Columbus Middle School

Please give a warm welcome to Ms. Elizabeth Svatora! Ms. Svatora will be joining CMS in the fall and will teach 5th grade math.

Please welcome Ms. Anna Klopfenstein! Ms. Klopfenstein will be joining us in the fall as a special education resource teacher.

"Several things excite me about joining the Columbus Public School team. First, I am excited to be part of a group of educators and staff who truly have each student’s best interest at heart. I am especially excited about the opportunity to work at the middle school level as a 7th and 8th grade resource teacher because I enjoy helping students grow during such a fun and important stage of their lives. Finally, I love meeting new people, building connections, and creating positive relationships with students, staff, and families." ~ Anna Klopfenstein

Please give a big Discoverer welcome to Mr. Boney! We are excited to have him join us in 7th grade language arts in the fall.

"I am excited for the fresh start and new opportunities that CPS is offering. Everyone I have talked to so far has been nice and welcoming. I am looking forward to starting the new year together. " ~ Douglas Boney

Congratulations to Anne Noviki, 5th grade math teacher at Columbus Middle School on being named the 2026 Educator of the Year!

Announced during the CPS Employee Celebration, this honor recognizes Anne’s outstanding dedication to students, passion for education, and commitment to excellence at Columbus Public Schools.

Through her leadership, encouragement, and daily impact inside and outside of the classroom, Anne continues to inspire students to grow, achieve, and discover their potential. Her commitment to making a difference reflects the heart of what it means to be a Discoverer.

One nominator said, "Anne represents the gold standard of dedication, blending high academic expectations with an unmatched level of personal support for her students. In her classroom, mastery isn't just a goal — it's a guarantee. She has made it her personal mission that no student leaves fifth grade without a deep, functional understanding of fractions. Recognizing that this knowledge is a critical foundation for higher-level math, she refuses to let any child fall through the cracks."

Her work day doesn't end with the final bell. Every day you will find her after school providing one-on-one intervention for students who need more time. She then makes herself available online every evening to ensure her students have a lifeline as they work through their homework at home.

"As a Professional Learning Community leader, Anne balances the demands of leadership with her own continued growth. She approaches every training session as an opportunity to sharpen her craft, constantly seeking new strategies to better serve her classroom. This year, she has worked diligently on the fifth grade math pilot, putting in tremendous extra effort to ensure her entire team can educate students to the best of their abilities. Her colleagues describe her as someone who never ceases searching for, finding, and implementing new approaches to deepen her students' understanding of mathematics."

The CPS Foundation in partnership with One Nebraska Federal Credit Union is proud to celebrate and recognize educators like Anne who help shape the future of our schools and community.

Congratulations Mrs. Ebel! Thank you for all that you do to support the students at CMS.

Congratulations to all of our employees who have given 25 years of service to Columbus Public Schools! Thank you for supporting and inspiring our Discoverers.

Scott Bethune
Jeffrey Bures
Joni Ebel
Brandi Fleming
Teresa Hausmann
Melissa Jelinek
Janelle Muntz
Kristine Spawn
Suzanne Stevenson
Liliana Velasco
Craig Williams

Thank you Mrs. Jahn for all that you do to support our students!

Congratulations to Michelle Edzards, Jackie Eickhoff and Amy Jahn on 30 Years of Service to Columbus Public Schools. Thank you for helping our students grow and succeed!

Thank you Mrs. Magg for all that you do to support our students!

Congratulations to Cathy Kwapnioski and Laura Magg on 35 years of Service with Columbus Public Schools! Thank you for investing your time, talents, and heart into the students of CPS.

Congratulations to our Fas-Break Award Winners! 🎉
The Fas-Break Award is given to two students in each grade level who have shown outstanding growth through hard work, perseverance, and dedication. These students have made a concerted effort to improve their grades, achieved personal goals, or demonstrated awareness and compassion for the needs within our school and community.
We are so proud of the effort, character, and determination each of these students has shown throughout the year. Keep up the amazing work! 👏

Congratulations to our Student of the Quarter recipients! 🌟👏
Each quarter, teachers select students from every subject area who have demonstrated outstanding effort, dedication, and a commitment to learning. As we wrap up the final quarter of the school year, we are especially proud of the hard work, determination, and growth these students have shown both inside and outside the classroom.
Their teachers are incredibly proud of the perseverance and positive attitude they brought to class every day. Keep up the amazing work — your efforts do not go unnoticed! 📚

It was awesome to see so many former students back in the building last Thursday for the CHS Senior Grad Walk!