Fairview Elementary

BIO: Bonnie Kral has dedicated many years to teaching and the academic growth of her students. Growing up in Omaha, Bonnie had several inspirational elementary teachers that influenced her to become an educator. While a high school student, Bonnie taught Sunday school and vacation bible school, as well as did a lot of baby-sitting. She discovered her love for working with young children through these jobs. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Concordia’s Teacher College in Seward, Neb., Bonnie began teaching kindergarten and first grade at Zion Lutheran School in Omaha. Two years later, she became the teacher-director at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Preschool in Ralston, which she did for 12 years before joining the Bellevue Public Schools. She has worked as a kindergarten, first and second grade teacher with Bellevue schools for 22 years. She recently completed her eighth year at Fairview Elementary as a first grade teacher. Bonnie made the difficult decision to retire so she can spend more time with her already retired husband and two grown children.

Bonnie’s commitment to education is evident through her many years of involvement in school activities and organizations. Throughout her career, her multiple extra duties included serving on the Problem Solving Team, the Social Studies Curriculum Committee, the Accreditation Team, supervising five student teachers, mentoring teachers, sponsoring the student council, and serving as a chairperson of the Social Committee. Her willingness to go above and beyond the normal duties of a teacher earned her various honors and awards. She was honored with the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award, Lifetime PTA Award, and the Champion for Children Award.

FAMILY: Bonnie and her husband, Rich, live in Bellevue. Rich is a retired from Union Pacific Railroad and keeps busy assisting Bonnie at home and being involved in church activities. Their son, Russell, and his wife live in Rock Hill, S.C., and their daughter, Jennifer, and her husband live in Council Bluffs.

HOBBIES: When Bonnie is not in the classroom or preparing lesson plans, she can be found reading, walking and completing various crafts such as cross stitching.

IN HER OWN WORDS: “Teaching in Bellevue Public Schools has been both challenging and rewarding! Working with so many young children (in both the public and Lutheran school systems over the past 36 years) as they lay a firm educational foundation that they can build upon throughout their future academic career has been a privilege.”