News and Announcements

Join us on October 28th for the 2026 Westside Alumni Hall of Fame and District Lighthouse Leader Recognition Dinner!

Happy Hollow Club

Wed, October 28, 2026

6:00 PM

RSVP by Monday, October 19th

Click here to RSVP

Community Connections - FREE for all!

Bocce Ball Learn & Play

Come learn about the American Italian Heritage Society and Bocce! Try your hand at this fun Italian lawn game - no experience needed. Families are welcome. There will be free bottled water at the event.

Where: American Italian Heritage Society, 5110 N 132nd St, Omaha, NE

When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Starts at 5:00 PM

RSVP: Must RSVP to attend the free event. Click this link to RSVP. 

Click here to download the printable flyer for this event.

More information:

Through our WE-SIDE initiatives, Westside Community Schools is building meaningful partnerships that create opportunities to connect, learn, grow, and experience all that Omaha has to offer!

If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Herzog by emailing her at herzog.danielle@westside66.net

Our Westside Community Schools Project SEARCH Team is being recognized for successfully transitioning Project SEARCH participants into gainfully employed members of society.

Our Westside/Children's Hospital Project SEARCH program was recently presented with the Excellent Employment Outcomes Award at the 19^th Annual Project SEARCH Conference in St. Louis, MO.

This ‘win’ is the result of the commitment of everyone associated with our Project SEARCH Program.

Nicole Kerkman, Coordinator of the WHS Special Education and Transition Program says the success is truly a group effort, "Everyone plays a role in the success of the program; the interns, their instructors, the coordinators, and our director – EVERYONE - contributed to the success of the young adults in the program."

Kerkman added, "We especially want to thank those young adults who were given an opportunity and turned it into meaningful employment." 

Westside Community Schools Announces 2026 Phillip & Terri Schrager Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award Winners 

Each year, the Phillip and Terri Schrager Foundation honors two deserving Westside Community Schools educators leading the way in excellence, community, and innovation in the classroom. On May 20, the 2026 Schrager Distinguished Teaching Awards were presented to two Westside Community Schools educators: Craig Secora, physical education teacher and coach at Westside High School, and Chris Turner, sixth-grade teacher at Hillside Elementary.

CRAIG SECORA

PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER

WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

For 24 years, Westside High educator and coach Craig Secora has made a lasting impact on students through innovation, mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to individualized learning. Known for blending technology with personalized instruction, Secora continually adapts his teaching to meet students where they are — whether supporting elite athletes pursuing collegiate goals or helping students build healthy lifelong habits.

Secora is widely respected for his ability to manage multiple individualized learning plans while keeping students fully engaged. His innovative approach has drawn educators and administrators from across the country to observe his classroom in action. Colleagues describe his work as “personalized learning at its highest level.”

Just as important, Secora prioritizes the whole student. He is known for checking on students’ academic progress, collaborating with colleagues, and ensuring students are supported both physically and academically. To him, success in the classroom is just as important as success in training.

Beyond his daily work with students, Secora has also played a key role in helping shape the Westside Foundation’s Impacting Excellence campaign. This ambitious project includes a world-class performance and wellness center that students will benefit from for years to come.

While his expertise and innovation stand out, colleagues say his greatest strength is his quiet leadership and genuine care for others. Former students regularly return to seek his advice and reconnect with a mentor who helped shape their confidence, discipline, and resilience.

Craig Secora’s legacy is defined not only by stronger students but by stronger people — a reflection of the lasting difference one educator can make.

Westside Community Schools is proud to celebrate Craig Secora as a 2026 Schrager Award recipient and grateful for the lasting impact he continues to make on students, colleagues, and the entire Warrior community.

CHRIS TURNER

SIXTH GRADE TEACHER

HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY

For nearly four decades, educator Chris Turner has dedicated his career to helping students grow as learners and individuals, including the past 23 years at Hillside Elementary School in Westside Community Schools. Known for building strong relationships with students long before they enter his classroom, Turner creates an environment rooted in trust, respect, and high expectations.

Students and families know him as a steady, caring presence who values empathy and character development just as much as academic achievement. By the time students become part of his classroom community, Turner has often already learned their names, interests, and strengths — laying the foundation for meaningful connections and student success.

A master teacher, Turner balances rigorous instruction with creativity and hands-on learning experiences that bring literature and writing to life. Through ongoing assessment and individualized support, he ensures every student is challenged, engaged, and encouraged to think deeply. His classroom fosters curiosity, thoughtful discussion, and ownership of learning.

Turner’s impact also extends far beyond his own students. Over the course of his career, he has mentored numerous student teachers and served as a trusted leader and collaborator among colleagues. Many former students continue to return years later to share their successes and reconnect with the teacher who first recognized their potential.

After more than 30 years in education, Chris Turner remains an essential part of the Hillside community and a lasting example of excellence in teaching and mentorship. Westside Community Schools is proud to celebrate Chris Turner as a 2026 Schrager Award recipient and grateful for the extraordinary impact he continues to make each and every day.