degree two days before her daughter gets her high school diploma. Blaesi also is the executive director for the Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen or- ganization, the Miss Nebraska Little Sister mentoring program, and the Outstanding Teen Princess program. She has been work- ing with the Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization for over five years.
She said her mother started the child care center to be home with her own children. “But she has in the last few years taken her love for kids and made herself better,” Evelyn said. During the pandemic, Angela Blaesi not only kept her child care center, but she also received her child development associate credential and finished over 165 hours of continuing education. After earning the CDA, Blaesi start-
Nominator: Evelyn Blaesi, daughter
Angela Blaesi loves her day care kids. In 2020, she expanded her focus to North Platte children of all ages, running for and win- ning a seat on the North Platte school board. Blaesi’s child care center is rated at Step 4 by the state’s Step Up to Quality program. “Business, government and volunteer, she’s the whole package,” daughter Evelyn Blaesi said in her nomination.
Amanda Condon and Stevie Reed
third grade in the middle of the year, Reed continued working on a second master’s degree. “Amanda Condon is a true hero and any student would be lucky to have her,” Reed said. “She has been an amazing and posi- tive role model.” Time Magazine honored teachers in 2021; here are two who made it to the na- tional level.
Jody Tomanek integrity, honesty and passion for edu- cation,” Condon said of her colleague. “Mid-Plains Community College is a lead- er in community college education across the state of Nebraska due in part to Dr. Tomanek’s direction.” She leads the Nebraska community colleges’ vice presidents of academic af- fairs and is a member of the Nebraska Partnerships for Innovation statewide con- sortium, which meets the requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Because of a resignation, shortly after Thanksgiving, the pair was asked to end their partnership. Condon was assigned all 27 second graders and Reed was asked to take over in third grade to replace the teacher who resigned. “Building relationships was number one and maintaining professionalism and friend- ship was always a top priority,” Reed said. While making the switch from second to “It is an honor to work with Dr. Tomanek to move Mid-Plains Community College forward and to educate our community
Nominator: Stevie Reed “We began our teaching year of 2021 as partners at second grade at Cody during the pandemic,” Stevie Reed said of herself and Amanda Condon. We had a tremen- dous partnership and had huge growth with our students. We were extremely lucky and proud to represent the whole state of Nebraska in Washington, D.C, for the annual Christmas Tree project.”
workforce for the future,” Condon said. Jody’s activities in the community in- cludes serving on the Great Plains Health board, on which she currently serves as chair of the board. As a Rotary Club mem- ber, she served on the club’s board for four years, helping plan events such as blood drives, Rotary birthday celebrations and social events. Jody provides a host home for visiting state queens as part of the Miss Rodeo Nebraska Pageant. “Jody’s passion, achievements and lead- ership in education” make her a deserving candidate for the Women of Achievement award, Condon said.
Nominator: Jean Condon “The year was 2010, Jody Tomanek was hired in March of that year and my hus- band died on April 1 of the same year,” said nominator Jean Condon. “It was her compassion and understanding that made this difficult situation tolerable and gave me the ability to finish teaching the rest of the school year and the following years.” Tomanek has made a measurable impact over the past 10 years as a passionate leader at Mid-Plains Community College and a leader of the Nebraska Community College system. Tomanek is vice president of academic affairs at North Platte Community College. “Even with resistance, she stands for
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