Thank You Teacher
Recognition Ceremony
2024–2025
Thank You Teacher ceremony brings tears of joy to community members
Five Lincoln Public Schools teachers heard two of the most important words anyone can say Tuesday morning: thank you.
Taylor Yaussi, Kaylin Gardner, Jay Lockard, Tony Quattrocchi and Doris Wiens listened to grateful sentences at the 2025 Thank You Teacher ceremony. Students, families and community members came to the Nebraska Governor’s Mansion to recognize teachers who had made lifelong impacts on them. The annual celebratory breakfast was held in conjunction with Nebraska Teacher Recognition Day.
More than 300 people submitted nominations in the categories of pre-kindergarten through second grade, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, grades 9-12 and retired teachers. The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools presented a $1,000 award to all five Thank You Teacher recipients. The Lincoln Education Association along with radio stations KFOR and KFRX and their sponsors also provided gift bags and prizes.
Taylor Yaussi – Grades PreK-2
Mindy Parker and her son Xander nominated Yaussi because of her patient and kind demeanor. Xander spent more than four years in the foster care system, which Parker said led to frequent outbursts in childcare settings.
Xander’s life changed last fall when he was accepted into the LPS early childhood preschool program. Parker said Yaussi, an afternoon preschool teacher at Kooser Elementary School, became a caring and compassionate role model for him. He became more confident at school and now has many friends in Yaussi’s classroom.
“Today we have a little boy who absolutely loves going to school, is thriving in the classroom and all other aspects of life, has healthy peer relationships and so much love for his favorite, Miss Taylor,” Parker said. “He wakes each weekday morning doing what he calls the ‘Miss Taylor dance’ because he’s so excited to see her.”
Yaussi, a North Star High School graduate, said she wants to bring that same type of support to every child she sees during the day. She told the audience that “every child deserves a champion” and that she was grateful for having a trusting relationship with Xander.
“My heart is truly bursting at the seams,” Yaussi said.
Parker said Yaussi had given Xander a road map for a positive future.
“We’re beyond thankful for Miss Yaussi and her natural ability to simply see life through the eyes of a child, giving our little man a chance and a successful start towards academic success,” Parker said. “She has made a lifelong impact and been an incredible blessing.”
Kaylin Gardner – Grades 3-5
Gardner has used her love of fine arts to compose joyful outcomes for students in her music classes at Arnold Elementary School. She encourages them to perform in school musicals, teaches children how to sing and play instruments, spends time organizing school concerts and volunteers with Arnold’s choir at community events.
Arnold student Alaina said Gardner has been a constant source of support. Gardner jumpstarted Alaina’s love for theater by telling her about “Finding Nemo Jr.” when she was in third grade. Alaina loved the experience of singing on stage in the school musical, and she has since been in four other performances with her classmates.
“She is very involved with how my love for musicals and theater has blossomed, as she is always asking me when my next auditions are,” Alaina said. “She asks how the rehearsals are going to make sure I’m having a good time.”
Alaina experienced that same level of dedication in fifth grade. She and another classmate were invited to attend a special vocal music ensemble, and Gardner ensured they would be able to enjoy every bit of the educational experience.
“Mrs. Gardner came in early an extra day before school to work with us on the songs, which helped me feel more confident,” Alaina said. “The day of the ensemble, she stayed all day volunteering and making sure we were having a good time. She also played an instrument during one of our ensemble songs at our concert that day, which was really fun to see!”
Gardner said it has been a privilege to help children in her Arnold classes. She said it is rewarding to see students like Alaina scale to successful heights in their musical activities.
“To watch her shine on stage gives me so much pride and joy,” Gardner said.
Jay Lockard – Grades 6-8
Former Scott Middle School student Conner said Lockard transformed her life when she entered his skilled and technical sciences class. Lockard noticed that Conner had a gift for leading and inspiring her classmates on construction projects, and he asked her if she would be a student assistant the following school year. On the final day of her assistantship, Lockard handed Conner an envelope that contained encouraging words.
“I opened it up and read a paragraph that would end up changing my trajectory in life,” Conner said. “He thanked me for all of the help, but he also told me that I had a natural talent for helping people and that he had never seen a student so easily jump in and support students.”
