Rev. James D. Conley, D.D., S.T.L. | Diocese of Lincoln website

Kaye Kreikemeier, an educator at North American Martyrs School in Lincoln, has been named the 2024 St. Catherine of Alexandria Award Winner for Special Education/Underserved Communities Educator of the Year.

Born in Iowa City, Kreikemeier moved to Lincoln at age three and has resided there since. Reflecting on her childhood, she said, “When I was in elementary school, I was the kid who was sad it was summer because I loved learning and being around my friends and my teachers.” She added that she saved her weekly allowance to buy workbooks for summer study.

Kreikemeier’s journey into Catholic education spanned several years. Her grandfather served as a pastor in a Lutheran church (Missouri Synod), and she attended Trinity Lutheran School before graduating from Southeast High School. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she met her husband Chuck, who hailed from a large Catholic family in West Point. The couple initially attended both North American Martyrs Catholic Church and Trinity Lutheran.

Upon deciding to start a family, Kreikemeier began attending RCIA classes and converted to Catholicism. “I joined the Catholic Church,” she stated. She credits Chuck’s mother for influencing her conversion: “She told me every time I saw her, ‘I am praying for you so that you will join the Catholic Church.’”

Initially pursuing psychology and elementary education with aspirations of becoming a school counselor, Kreikemeier taught first grade with Lincoln Public Schools before pausing her career to raise her children—Alek (28), Dayne (24), and Brea (22). Upon returning to work when her youngest child started kindergarten at North American Martyrs School, Kreikemeier secured a third-grade teaching position which she held for ten years.

The school's principal at the time, Sr. Janelle Buettner, sought to establish a special education program due to increasing needs among students. This led Kreikemeier back to graduate school for special education training. Now in her ninth year as K-8 resource teacher at North American Martyrs School, Kreikemeier supports students facing academic challenges.

“I want them to know that I am there for them,” said Kreikemeier about her students. “I want my room to be a place where we can work through problems when things get tough.”

Her role allows deep engagement with students over multiple years: “I get to help develop the whole person,” she noted. Emphasizing not just academic skills but also social-emotional growth aligned with faith values is central to her approach.

A strong advocate of collaborative efforts within educational settings, Kreikemeier remarked on the importance of teamwork among educators: “They say it takes a village to raise a child.”

Expressing gratitude for teaching within a Catholic framework, Kreikemeier said: “You can’t beat a Catholic education... I feel so blessed that God chose me to do this every day of my life!”