Staff Spotlight: Office Team 2021-22

Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, we have been spotlighting all of our wonderful school staff on our blog! Our last spotlight of the school year is our office staff spotlight. Office staff includes Mrs. Kelly Pedersen (Head of School), Mrs. Buffy Baca (Head of School), Mrs. Renee Cole (Secretary), Ms. Helen Schiemann (Office Manager), Mrs. Amanda Huisman (Marketing and Communications Director), Mrs. Jenni Gurney (Upper Camp Director), and Mrs. Taylor Flores (Lower Camp Director).

Please read below to learn more about Legacy School’s office staff: How many years they’ve been at Legacy, something unique about themselves, and some of their favorites!

Office Staff Spotlight

 

Mrs. Kelly Pedersen: Head of School

Mrs. Kelly PedersenNumber of years teaching/working at Legacy School: 16 years teaching at OPS/ 14 years owning and operating Legacy School with co-owner Buffy Baca.

My favorite thing about Legacy School is: the colleagues I work with, as they are such a dedicated group of talented educators!

The most rewarding part of being the Head of School at Legacy is: seeing the progress students make, whether social-emotional advancement or academic growth.

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: I love boating!

Some of Mrs. Pedersen’s Favorites

College team: Nebraska Huskers

Color: blue

Candy bar: Heath

 

Mrs. Buffy Baca: Head of School

Mrs. Buffy BacaNumber of years teaching/working at Legacy School: 13 years teaching at OPS/ 14 years owning and operating Legacy School with co-owner Kelly Pedersen.

My favorite thing about Legacy School is: The dedicated, hard-working, professional staff I have the pleasure of working with each day.

The most rewarding part of being the Head of School at Legacy is: the growth our students make and their accomplishments. Also, the support from the best families around!

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: My husband and I love renovating and restoring old homes.

Some of Mrs. Baca’s Favorites

Fruit: watermelon

Cookie: sugar

Coffee shop: Village Grinder

 

Mrs. Renee Cole: Secretary

Mrs. Renee ColeNumber of years teaching/working at Legacy School: 3 years (1 year as a teacher assistant, 2 years as the school secretary).

My favorite thing about Legacy School is: The creativity in learning that the 11-acre outdoor campus provides, the team of outstanding staff, and the outpouring of parent support.

The most rewarding part of working at Legacy is: having the opportunity to interact with staff, parents, and students, as I find it a joy to serve in various ways!

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: I grew up in a town of 160 people; therefore, moving to Omaha truly seemed like a BIG CITY.

Some of Mrs. Cole’s Favorites

Hobbies: reading, thrifting, being outside

Ice cream shop and flavor: Cold Stone (cake batter with chocolate and caramel)

Soft drink: Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew

 

Ms. Helen Schiemann: Office Manager

Ms. Helen SchiemannNumber of years working at Legacy School: 13 years.

My favorite thing about Legacy School is: all the great people I work alongside.

The most rewarding part of working at Legacy is: being around all the amazing kiddos. I also love looking at all their artwork in the hallway.

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: I’m the second to youngest of eight children.

Some of Ms. Schiemann’s Favorites

Candy bar: Three Musketeer

Fruit: grapes, bananas, cuties

Sit-down restaurant: Romeo’s or La Mesa

 

Mrs. Amanda Huisman: Marketing and Communications Director

Mrs. Amanda HuismanNumber of years working at Legacy School: 7 years.

My favorite thing about Legacy School is: everything! The students, their families, all of the opportunities for outdoor education, and the supportive camaraderie between all the staff.

The most rewarding part of working at Legacy is: having the opportunity each day to portray how awe-inspiring Legacy School really is.

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: My husband and I will welcome our first child in July. We also have a very energetic Labradoodle named Daisy.

Some of Mrs. Huisman’s Favorites

Dessert: dark chocolate scotcheroos

Take-out restaurant: Raising Cane’s

Coffee shop: BREW coffee house

 

Mrs. Jenni Gurney: Upper Camp Director

Mrs. Jenni GurneyNumber of years working at Legacy School/Camp Legacy: 7 years.

My favorite thing about Legacy is: the fun, loving family atmosphere!

The most rewarding part of working at Legacy is: All of the memories we create for the kids and having the ability to give campers the full “summer camp” experience.

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: I love college basketball and would love to retire on a farm.

Some of Mrs. Gurney’s Favorites

Gum flavor: peppermint

Flower: peonies, lilacs

Hobby: crafting

 

 

Mrs. Taylor Flores: Lower Camp Director

Mrs. Taylor FloresNumber of years working at Legacy School/Camp Legacy: 10 years.

My favorite thing about Legacy is: summer camp at Camp Legacy!

The most rewarding part of working at Legacy is: seeing all the happy, smiling campers as they return to Camp each day.

Something fun/unique you might not know about me is: I was born in Phoenix, Arizona.

Some of Mrs. Flores’s Favorites

Color: purple

Cookie: oatmeal cranberry

Candy: Strawberry Twizzlers

 

Check out our previous 2021-2022 Legacy School staff spotlights:

Kitchen Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/kitchen-staff-spotlight/

Specialists Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/specialists-staff-spotlight/

PreKindergarten and Preschool Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/prekindergarten-and-preschool-staff-spotlight/

Junior Kindergarten Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/junior-kindergarten-staff-spotlight/

Kindergarten Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/kindergarten-staff-spotlight/

First Grade Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/first-grade-staff-spotlight/

Second and Third Grade Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/second-and-third-grade-staff-spotlight/

Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade Staff Spotlight: https://www.legacyschoolne.com/fourth-fifth-and-sixth-grade-staff-spotlight/

 

The Legacy Private School in Omaha Advantage

A New Choice in Education

Take A Tour

Thank you for your interest in Legacy School. We encourage you to schedule a tour and see what makes our school unique! Small class sizes, differentiated instruction and high academic standards all in a private school setting. Our 11 acre campus provides an outdoor education you will not see anywhere else. We invite you to come tour our school today!

Outdoor Education

Legacy School sits on an 11 acre campus, allowing for expressive, outdoor educational experiences for all students. Our outdoor learning and playing space allows for real world experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. We utilize our unique location, with 11 acres of land for outdoor education and outdoor play, thus giving students a chance to spend more time in an outdoor education setting. New to Legacy School is a barnyard that holds both chickens and goats and a farm to table garden.

Legacy Scholarship

We are proud to unveil our new Legacy School Scholarship Program. Students who attend Legacy from 1st-5th grade are eligible for a $500 scholarship towards higher learning. This scholarship can be used for college or trade school upon graduation from high school. With that said, we are very excited to give back to our students as we know each child has the potential to succeed at whatever goal they set for themselves. We can’t wait to help your student celebrate their high school accomplishments and for them to continue onto their higher education journey.

Contact us for any questions!