Lockard began leading industrial arts courses at LPS in 1986. Both of his parents were educators and he valued the wisdom of older people who helped him become a mechanic. He told the audience that it was important to be “connecting with students that walk into my class” by giving them confidence in their abilities.
Conner said her mentor did that for her. She is planning to follow in Lockard’s footsteps and become a teacher after graduating from Standing Bear High School. She said her goal was to copy his philosophy of never giving up on any student.
“I know for a fact I’m not the only kid who would want him to get the recognition he deserves,” Conner said. “In fact, I know multiple of his past students who decided to go into industrial jobs after his class. A good teacher helps you get good grades, but an amazing teacher teaches you the skills you will need forever.”
Tony Quattrocchi – Grades 9-12
One of Alisha Chab’s top memories as a student at North Star High School was walking into Tony Quattrocchi’s Advanced Placement United States History class each morning. During winter, the sun had not even broken the horizon when the 7 a.m. lectures were taking place, but Chab said Quattrocchi created many bright moments with his personable teaching style.
“Every day I looked forward to coming to class, yes, even as early as 7 a.m.,” Chab said. “All because of him. He made learning fun and enjoyable and lit this interest in education in me I didn’t know I had. He was always kind and funny and held us to high-but-achievable expectations. He made learning challenging and fun.”
Quattrocchi said he was fortunate to have hundreds of hardworking students like Chab in his classrooms. He has taught at LPS since 1993 and is chairperson of North Star’s social studies department. He said his goals were to “build positive relationships and get kids excited about learning” every day in school and to make education a two-way street.
“I’m just as much learning from students as they are learning from me,” Quattrocchi said.
Chab was so inspired by Quattrocchi that she decided to become a teacher herself. She now guides social studies students in the same hallway as her mentor.
“Not many people are fortunate enough to work with their heroes, but I am one of the lucky ones,” Chab said.
Chab said she has watched Quattrocchi embody servant leadership in his role as North Star’s social studies department chair. She felt the Thank You Teacher award was a well-deserved honor for someone who has helped so many Navigators.
“Tony leads our department with so much poise, patience, wisdom and respect,” Chab said. “We couldn’t have a better person to guide us, root for us and represent us. I hope he knows how proud I am to be one of his social studies teachers.”
Doris Wiens – Retired Teacher
Lori Meier Johnson transported audience members back in time as she recounted how Wiens had helped her more than 50 years ago. Wiens was Johnson’s sixth grade teacher at Bethany Elementary School and made noticeable impacts on everyone in the class. Johnson, who now lives in Colorado, said it was important for her to return to Lincoln to tell Wiens in person what she meant to her.
“Mrs. Wiens built up my confidence when I had low self-esteem,” Johnson said. “I’ll never forget when I filled out my schedule for junior high. Mrs. Wiens told me I can take music or art because I was good at both!”
Wiens said she wanted to help students feel good about themselves in class. She would often read stories to them and explain the meaning behind each tale. The books showed her sixth graders that they had the ability to succeed in everything they did in life.
“When you see someone without a smile, just give them one of yours,” Wiens said.
That caring nature extended outside the classroom. Wiens created homemade bibs for both of Johnson’s children, and she taught music to many children at her local church. She also gave encouraging words to everyone she met in Lincoln.
Wiens retired in 1995 after helping hundreds of people at Meadow Lane, Bethany, Calvert and Zeman elementary schools. Johnson said it was exciting to tell her favorite teacher how much she has meant to her over the past five decades.
“I’m turning 70 soon and just wanted to let Mrs. Wiens know what a blessing she is to my family and me, and how she changed my life at 12 years old!” Johnson said.
Teachers love their students,
They name them one by one,
The teacher gets excited
When their work’s all done.
There’s a list of spelling words,
Math problems every day,
Lots of social studies,
And recess time for play.
Reading class is important,
New words for them to learn,
Oral reading’s lots of fun,
They have to wait their turn.
Wonder what’s for lunch today,
They hope it’s something great.
Like cinnamon rolls and chili,
They can hardly wait.
These boys and girls, my students,
What will their future bring?
Success in their endeavors,
That would make me sing.
Each one has touched my life,
I hope that I’ve touched theirs.
Maybe we will meet again,
Sometime in the next few years.
