Omaha Public Schools employee celebrating 50 years at Kennedy Elementary
Ms. Gwen Breakfield has been at Kennedy Elementary for 50 years. Her enthusiasm for teaching today, is just as strong as day one.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - ABC’s and 1,2,3’s is what thousands of Omaha students have learned from Ms. Gwen Breakfield.
She’s celebrating 50 years of working as a paraprofessional at Kennedy Elementary School in now Ms. Norris’ kindergarten classroom.
“She’s in the classroom, she’s walking them to where they need to be. She’ll go up and visit some of the older kids and help remind them to be on task,” said Melissa Zeiszler, Dean of STEAM.
She started at the school in 1974 as a young mother of two. Many of the lessons she taught at home were the ones she shared with her students.
“Sometimes when I go into the cafeteria, I want to say, I shouldn’t do this… but I say, put your feet under the table, sit up straight, eat all your food, you gotta really work hard today, so I think you can do it, you think so? Yes Ms. Breakfield,” said Ms. Breakfield.
Ms. Breakfield thrives on a more traditional approach to learning – using her hand sewn ABC quilts – where generations of students have picked out their favorite letter.
“She absolutely believes that education is the key to a great life. And every educator agrees with her. The kids see that. She’s constantly working, she’s busy as a bee, she’s creating those wonderful memories that they learn to love school from her,” said Zeiszler.
In 50 years she’s seen a lot change.
“The kids have changed, the building has changed, they remodeled the building and it’s a good thing because now we have elevators, now we have air conditioning,” said Ms. Breakfield.
But her commitment to the students has remained the same.
“I’ve been to a lot of different schools in the summer, but this is the best school in America,” said Ms. Breakfield.
Over the years, many of Ms. Breakfield’s students, who are now all grown up, have come back to visit her. After 50 years, she still loves coming to work every day and right now has no immediate plans to retire.
Ms. Breakfield is also a dedicated member of her church at Salem Baptist.
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