Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Schools

Mascot: Mustangs

Enrollment: 223 PK-12 students

Locations: Sumner, NE

Interesting Fact: In 2021, SEM Public School’s Fourth Grade teacher, Mrs. Laurie Smith was presented the NRCSA Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the year for 2020-2021. She was then nominated as the Nebraska candidate for the National Rural Teacher of the Year. After the interview process was completed she was selected as the 2021 National Rural Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Smith would like everyone to know that this isn’t her award. This award was given to her through the collaboration of many outstanding administrators, teachers, paras, support staff, and especially the students that have pushed her to be more, learn more, and do more!

Finally, with that being said Mrs. Smith would like to thank the six year old little girl that taught her what it means to truly be a teacher, because of her Mrs. Smith is who she is today. The lesson taught by this six year old can be summed up in a quote from comedian Michael Jr., “Never forget your why, because when you know your why, your what becomes more impactful!”

Superintendent: Dr. Candace Conradt

Principals: Mr. Grant Torpin

Board of Education: Left to Right: Kirby Burden, Rachel Hrasky - Secretary, Jennifer Anderson, Jana Hoos –Secretary, Matt Hothem – President, Laura Robbins, and Dr. Candace Conradt – Superintendent.

Program 1: Art – Mr. James Beaver, Teacher

Since 2015, the SEM art program has grown from 20 students to regularly having about 50 high school students. I’ve always told the students that I want them to be proud of what they have created and they believe that I am invested in helping them achieve that expectation. The success of the SEM art program is built through the relationships we have here. We tailor subject matter to the students interests, we discover that each and every one of us are good at some skills and struggle at others, and we have an environment where students are willing to take risks to learn something new. Our community shows a tremendous amount of support through viewing the students’ art work posted in the hallways and displayed during winter and spring music concerts. We have also been successful in winning Best of Show and Runner-Up Best of Show at our conference art show the last couple of years.

Program 2: Music – Mr. Justin Bosak, Teacher

The SEM Music Department has been a work in progress the past 12 years. We are always looking for ways to improve and bring new performance ideas to our concerts. We started with a small band and choir and have built the program up so that there are 46 students in the 7-12th grade band and 43 students in the 9-12th grade choir. Currently 75% of the high school student body is enrolled in a music class. The addition of two sections of instrumental instruction has also added something new to the program. This class starts out as a guitar class with all students learning tablature and standard notation on the acoustic guitar, before moving onto a rock band style class. Similar to the movie “School of Rock”, the instructor goes around helping students learn their chosen instruments and then at the concert students play keyboard, guitar, bass, drum set and sing a song as the crowd cheers them on! This adds to the junior high and high school choirs as well as the 7-12th grade concert and jazz bands that perform for our communities. We continue to strive to be a progressive group that provides entertainment for our community and a lifelong love of music for our students!