Fantastic OHS Teacher Gives to the Community

By: AJ

Ogallala has been lucky to have Mrs. Kate Diaz as a teacher for 32 years.  She worked with the students in Brule for five years before that.  When asked if she enjoyed her job, she replied “I love my job.  It’s not work.”   She went on to say “I want my students to be articulate and be able to speak well in public and to each other so they’ll be productive members of the community and hopefully stay in Ogallala.”

Mrs. Diaz volunteers her time and skills in church, the youth baseball program, and school foundations.  She likes to encourage people to donate to foundations to get money throughout the district for teachers to use for educational projects.

When asked what skills were important for her volunteer work, she mentioned organization, writing, and reading.  She also said math is always involved because of money.

She said she wished she could be a better role model, but I think she is a really good role model for all teenagers.  She is very patient, and treats all students with respect.

She says she gets bored and can’t just sit around.  She said she volunteers more in the summer because she is so busy at school.  She started volunteering when she lived at home with her Mom.  Her Mom would put her in the kitchen to help at church dinners, serving and doing dishes. 

Although volunteering takes a lot of her personal and family time, she says the small rewards are worth it.  For instance, some students she taught planted roses around town and when she sees those roses bloom she feels the reward.