Amy Shane Retires After 16 Years Of Leadership At OPS

Amy Shane, retiring OPS Administrator

The beginning of July this year will bring new changes to the O'Neill Public School System.

Amy Shane, who has been the Superintendent for the last 16 years will retire and turn the reins over to the new superintendent Mike Rotherham.

Mrs. Shane, who has been in education for 35 plus years, will retire as of July 1, 2022.

"I initially wanted to be a pediatrician but discovered I love children but not science. The natural fit for me was education because I love kids and wanted to help them learn and grow."

Shane completed her bachelors degree in elementary education and ELL and then started her career as an ELL and second-grade teacher in Houston, Texas. 

Amy married Todd Shane of rural Atkinson and moved to Holt County in 1987 and started teaching kindergarten at St. Joseph's Catholic school in Atkinson that fall. 

"I taught kindergarten and 7th and 8th grade math and English at St. Joe's for seven years while I finished my masters degree in administration at UNL. I was then the principal for the Class I schools in Holt, Garfield and Keya Paha County as well as the Holt County Superintendent," said Shane.

"I was hired as the O'Neill Elementary School principal for the 1999-2000 school year and served in that position for seven years. I completed my specialist degree at Wayne State College and took over from Mr. Doug Nollette as superintendent of the O'Neill Public Schools in January of 2006.

"As the superintendent, I tried to provide a learning environment that would allow each child to reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. I feel like we have been able to do that by hiring a great teaching staff and ensuring that they have what they need to successfully teach each day. That includes up-to-date buildings, curriculum and technology. 

As an administrator, we keep working hard and showing up each day.  

I do feel we provide a very strong education at O'Neill Public Schools where each child matters to each person in the building. In that respect, I would say my goals have been achieved.

One of the biggest challenges every superintendent faces is providing a top-notch education without being fiscally wasteful. I feel like the new additions at the Elementary and Jr. Sr. High achieved that balance. We have been very fortunate to receive many grants that have allowed us to provide programs that benefit our students in the areas of technology, agriculture, science, early childhood, special education and after-school and summer school education. COVID was of course a challenge to everyone, but I felt our staff, parents and community were willing to do what was best for children and we came out in pretty good shape on the other end.

I think that the addition at the Jr. Sr. High School is something that our whole community can be proud of, it will serve our students well for many years to come.

Over the past 16 years, I have worked alongside three elementary principals and three jr. sr. high school principals as well as one AD and one assistant principal. During that time I have had the privilege of leading over 200 teachers. 

I am very excited and optimistic about the future of O'Neill Public Schools under Mike Rotherham's leadership. He has a great team of administrators and an outstanding staff beside him and I know they will continue to provide the very best education to our students moving into the future! I plan to do some substitute teaching, so will be excited to be part of that from the classroom in the future."

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