Our Staff

Hello!! My name is JoAnn Hisek and I am one of the kindergarten teachers at Springfield Elementary. This will be my eighteenth year of teaching kindergarten and my fifteenth year at Springfield. I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology, both from UNO. I also have a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Doane.

My husband and I have two amazing children. Our daughter teaches first grade and got married this summer. We also have a nine-year-old son who will be in fourth grade and plays baseball and basketball. We enjoy traveling, being outdoors, and spending time together.

I am very excited about embarking on a learning adventure with your child. It is my goal to provide the best possible educational experiences for your child's first year of school.

Welcome to kindergarten! My name is Laura Krallman, and I am very excited to be your child's teacher this year. The coming school year will be a wonderful experience for both your kindergartener and myself! Let me tell you a bit about me! This will be my tenth year teaching kindergarten at Springfield Elementary. Kindergarten and early childhood are stages in a child's life that I am very passionate about, and we have fun every day! My husband and I have two children (Ziva - 5 and Zander - 3). We are also very excited to welcome baby number three in January! I am a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, coffee, dark chocolate, and golf!

I have 26 years of teaching experience, with 24 years being in first grade. I am always amazed at how much these kiddos learn in just this one school year! It is wonderful to see how much growth and learning happens. I genuinely love teaching first grade and feel the same excitement as my students do about school.

I went to Springfield Elementary when I was growing up, and my parents still live (and work) in town. What an honor to grow up here and then get to educate the next generations of this great community! I graduated from Platteview High School, and received my bachelor's degree and master's degree from Doane University. I have two children of my own and love spending time with my family and friends, shopping, and reading. I couldn't ask for a better place to teach than here in the very town I grew up!

This year marks my fifteenth year teaching and my eleventh year here at Springfield Elementary. Springfield is truly my home! I received my bachelor of education degree with a specialization in early childhood from UNO in 2007. In 2010, I earned my master of education in curriculum and instruction from Doane College. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, learning photography, and volunteering for nonprofits close to my heart.

Welcome to Springfield Elementary!

My name is Lori Barry, and I have been teaching for 18 years here at Springfield. My educational background includes a bachelor's degree in K-6 Elementary Education from UNL (Go Huskers!), and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College. I also have a K-3 mathematics specialist certification from UNL.

I have a wonderful husband, Andrew, and two sweet children of my own, Madelyn (9) and Caden (7). Our family loves trips to state parks, the zoo, and swimming. Some of my favorite hobbies include reading, hiking, and spending time on the lake with my family.

Second grade is awesome~ I just love the laughter and learning that happens in our classroom! I truly think I have the greatest job ever, surrounded by the best students, families, and coworkers possible!

My name is Laura Corbett. This is my 13th year teaching at Springfield Elementary! I currently teach second grade but have also taught kindergarten and third grade. I graduated from Iowa State University; go, Cyclones! I love to golf, ride my bike, and spend time with my daughters and husband in my free time.

My name is Colleen Sylvester. I am starting my 16th year with Springfield Platteview Community Schools! I am married to Gary McKain. We love to travel together! In my blended family, I have my three kids and two stepsons. My youngest, Finley Burkhart, will be a third grader this year at Springfield. My son Cameron will be a senior at Conestoga, and the rest of our children have all graduated! Every summer I travel to see my mother who has retired in Costa Rica!! I look forward to an exciting school year!

This is my sixteenth year of teaching at Springfield Elementary. Previous to teaching third grade, I was the Title 1/Reading Specialist at Springfield Elementary for five years. I taught eight years at St. Vincent de Paul in Omaha before coming to Springfield. I received my bachelor's degree in elementary education at Wayne State College. I completed my master's degree in reading at UNO. Teaching at Springfield Elementary has been an awesome experience. The students make each day very enjoyable because of their desire to learn. It is great to be a Springfield Tiger! My husband, Brian, and I have three daughters. Sydney is a Sophomore at Wayne State College, Hannah is a junior at Platteview High School, and Kelsey is in sixth grade at Springfield Elementary. In my spare time, I love to garden, read, bake, and be with family and friends.

