At Mandela, academic success depends equally on all members of its community, the volunteers, the scholars, their families, the paraeducators, the teachers, and the administration. These members all contribute equally but differently. Today, it is the paraeducators that receive the spotlight. Paraeducators around the world are known for their day-to-day support for both scholars and teachers, and Mandela is no exception. At Mandela, each classroom has a teacher/para duo, and they are partners. This year, Mandela welcomes four new paraeducators to the team.
Kate Pomrenke grew up in Orange City, Iowa. She graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2015. She then went on to earn a Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University. In Spring of 2018, she was offered a position at Opera Omaha as a Holland Community Opera Fellow. During this time, Pomrenke worked as a partner with Nelson Mandela Elementary, working with Meerkat Melodies and the after-school Opera Creative Program.
Bailey Shirley is from Sidney, Iowa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 2018 from College of Saint Mary and a minor in Spanish. She did her student teaching in Sidney, Iowa. Shirley has worked at the YMCA as a preschool teacher/lead as well as Mandela’s afterschool program, Kids Can. She has experience with kids of all ages, from early childhood to high school.
Michael Wilhelm grew up traveling around the United States since his father served in the Army. After graduating from high school, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. In 1988, he took a full-time position with the Emmy Gifford Children’s Theater in Omaha. He spent the next 28 years working for the EGCT, which later became known as the Omaha Theater Company for Young People at the Rose. At Mandela, Wilhelm is excited to be in a classroom environment and spend more time working directly with scholars.
Mandela is excited to welcome their new paraeducators and confident that they will help the scholars reach their fullest potential.