Pierce Welcomes New Staff Members
Pierce High Welcomes Teacher and Coach, Ryan Ohnoutka
By Brayden Suckstorf
The school is welcoming a new face to the English department this year, Ryan Ohnoutka. A graduate of Wayne State College, Ohnoutka always wanted to be a teacher, inspired by his parents, who work in education.
“I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was a junior in high school,” Ohnoutka says.
So far, Ohnoutka’s first impression of the school has been overwhelmingly positive. He said he has been impressed by the dedication of the staff and the potential of the students.
“I really noticed just how much these teachers go above and beyond to make sure the students get what they need,” he explains.
In the classroom, Ohnoutka said he enjoys teaching reading and writing the most. His goal is to help students grow academically while also preparing them for challenges they will face outside of school. This year, he will be teaching English 7, English 9, and basic English 9.
Outside of academics, Ohnoutka is also stepping into coaching roles. He will be leading boys basketball and assisting with softball, giving him another chance to connect with students. Balancing both teaching and coaching, Ohnoutka said he looks forward to encouraging students in multiple areas of school and helping them get ready for the real world.
With his enthusiasm for education and athletics, Ohnoutka is ready to make an impact both in the classroom and on the court.
Pierce High School Gives a Warm Welcome to New Teacher and Coach Jaxson Daake
By Cameron Kuehler
Jaxson Daake, a young teacher who graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney starts a new journey as he starts his teaching career at Pierce High.
Daake did not always want to be a teacher though. He started off majoring in accounting but did not really love the path. He was then thinking about being a math teacher, but after talking to one of his advisors he decided it would be smart to be a business teacher.
While in high school his math teacher and coach had a big impact on him. “He would always have just a different way of teaching things, like he kind of just made learning fun,” Daake says.
Going to high school at Kearney Catholic made him want to teach at a smaller school. Daake claims he really liked how in high school he saw some pretty good commitment in sports and academics. He then helped coach at Gibbon High School, which did not have as much commitment in either. Having heard good things about Pierce’s commitment not only to sports, but also in academics, made him know Pierce was the right choice.
As Daake takes on his teaching career, he is trying to discover his best teaching style. He is talking to other teachers to figure out some different things they think work best. Daake is trying to make sure he is not becoming the other teachers but instead learning the best style of teaching.
Daake hopes to show students that business is less daunting than they think. He understands that with all the complexities it can make it seem a little mind numbing, but once the subject is broken down a little, people realize it is not all that bad.
Daake would like to find something in the community that he can take part in and make an impact on.
This year Daake will teach intro to business, accounting 1, and real world seminar first semester; and real world seminar, accounting 2, and entrepreneurship second semester.
New Teacher Katie Steskal
By Brianna Rundell
At the start of a new school year, students often see new faces. For the 2025-2026 school year, Pierce has five new teachers, one of whom is Katie Steskal.
Steskal grew up in O’Neill. She has four kids, ages ranging from 11 all the way to 22.
“We have a bunch of dogs, my oldest two kids are vet techs and bring animals home all the time. We like to spend time as a family outdoors hunting and fishing,” Skeskal says.
A few of her hobbies are: doing crafts, spending time with her kids, passing time with her dogs outside, and reading true crime or history books.
She graduated from Wayne State College with a human service counseling degree and a Master’s in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Steskal works in the special education department at the high school and will also co-sponsor the winter cheer team.
Previously, she taught social skills to seventh and eighth graders at Norfolk Junior High and has also worked as a case worker for adults.
“Everyone has been very welcoming,” she says. What she loves most about working here is that everyone has been so friendly and fun.
Skeskal got into her profession because she loves to help people, and so far, she believes this year is going to be fabulous!
Let’s Welcome Michaela Sirek, Soon Mrs. Vermilyea
By Charlotte Enk
Michaela Sirek's new job is a paraprofessional at the high school building, and she loves children and helping children when they are having difficulties in class. She's helping the seventh and eighth grades in mathematics, English, and social studies.
Sirek enjoys helping kids. She did not want to be a teacher but wanted to be a part of the school system.
Sirek grew up in Brunswick and went on to attend Morningside University to become a guidance counselor and a teacher but is here just for helping the children.
Sirek has a 10 year old son and is getting married in October, and happily can be called Mrs. Vermilyea soon.
Before coming to Pierce she was at Marcus Meriden Cleghorn - Remsen Union School District in Remsen, Iowa.
Miss Sirek loves to play the piano. She also likes to play video games and read a good book. She likes Pierce and getting to know all the new staff and kids. Sirek moved at the end of July to Brunswick.
“When a student is struggling I just go over it and ask them if they need help and walk them through the problem that is going on and go back to the beginning and read through it again and ask questions about it, so they would answer by themselves, so they could get better each time,” Sirek says.
