Rural Catholic School Elementary Educator of the Year

For the past 22 years, Lynn Mielak has cheerily welcomed kindergarten students to her classroom at St. Bonaventure Catholic School in Columbus, Nebraska.

The current 2020-2021 school year may look different but along with that cheer, Mrs. Meilak knows the Catholic faith will get them all through.

“I’ve always tried to live as a disciple of Jesus. I am a role model for not only my students, but also my students’ s parents. I have had several students come back to me more than 20 years after teaching them to thank me for teaching them. They’ve said they can achieve any goal they aspire and that my role as their teacher made a big positive impact into their lives.”

It’s no wonder she is this year’s Elementary Educator of the Year from our Catholic schools in rural northeast Nebraska.

Her life has been dedicated to others. She cites her colleagues from school as close friends – and she is close with her family and other friends as well. Beyond school and family life, she enjoys horses. Growing up, Lynn and her family enjoyed riding and showing horses, which she has now passed along to her daughters.

In addition to teaching in Columbus, she also has experience teaching in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Lincoln.

Congratulations, Lynn Mielak! Cheers to another 22 years in your vocation as Catholic educator!

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If you’d like to learn more about Mrs. Mielak and/or help her celebrate, please join us for this year’s Archbishop’s Dinner for Education on September 24 – Virtual edition! 

She is part of a larger group of educators the Archdiocese of Omaha honors each year. The annual event helps us recognize and reward the impact of our local educators, celebrate Catholic education and raise important scholarship dollars for tuition assistance.