Doris J. Wiens
Photos from the 2025 Thank You Teacher Celebration
Program
Welcome
Jill St. James
AlphamediaUSA
Speakers
John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
Bob Rauner
President
Lincoln Board of Education
Joe Kelley
Lt. Governor of Nebraska
Awards Presentation
John Skretta and Jill St. James
Letters and Comments
Nominators and Teachers
Closing Remarks
Jill St. James
The Letters
Taylor Yaussi
School
Kooser Elementary
Nominated By
Mindy Parker and her son Xander
Our son was recently adopted through foster care, after spending his first 4 1/2 years in the foster care system he finally has his forever home. While he has been in our home since birth he was subjected to significant trauma throughout his first 4 years of life as DHHS worked towards establishing reunification with his biological parents. During this time he was subjected to things children should never have to endure. As a result of this he would have frequent outbursts and highly escalated behaviors in the childcare setting which lead to a disengagement from childcare professionals, being labeled as the “naughty kid”, lack of overall patience and an unwillingness for providers to simply see life through his lens, ultimately resulting in him being kicked out of the classroom or childcare centers all together, impacting his learning and ability to form healthy peer relationships.
His interest in an educational setting had become nonexistent, his lack of trust in childcare centers had been destroyed, he hated going to “school” and it broke our hearts to send him.
In the fall of 2024, he was accepted into the LPS Preschool Program, a last minute request to change his assigned time led him to Miss Yaussi’s class. He was beyond excited to go to the same school as his siblings yet his prior experiences had him scared to trust and hesitant to connect, he definitely tested his limits upon first joining Miss Yaussi’s classroom. But through it all Miss Yaussi remained patient and consistent. For the first time he had a teacher willing to see life through his lens, meet him where he was at and love him wholeheartedly through the good and bad moments.
Today we have a little boy who absolutely LOVES going to school, is thriving in the classroom and all other aspects of life, has healthy peer relationships, and so much love for his favorite, Miss Taylor. He wakes each weekday morning doing what he calls the “Miss Taylor dance” because he’s so excited to see her and overall has a new found love and excitement for school which has strengthened his development and overall confidence.
We’re beyond thankful for Miss Yaussi and her natural ability to simply see life through the eyes of a child, giving our little man a chance and a successful start towards academic success. She has made a lifelong impact and been an
incredible blessing.
Kaylin Gardner
School
Arnold Elementary School
Nominated By
Alaina Wenske
I have known Mrs. Gardner since I was in kindergarten. She has been with me and supported me all these years as a music teacher.
In third grade, Mrs. Gardner gave me information about a musical and she encouraged me to audition for it. Once I auditioned, I realized that I really loved musicals and she
jump started my love for theatre! I’ve been in four musicals total since then. She’s been to almost all of them to support me and it meant a lot for me to have a teacher be so
involved.
She is very involved with how my love for musicals and theatre has blossomed, as she is always asking me when my next auditions are and she asks how the rehearsals are
going to make sure I’m having a good time.
In fifth grade, I, along with another classmate, were given the opportunity to go to the Off Ensemble. Mrs. Gardner came in early an extra day before school to work with us on the songs, which helped me feel more confident. The day of the ensemble, she stayed all day volunteering and making sure we were having a good time. She also played an instrument during one of our ensemble songs at our concert that day which was really fun to see!
In music class along with teaching us important lessons, she also educates us about upcoming holidays by watching videos and showing us different cultural dances. She is
always prepared for lessons and sends my parents slideshows with song information for our concerts so that we can be prepared. She also spends her extra time coming to school early for choir rehearsals, helping with parent pickup and dropoff, and volunteering her time with our choir by going to nursing homes to sing songs.
Even though half of my homeroom teachers since kindergarten have left every time I moved up in grades, she has stayed the whole time and it makes me feel grateful for
her. These are the many reasons why I am nominating Mrs. Gardner for Nebraska Teacher Recognition Day.
Jay Lockard
School
Schoo Middle School
Nominated By
Conner Van Winkle
In August of 2021, I was put into Mr. Lockard’s industrial tech class. I went into the class with very low expectations; being a girl in a male dominated class was kind of
intimidating. As the semester went on I realized that all of those fears I had were the complete opposite of the truth. I ended the class with a 98, or as it says in my report card “Commendable”.
