Underpaid, under appreciated and constantly criticized are just some of the daily struggles of many educators.

Teaching can often be described as a thankless job, but The Alice Buffett Foundation sets out each year to thank educators. Their Outstanding
Teacher Award strives to recognize the dedicated teachers in Omaha Public Schools.

Current and former students, parents and community members are all welcomed to nominate OPS teachers for the award. Nominations can be submitted online at buffettoutstandingteachers.org. The nomination deadline is Jan. 15.

And while many new teachers are wonderful, this award is only open to OPS educators who have at least two years under their belt.

Fifteen OPS educators will be selected from the nominations to receive the award in early spring.

Besides earning recognition for their hard work and dedication, the winning educators will get $10,000 and $500 in McDonalds gift cards.

“It’s important to recognize each other,” Principal Robert Aranda said. “There’s a lot things teachers do that goes beyond normal duty hauls.”
Winning this award often inspires and keeps educators motivated. It shows them their hard work is appreciated.

Social studies teacher Thomas Allen, family consumer science teacher Krystal Kolb, English as a second language teacher Mary Malone and business teacher Kim Wyllie are all Bear Buffett award winners from past years.

Receiving the award means something different to every teacher. For Allen, it meant he was doing something right with his teaching.

“I got emotional about it because somebody finally recognized that we do work,” Allen said. “I worked my butt off.”

Malone took winning this award as something to fuel her desire to keep giving her best everyday to her students. Winning the Buffett was a surprise for Malone. She felt honored and humbled to even be considered for the award.

“The woman told me she was calling to tell me that I was being awarded it [the Buffett], I told her it was a mistake,” Malone said. “I was crying so hard.”

After winning the Buffet, it made Wyllie think of how she could always be a little better or work just a little harder to reach all her students.

“If people have that much faith in recommending me for that award,” Wyllie said, “I should rise to the occasion and continue to be that.”

Giving educators the feeling of appreciation and impact is just what the award was created for. The award itself came about as a way to honor Alice Buffet who was passionate and respected educator.

“[She was] a terrific teacher. Every student was an individual to her,” Warren Buffet said. “Every student she had remembered her and remembered her interest in them specifically.”