In 1955, Mary Broman was an elementary education student at Kearney State Teacher’s College. In April, her father informed her the R-4 School Board wanted to hire her. When she met with them, she was given a contract with the yearly salary of $2,475.
At the start of the school year, the new building wasn’t completed so students returned to the old building. Everyone appeared their best that first day. Much to their chagrin, another family had taken over the building. A family of skunks! The skunks did not want the unwelcomed company and drove them out with their repulsive odor. Most of the next two months were spent outside or in a shed.
The students finally moved into the new building in October, and Mary taught K-4th grades, teaching all subjects, including music, physical education, and recess duty. The hardest part of classroom management was with five grades, they were only allowed 15 minutes per class. It was amazing the students learned anything, but with other grades in the room, students learned what other ages were learning as well.
One day, one of the boys pushed a girl into the school and gashed her head open. Mary and her brother took the little girl ten miles to Holdrege to have stitches. When the doctor administered the anesthetic, Mary nearly fainted and had to get fresh air!
In 1957, Mary returned to Kearney to obtain an associate’s degree in education. She was amazed to have an hour for class during her student teaching at A.O. Thomas fourth grade.
Mary left teaching until moving to Johnson Lake with her husband, in 1985. Mary Broman Williams became the administrative assistant at the Dawson County School Superintendent’s office for the next 21 years until it closed in 2007. She was privileged to work with 17 rural schools. During that time, she also substituted in Dawson County rural schools until they closed in June 2006.
At age 80 and widowed, Broman still substitutes, working 99 days at Lexington High School during the 2014-2015 year. A great reward is having former students tell her she was their favorite teacher, as they frequently do.
The nomination of Mary Broman Williams was enthusiastically supported by a high school and college classmate, Marilyn Brodine Golightly. Both Broman and Brodine were privileged to receive good rural school educations. Mary continues to be active in her church, Red Cross (she has donated 92 units of blood and has volunteered the past 8 years), family and school activities. God has blessed Mary with good health, a wonderful family and many friends.
At the start of the school year, the new building wasn’t completed so students returned to the old building. Everyone appeared their best that first day. Much to their chagrin, another family had taken over the building. A family of skunks! The skunks did not want the unwelcomed company and drove them out with their repulsive odor. Most of the next two months were spent outside or in a shed.
The students finally moved into the new building in October, and Mary taught K-4th grades, teaching all subjects, including music, physical education, and recess duty. The hardest part of classroom management was with five grades, they were only allowed 15 minutes per class. It was amazing the students learned anything, but with other grades in the room, students learned what other ages were learning as well.
One day, one of the boys pushed a girl into the school and gashed her head open. Mary and her brother took the little girl ten miles to Holdrege to have stitches. When the doctor administered the anesthetic, Mary nearly fainted and had to get fresh air!
In 1957, Mary returned to Kearney to obtain an associate’s degree in education. She was amazed to have an hour for class during her student teaching at A.O. Thomas fourth grade.
Mary left teaching until moving to Johnson Lake with her husband, in 1985. Mary Broman Williams became the administrative assistant at the Dawson County School Superintendent’s office for the next 21 years until it closed in 2007. She was privileged to work with 17 rural schools. During that time, she also substituted in Dawson County rural schools until they closed in June 2006.
At age 80 and widowed, Broman still substitutes, working 99 days at Lexington High School during the 2014-2015 year. A great reward is having former students tell her she was their favorite teacher, as they frequently do.
The nomination of Mary Broman Williams was enthusiastically supported by a high school and college classmate, Marilyn Brodine Golightly. Both Broman and Brodine were privileged to receive good rural school educations. Mary continues to be active in her church, Red Cross (she has donated 92 units of blood and has volunteered the past 8 years), family and school activities. God has blessed Mary with good health, a wonderful family and many friends.