My name is Vikki Carlson. I am the Director for Secondary Teaching & Learning for North Platte Public Schools. I am proud to be a North Platte High School graduate from the class of 1987.

After graduation, I earned my secondary teaching degree in Language Arts, Speech Communication, and Theater at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. I then continued on with my post-secondary career earning my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College and my Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

 

I have taught at both the middle school and high school level and have been an administrator at both the middle school and high school level, as well. My educational career spans 20 years of classroom teaching and principalship.

 

My husband, Lance, is also a North Platte High School graduate and successful business owner. Our family, including our two sons, is fully vested in the North Platte community, and we are grateful for the educational opportunities North Platte Public School district provides.

 

Through my evolution as an educator, I have crafted my own personal belief statement which drives my passion for teaching and learning. We are all learners at our core. We became educators because we believe we can positively impact the life of a young person. We know that fundamentally successful learning for a student evolves out of a steadfast and caring relationship grounded in professional boundaries. As educators, we know we are only as strong as our weakest member; therefore, we are committed to collaboration and celebration that embeds high expectations, assumes positive intent, models respect for one another, and honors autonomy so that our North Platte Public School District’s teachers and school leaders accepts no less than the very best from one another. Through these professional channels, our students are guided through their learning journey to prepare them for becoming a citizen who positively impacts the world.

 

 

Being the Elementary Director of Teaching and Learning is a great responsibility that I take tremendous pride in as a professional and human being. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education". With that being said, I get the privilege to work everyday with nine elementary buildings, over 1,500 children and 250 educators that have so much personality, intelligence, and abilities. Each educator’s and child's uniqueness and unbridled desire to grow that makes this job so rewarding. My goal is to ensure that teachers have the proper support in place to ensure every child in our district is being prepared to be productive, responsible citizens in a safe, caring, supportive, and learning environment.

I believe the elementary teachers in the North Platte Public School District are some of the is the very best in the state of Nebraska. In each building our principals, teachers, paraeducators, classroom volunteers, custodians, and lunch servers work hard to create a culture that has high expectations, challenges each individual's depth of knowledge, find ways to engage students in learning that is enjoyable, and provide a climate that builds self-confidence. The employees at North Platte Public Schools are committed to the students. It is the district’s vision to provide quality professional development to improve at their trade to provide best practice while educating, put in the needed time to prepare quality lessons each and every day, and make solid data-driven decisions to drive each child’s individual learning plan.

Our School Board members and Central Office administration believe firmly to the conviction that all children can learn. This is evident in their decisions and provided support. They believe that teachers make the biggest impact on a child's education and make key decisions to develop our educators and give them the necessary tools needed to be successful. This type of commitment is refreshing and exciting as our district moves forward.

I can honestly say everyday I think about how fortunate and grateful I am to be a part of North Platte Public School District. North Platte is a community that prides itself in having a strong educational system, and this is very evident in every one of our buildings. As the saying goes "it takes a village to raise a child", and it is something we all take very seriously. If there is anything I can do for you or your child, please stop in and visit.

Sincerely,

Trent Benjamin

Elementary Director of Teaching and Learning