Pierce High Teachers Retire
Mr. Greg Warneke Retires After Many Years of Teaching and Coaching.
by Trina Wetzel
Mr. Greg Warneke, a Pierce High School teacher, will retire after 35 years of wonderful teaching and 37 years of coaching all at Pierce. Warneke starated coaching in the Pierce school system in the 1985-86 school year and started his teaching career in the 1987-88 school year.
Throughout his teaching career, Warneke has taught Accounting 1 and 2, Personal Finance, Business Law, Economics, Real World, Introduction To Business, and Computer Applications. Warneke coached high school football for 30 years and junior high football for five years. In addition, he coached high school basketball for 13 years and junior high basketball for three years.
Warneke’s favorite subject to teach is Accounting. Teaching in the business area allowed Warneke to teach students in grades 9-12.
Warneke plans on working for Stonacek Funeral Chapel, spending time with his wife, Kathy, and even doing some “Grandpa Greg’s Daycare.”
Technology is a trend that has changed since Warneke began teaching. When he first started teaching, computers were just starting to be implemented into schools. Accounting classes were all paper and pencil problems when he first started teaching and now students complete problems on the computer.
Having an impact on the lives of many students is one of Warneke's greatest accomplishments as a teacher. He stated, “I feel proud seeing students become successful in their adult life.” Warneke continued, “When I was coaching football I loved seeing the student athlete not only grow as a football player but also grow to become a young man.”
Wrap-Up of Long-Lasting Career
By Addison Sporleder
After teaching history for 41 years, along with being a part of extracurricular activities, Mr. Rick Adams has officially announced his retirement.
Adams started his teaching career in Reading, Ohio, where he taught for one year. Moving forward after Ohio, he then went to Norfolk Catholic where he taught for 13 years. During his time at Norfolk Catholic, he was the head wrestling coach, head volleyball coach, and assistant football coach throughout those years. Finally, Adams came to Pierce High and has been here for 27 years. Throughout his time as a Bluejay, Adams was head volleyball coach for 18 years, assistant golf coach for two years, and head coach golf coach for 10 years.
When asked what his favorite part of teaching was, he replied, “We have great kids here.” Because of this, he will miss the students the most when he is gone.
His favorite part about coaching was all the athletes, and the little moments he cherishes.
Once the school year is over, he plans on golfing more, doing little things around the house, and getting a part time job.
Retirement Recap for Mr. Edmisten
by Brock Bolling
Mr. Thomas Edmisten, a teacher and former coach at Pierce High School, taught students for 35 years about many classes like history and English.
Edmisten started his teaching career at Ralston being a student teacher in 1987. He then taught at Hemingford for two years. After Hemingford, he settled down in Tilden for 11 years, teaching at Elkhorn Valley. Finally to this day he has been at Pierce for 21 years. Edmisten’s favorite class that he was able to teach was American History.
Edmisten also has been coaching throughout his career. He has coached track and field for 11 years, football for 13 years and has been coaching speech when he could.
When asked what some of his favorite moments were as a teacher Edmisten says, “When I was able to get a group of students to understand a complex topic that I was teaching.” When asked about some of his least favorite moments Edmisten said, “sometimes reading essays.”
He also said that the interaction with students is also a great part of his job and something he will miss the most. However, Edmisten is very excited for retirement. He plans on reading a lot more and traveling, especially to Virginia.
Long Time Pierce Teacher and Coach Retirement Recap
by Alle Koehler
Mr. Tim Waldner, a teacher and coach at Pierce High School, has been teaching, guiding, and helping students gain a love for art for 33 years now.
Waldner started his teaching career in 1989 and has been in Pierce ever since. Waldner taught art for K-12 for about seven years and did only high school for about 16 years. He will be ending his career teaching all K-12 again. Waldner's favorite grade to teach at the elementary school (K-6) are the third graders. At the high school level, he enjoys teaching the older students, such as the juniors and seniors.
He also has been assistant coaching and head coaching since about 1990 at Pierce High. He has been the head coach for track and field and the assistant coach for boys basketball. Waldner also states, “My favorite part about being the coach would be seeing the improvement and the work ethic the athletes have.”
He says that his favorite thing during his career would be the variety between teaching and coaching. Waldner also says he will miss the interactions he has with the students but is excited to be creating his own artwork out of wood and different canvas painting and then trying to sell it locally.
