2025 GIPS Foundation Teacher of the Year, (GIPS, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation is calling on the community to recognize the exceptional dedication of Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) staff through its 22nd annual Teacher of the Year program.
Nominations are now being accepted until April 29, 2025.
This program, generously sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha, provides an opportunity to express gratitude to teachers, administrators, counselors, and all support staff, including secretaries, custodians, para-educators, and food service personnel, who have made a significant impact on students and the community.
Nominees will receive the heartfelt nominations in May, allowing them to conclude the 2024-2025 school year with well-deserved recognition. In August, at the GIPS Welcome Back event, six outstanding individuals will be honored with individual awards.
“Within the heart of our District, in the classrooms and hallways of Grand Island Public Schools, lives a quiet dedication,” stated Kari Hooker-Leep, Executive Director of the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation. “These are the individuals who ‘put their full heart into students each and every day,’ the ones who ‘meet their students right where they are.’ They are the educators, the support staff, the unsung heroes who shape futures and ignite passions. These are the individuals we seek to honor – anyone who embodies ‘the spirit of dedication, warmth, and unparalleled support that defines excellence.’ Who has changed YOUR life? Who has made a difference in the lives of our children? Let’s flood our schools with the recognition these extraordinary individuals deserve. Let’s celebrate the heart of Grand Island Public Schools.”
The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation invites the community to submit nominations today.
The nomination form is available on the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation website, https://gipsfoundation.org/what-we-do/teacher-of-the-year.html
Nominations are submitted electronically through a Google Form.
Nominations should include the following information:
1. Name of school where teacher, staff member, or principal is employed
2. Teacher, Principal, or Staff Member’s name
3. An explanation of why the teacher, principal, or staff member deserves to receive the award
4. Name and e-mail address of person submitting the nomination
