Mark Mahoney Wausa Gazette WAUSA – Wausa Public Schools is losing and gaining an elementary teacher at the same time. The Wausa board of education accepted the resignation of first-grade instructor Samantha Stevens on July 8 as well as approved the contract of Camille Johnston for the position of second-grade teacher for the 2024-25 academic year.
Wausa Superintendent Brad Hoesing noted the school board would accept Stevens’ resignation if a suitable replacement could be found for her right away, and that turned out to be Johnston.
“She’s put a lot of time and effort into this school,” Hoesing said of Stevens. “We need to take care of her. We tried to take care of her when she was here and we need to take care of her as she moves on.”
According to Stevens’ resignation letter, she has decided to return to her hometown of Hartington – she graduated from Cedar Catholic High School in 2008 – and take a teaching position.
Her resignation from Wausa Elementary was effective at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
“I would like to take a moment to thank the board, administration, faculty, staff and students, both current and former, of Wausa Public Schools,” Stevens wrote.
“I have grown as a teacher and a person during my tenure here, and I appreciate all of the support both me and my family received through our time here,” she wrote.
She described the decision to resign from her position as “tough.”
“That is a reflection of the quality of the school and the community,” Stevens wrote. “This is a great school district and a great community.
“My family and I wish all of you the best in the future, and thank you again for all that you’ve done to allow me to grow and succeed as a teacher, coach and person,” she wrote.
Her husband, Kyle, resigned in February from his positions of Wausa High School – grades 8-12 – language arts instructor and head speech coach – the latter title he shared with his wife – to take a teaching position in Hartington.
The couple had been the co-head coaches of the Wausa speech team since 2016 and their high school students saw a lot of success and state championships during their time in charge.
Hoesing, as well as the school board, expressed gratitude to Stevens for her years of service to Wausa, which included teaching students in third grade at first before later switching to first grade.
“She, like Kyle, has done a really good job both in teaching as well as coaching,” Hoesing said. “I want to thank her and wish her the best of luck.”
As for Johnston, she is the mother of Wausa social studies teacher Tanner Johnston.
The elder Johnston previously taught in Texas for about three decades and has been a reading specialist for about eight years for both kindergarten and first grade.
Hoesing explained Johnston has an extensive background in education and is a master’s-level teacher, as well as certified as an instructor of English as a Second Language.
“She’s moving to the district and interested in our (open elementary) position,” Hoesing said, adding Johnston took an early retirement in Texas, but “she doesn’t want to get out of the game. She wants to keep teaching. She’ll bring a lot of good things to our elementary.”
