SIDNEY – Nebraska State Board of Education member Elizabeth Tegtmeier and Secretary of State Bob Evnen campaigned at the recent Cheyenne County Republican Convention.

Tegtmeier is from North Platte and is seeking re-election. She said the State Board of Education has approved streamlining state licensing for people who are licensed in other states.

“When I campaigned four years ago, I campaigned on the teacher shortage, that we needed to do things to get more teachers into the classrooms. And so, some of the things that we have done in my time on the board is we have changed our regulations to allow out-of-state teachers who hold current out-of-state certificates to receive Nebraska certificates,” Tegtmeier said.

“That’s had a big impact. When I was running four years ago, we had almost 1,300 classrooms that either had no teacher in them or they were being taught by a teacher who was teaching out of their endorsed area.

She said 350 people applied for state certificates.

“Our numbers as of last year were down to only 600 either vacant or unfilled positions,” she said.

She said the board also offered renewals to anyone who had expired Nebraska certificates. She also talked about a para-to-teacher scholarship program. She said paras in the program receive all of their education at no cost while working as a para. Time working as a para is applied to their college work, Tegtmeier said.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen stressed the importance of strong Republican presence.

“I cannot tell you how important it is to have strong Republican parties in the Third District. I work in the Capitol of Lincoln. My family has been in Lincoln. My grandchildren are six-generation Nebraskans; six generation Lincolnites. And I’ll tell you the city of Lincoln has changed. I look to the Third District, and I look west when I want to find common sense,” Evnen said.

He said the strength of western Republican parties impacts the Unicameral.

“So, for you to have a strong party in Cheyenne County, for us to have strong parties in the west, in the Third District, it is very important for the welfare of our state. Do not kid yourself,” he said.

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