Retired St. John the Baptist teacher Mrs. Mary Jo Meisinger was the recipient of the 2024 Lucille McLean Award.
The award was presented to Mary Jo at the Plattsmouth Harvest Festival on September 7, 2024. The award is given annually to one outstanding Cass County educator who served the youth and community in various ways.
Mary Jo is an alumni of St. John the Baptist and retired from the school in May of 2024.
The award was presented by Sharon Smith, who said this about Mary Jo.
This year’s recipient epitomizes all that it means to be a dedicated teacher. She has always been passionate about her students and has inspired youth to do their best for over 34 years – 32 of those years at St. John the Baptist here in Plattsmouth.
I first came to know Mary Jo when I started teaching. In 1976-77, she was an outstanding senior involved in band, was VP of Honor Society and queen of both the Sweetheart dance and prom as well as being named the outstanding female athlete of the year. In September, she became Queen of Cornland.
She always held a job from being a car hop at A and W, working part time at a lawyer’s office and five years at a local drug store. After graduating with her degree from the College of St. Mary’s in 1981, she subbed for five years, taught 2 years at All Saints in Omaha and then started at St. John’s.
In 1980, she married John Meisinger. They have two daughters, one son, four granddaughters and two grandsons. In addition to teaching 4th to 8th grades, computers and PE and keeping up with her family, she has found time to do the extras that make teaching and learning interesting and memorable. Some examples include writing spelling words in shaving cream, using a green screen to broadcast “Mondays with Meisinger” and at Christmas time with the help of 8th graders and a couple of staff members, she photographed them doing elf like things as replacing cookie filling with mayo. No wonder younger students looked forward to being in her class.
She’s been instrumental in writing grants for school needs as additional PE equipment and both hardware and software. She organized and facilitated the much- anticipated Fun and Field Day to wrap up each school year. She has been a consistent volunteer for the Church of the Holy Sprit by working at the fish fries, festivals, and keeping up the church building. Please congratulate this year’s Educator of the year, Mary Jo Meisinger.”
Congratulations Mrs. Meisinger on this well-deserved recognition!
Mary Jo Meisinger pictured with her mother Irene, husband John, her children and grandchildren at the Harvest Festival.