This award affirms the importance of using sound educational practices, building student rapport, and maintaining high standards to promote learning for students of all abilities. It is an incredible honor to receive the Presidential Award and join a very select group of educators. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of my family, colleagues, students, and members of the school district. With their support and encouragement I have become the teacher I am today.

Janice Buss Utica, NE | K-6, Science, 2016

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Janice Buss has been teaching fourth grade at Centennial Public School for 36 years. She has taught all subjects, but science is her passion. Janice works to increase student knowledge in science through engaging hands-on activities and experiments. Through her genuine love of teaching and her innovative teaching methods, she instills that love of science in her students. She has brought science into the classroom through the Trout in the Classroom Project sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission where students raise trout from eggs until their release as fingerlings. Master teacher and positive peer leader are words used by her colleagues to describe Janice. She has helped to lead the staff at her school through a Differentiated Instruction book study and had roles on the School Improvement Team. She also serves on her school’s Response to Intervention Team, Student Assistance Team, and is a district mentor teacher. She developed science performance tasks with the Nebraska Department of Education. Janice’s awards include State Finalist for the Presidential Award and the Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals Award for Excellence. Janice earned a B.A., cum laude, in education from Doane University (formerly Doane College), and a M.S. in elementary education from Concordia University (formerly Concordia College).

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