Email Jo Ann Lundgreen

Jo Ann Lundgreen joined the Board of Education in January of 2015.

Jo Ann was raised in Montana until her family moved to North Platte the summer before her sophomore year. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1993. She went on to graduate from Southern Utah University with a degree in Communications.

Jo Ann began working, part-time, for the Development office at Mid-Plains Community college in April of 2014. She has been an active member of the Jefferson Elementary Parent Teacher Organization since 2003 where she has served as Treasurer, Vice President and three years as President. Jo Ann also served as a member of the District Shaping the Future Committee which studied the NPPS Middle School Reconfiguration.

Jo Ann married her spouse, Brent, in 1994; they have four children who attend North Platte Public Schools. They are active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints and actively participate in many youth activities in the community including Scouting and coaching various sports.

Email Emily Garrick

Emily Garrick joined the Board of Education in January 2023. She graduated from McCook High School in 2007 and attended the University of Nebraska - Kearney, graduating with honors and a degree in K-12 Art Education.

Emily's career in education has included teaching K-12 Art at Hitchcock County Schools, Middle School Art in Cozad, working as an enrollment counselor and adjunct Graphic Design professor at Mid Plains Community College, and 7th and 8th Grade Art at Adams Middle School here in North Platte.

In 2019, Emily resigned from teaching to become self-employed, but her passion for education remains. She now works as a video producer full-time and owns several local businesses with her husband. She’s been married to her husband, Councilman Brad Garrick, since 2018 and is the stepmom to a young adult and mom to a three-year-old. Emily has been involved in several community organizations, including the Community Build Playground, Chamber Hostesses, and is a board member for Bridge of Hope Child Advocacy Center.

Email Cindy O'Connor

Cindy was an employee of North Platte Public Schools for 18 years in the payroll department as a payroll bookkeeper.  Cindy retired at the end of December 2022. 

She is originally a native of Youngstown, Ohio.  Cindy met her husband, Kevin, in Kearney, Nebraska, and has been happily married for 41 years.  Her husband teaches and coaches at North Platte Community college. They have one son Sean who lives and works in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Cindy is a member of St. Patrick's Church.  Cindy has enjoyed helping for many years with planting flowers in the spring in front of St. Pat's church.

Email Skip Altig

Skip has been a member of the Board since April 2015. He graduated from St. Patrick High School in North Platte in 1972. He received an Associate of Arts degree from North Platte Junior College in 1974. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and Theater from Kearney State College in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree from Kearney State College (Speech and Theater) in 1988. Skip taught speech, debate, and drama at North Platte High School for 36 years, retiring in 2013.

He has been married to his wife Susan, also a retired teacher since 1977. They have two sons, Van and Kurt, both graduates of North Platte High School. They have three grandchildren.

Skip is an active member of the Episcopal Church in North Platte. He was a very active member of the North Platte Education Association, Nebraska State Education Association, National Education Association, and the Nebraska Speech Communication and Theater Association. He currently judges speech and drama productions throughout the state.

Email Angela Blaesi

Angela Blaesi joined the North Platte board of education in January of 2021. She was born and raised in North Platte. She graduated North Platte High School in 1996. She is the proud single mother of 3. She has been an involved and active parent throughout her children’s years in the North Platte Public School System.

Angela owns and operates a state-licensed in-home childcare. She currently has the only Step Up to Quality rated childcare in North Platte. She has just received her Child Development Associate Credential and is continuing her education through Mid Plains Community College.

Angela is a member of the Miss Nebraska Board of Directors and runs the Little Sister Program. She is a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church. She has been a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School Teacher, and soccer coach throughout the years. She is involved with North Platte’s Communities for Kids, Rooted in Relationships, and hopes to help the children of North Platte continue to receive a quality education.

Email Matthew Pederson

Matthew Pederson joined the North Platte Board of Education in January 2017. He is a proud alum of North Platte Public Schools, having attended K-12 at NPPSD and graduating from NPHS in 2006. After graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in 2010 with a B.S. in Secondary Education with endorsements in History and Political Science. Matt continued his education at the University of Nebraska College of Law where he graduated with a J.D. in 2013. During law school, he served as a substitute teacher for Lincoln Public Schools and coached soccer at Lincoln High School. In 2013, Matt returned to North Platte and joined the law firm of Pederson and Troshynski where he practices in a wide variety of legal areas. Since returning to North Platte, he has been involved with Mid Plains United Way, Sunrise Rotary, North Platte Community Playhouse, NPHS Mock Trial, and Community Connections Mentoring. Matt is married to Lindsey, who practices dentistry in North Platte.