E4
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2023
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
2023 Women of Achievement nominees in Education
Kathleen Craig
Amanda Huebner
Nominator: David Huebner Amanda Huebner is principal of Sutherland High School.
Nominator: Elleigh Fisher After receiving her teaching certificate, and with a couple of years in the classroom behind her, North Platte High School alumna Kathleen Craig moved back to her hometown of North Platte in 2018 to establish an agriculture department at the high school. She was passionate about Future Farmers of America and the possibility of bringing it back after a 30-year absence. The club itself requires an ag curriculum, so developing the program was a big task, wrote former student Elleigh Fisher. Fisher wrote: “Mrs. Craig is developing ways that the ag department can mature and grow, offering more opportunities for the future education of agriculture students. She has plans for the program to construct a new building that will hold a greenhouse and classroom space for students to learn the aspects of horticulture and agronomy as well as other areas of study. Her fundraising efforts have already begun, and you can see the action of her students’ efforts in the annual Feed the Farmer Banquet each year where more than 200 community members gather to support the future of FFA and ag education. The students are hands-on in all fundraising efforts, and you can also see the result of their hard work in the participation of the local and district contests. Kathleen isn’t just teaching her students a skill. She is providing them with knowledge of a lifestyle that will continue with them throughout their lives. Such an influential place to be, and Kathleen does it with grit, many many hours of dedication, and an undeniable drive to make sure her students are prepared for life beyond high school. “Such dedication takes a unique soul; one that is willing to immerse her personal life with her school life, seamlessly combining the two. There are many ways that Kathleen is molding the lives of her ‘FFA kids’ but her commitment to the lives of other NPHS students does not end with ag. Not only does she provide hours to FFA, but Mrs. Craig spends many more hours in other areas at the high school. Kathleen is a mentor for TeamMates, she is an adviser for Skills USA, and she is an assistant coach for the high school swim team. She isn’t just a teacher at NPHS, she lives NPHS. Her dedication and loyalty are the promise of the future for North Platte students and the programs she supports.” Macie Wippel worked with Craig in starting an ag program in Kearney Public Schools from 2016 to 2018. During those two years, Kathleen assisted in growing that program from 150 students to more than 300, Wippel wrote. Outside of school, Craig is a rancher, a wife, and a mother. She and her husband, Colton, live north of town ranching for themselves while raising their toddler son, Lawson. Craig’s activities include Nebraska Coaches Association, Nebraska State Education Association, North Platte assistant swim coach, FFA adviser, Skills USA adviser and TeamMates mentor.
She “etched her place in the Sutherland community as a hard-working, fair/ balanced, positive school administrator,” wrote David Huebner, Amanda's husband. “She tirelessly works on behalf of the student body’s academic growth, mental health, physical wellness and safety. Mrs. Huebner is an exceptional woman leader in our area and has built an impeccable reputation in the greater Lincoln County educational realm.” She holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in English, a master’s degree from the University of Texas-Tyler in human resource development and management, and a master’s from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in education administration. She is currently completing a UNK superintendent certificate and will be a fall 2023 Ed.D. doctoral student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She was a high school English teacher and coach for over 10 years in Texas. Additionally, she is a published young adult author. Her book, “Locket of Lies,” is available on Amazon.
Congratulations to Maggie Butler, Kathleen Craig and Angela Blaesi forbeing
recognized as 2023’s Women of Achievement Nominees. We appreciate your dedication to Education, our Students and our
Community. We are so proud of you all! We are NPPS!
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