April 21, 2005 — Clark receives teaching award
Former U.S. Sen. James Exon and State Sen. Matt Connealy were presented with the Nebraska State Education Association's highest honor on Saturday: the 2005 Friend of Education award. Also honored at the event was Jim Clark, a social studies teacher at Laurel-Concord, who earned the NSEA's 2005 Teaching Excellence Award. Clark's letter of nomination said the veteran teacher expects each of his students to think critically, to develop analytical skills, to write often and to write well. Clark has a large collection of historical memorbilia in the classroom, incorporating those materials into coursework. He
also offers an annual trivia course over the December holiday to challenge students and families alike. A Vietnam veteran, Clark is a member and four-time commander of American Legion Post 81; serves as chair of the American Legion Baseball State Committee; is an active member of the local education association; has received the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge.