Hello! This is my sixth year teaching fourth grade at Springfield Elementary School, and I feel honored to be a part of this team. Prior to coming here, I spent 27 years working for the Bellevue Public Schools in a variety of roles. I earned my bachelor's degree in elementary education at Buena Vista. I also have a master's degree in administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a specialist certificate in elementary mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A short phrase that sums up what school is all about for me is, "Your biggest mistake is never learning from one." I want students to know that making mistakes is a normal part of the learning process and that mistakes are proof that you are stepping outside of your comfort zone in order to grow.

When not in school, I enjoy reading, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Hello! My name is Melody Kreger, and this is my seventh year teaching and sixth year teaching fifth grade at Springfield Elementary. I received my bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in elementary education with an emphasis in inclusive practices and my master's degree in curriculum and instruction through Peru State College. My husband and I have two kids who keep us on our toes! I love spending my free time with them and our dog at home. I enjoy crafting and traveling in my free time as well. I am excited to welcome another year as a Springfield Tiger!

This will be my fourth year as a teacher at Springfield Elementary School. I am a proud Springfield Tiger Alumni. Before coming back to Springfield Elementary, I spent some time in another district teaching kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade. I received a B.S. in elementary education and a B.S. in special education from Nebraska Wesleyan University. I earned a master's in curriculum and instruction along with an early childhood endorsement from Doane College. When I am not teaching, you will find me spending time with my husband and three sons.

My name is Karen Moritz, and this is my seventh year at Springfield Elementary. I have been a teacher for over 30 years, but I can honestly say that the SPCS district has been my favorite experience to date.

I earned my bachelor's degree in elementary education (with a minor in Spanish) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and my master's degree at Creighton University in learning disabilities and behavior disorders. I have taught in a variety of settings, including middle school, elementary classrooms, resource rooms, and Title classrooms.

I feel so blessed to be working with the children of this district. We're going to have a fabulous year!

Hello! My name is Vanessa Bellairs, and I run the high ability program (aka Discovery) at both Westmont and Springfield Elementary schools. I am in my 21st year of teaching high-ability students and my 15th teaching here in our district. It is truly my passion to see my students grow and reach their potential. I have lived all around the world and actually went to high school in Germany. I received both my bachelor's degree in elementary education and my master's degree in gifted education from Kansas State University (however, I still bleed Husker red). I have a wonderful husband, Dave, and have three boys, all Springfield Platteview attendees/alumni. I love our school district and am dedicated to serving its students and families to the best of my ability. I love coaching academic teams--Quiz Bowl, Destination Imagination, math teams, etc. In my spare time, I love to travel, go to Husker sporting events, relax by the pool and spend time with my family.

Education
BS in physical education with a coaching endorsement and sports medicine minor from Northwestern University; St. Paul, Minnesota
MA in administration leadership from Concordia University; Seward, Nebraska

Experience
I am in my sixteenth year teaching at Springfield Platteview Community Schools. I love teaching P.E. at Springfield Elementary, and we are the Tigers!

Education
Hello! I'm Mrs. JoAnna Johnson. I have been teaching elementary art for 20 years, and I'm happy to say this is my 16th year in this district. I received my BFA from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. I received my master's degree in art education through the University of Nebraska-Kearney. I have been lucky enough to travel and teach at camps during the summer in upstate New York and in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I love watching elementary students create. I want students to feel comfortable to create with different mediums and techniques so they can explore and discover what they enjoy. I can't wait to see what your child will create!

Bio
I live in Louisville with my husband, Colby, and our sons, Cooper, and Bo. My family loves to travel to see extended family and friends. We love to cook, play games, and create home projects for ourselves. In my spare time, I love to sew felt Christmas ornaments, draw, paint, and play in the clay (clay is my favorite).