Getting good grades wasn’t uncommon for me, but learning about who I am instead of a curriculum was. In this class we got to build items and use power tools to do so. From the start I began to realize that I was actually pretty good with building things; so did my peers.
Before I started the class I was scared I wouldn’t fit in, but in reality all of the boys ended up asking me for help.
Sometimes people in my class couldn’t figure out what they did wrong or how to do some things, so they’d come to me with questions. Mr. Lockard caught on to this pretty quickly, so one day he pulled me over to his desk. At first I was scared, but then he asked me if I would assist his industrial tech class next year. I had began to love his class, so after a bit of thinking I agreed to it.
The next school year I did in fact assist his 7th grade industrial tech class. My job was to grade papers and take attendance, but after a little while kids in the class started
coming to me with questions again. I loved helping people, so every time someone got stuck, I got up and helped them. At the end of the semester I said my goodbyes to the class, and Mr. Lockard. Before I left he gave me an envelope and told me not to open it until I was home. When I got home that day I opened it up and read a paragraph that would end up changing my trajectory in life.
He thanked me for all of the help, but he also told me that I had a natural talent for helping people and that he had never seen a student so easily jump in and support students.
I am now in high school, and am graduating at just 16 years old. In August of this year I will begin college at UNL for an education degree. If you would’ve told 12 year old me I wanted to be a teacher I would’ve laughed in your face; thanks to my opportunity 16 year old me can’t imagine my life without teaching.
Obviously in the last three years I have had other opportunities that have pointed me to teaching, but not like assisting Mr. Lockard did. He showed me what kind of
teacher I wanted to be; someone who never gave up on anyone and no matter the circumstances changed every student.
I think that the most honorable thing a teacher can do is teach a student to do the same. He taught me that life isn’t about how much money you make, but how much you love what you do. I know for a fact I’m not the only kid who would want him to get the recognition he deserves; in fact I know multiple of his past students who decided to go into industrial jobs after his class. A good teacher helps you get good grades, but an amazing teacher teaches you the skills you will need forever.
Tony Quattrocchi
School
North Star High School
Nominated By
Alisha Chab
Not many people are fortunate enough to work with their heroes, but I am one of the lucky ones. I work at my alma mater (North Star High School), as a LPS student alum
turned teacher, and Tony Quattrocchi is one of the reasons I am a teacher today.
He was my AP US History teacher back when I was a student at North Star. I took his 7am class, and every day I looked forward to coming to class–yes, even as early as 7a.m. All because of him. He made learning fun, enjoyable, and lit this interest in education in me I didn’t know I had. He was always kind, funny, and held us to high but achievable expectations. He made learning challenging and fun.
Everyday I try to live up to be the teacher he was back in 2009 and currently is in 2025.
I also have the unique experience to be a member of his department and experience education from the professional side as well. Because of this I am able to understand true, servant leadership. Tony leads our department with so much poise, patience, wisdom, and respect–we couldn’t have a better person to guide us, root for us, and represent us. I hope he knows how proud I am to be one of his social studies teachers and to attempt to follow in his footsteps as a Gator Great.
Doris Wiens
School
Retired
Nominated By
Lori Meier Johnson
My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Wiens was my favorite teacher!
She could read us a story, explain the meaning, and relate it to a life experience. She brought in her Autoharp to help us sing, teaching each of us how to play it.
Mrs. Wiens built up my confidence when I had low self esteem. I’ll never forget when I filled out my schedule for junior high, Mrs. Wiens told me I can take music or art because I was good at both!
Mrs. Wiens taught both of my brothers: Larry and Danny. She went to my grandparents’ church. They brought me homemade bibs from Mrs. Wiens for both of my kids when they were babies! She’s so caring!
Josh and Amy were taught music from Mrs. Wiens during Redeemer’s Mid Week Bible Class! My dad even knew Mrs. Wien’s husband.
The last time I think I saw Mrs. Wiens was at the State Office Building where I worked for the Telephone Company as a technician. I rode up with Mrs. Wiens where she told me that she was going to the department to fill out her retirement papers! I told her again she was my favorite teacher!
I’m turning 70 soon and just wanted to let Mrs. Wiens know what a blessing she is to my family and me, and how she changed my life at 12 years old!
