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Westside's own helps mentor educators

Posted at 7:37 AM, Nov 04, 2021
and last updated 2021-11-04 18:56:14-04

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — One of Westside Community Schools' own is getting recognized for her contributions not only to District 66 but to educators nationwide.

For today's Positively the Heartland, 3 News Now reporter Alyssa Curtis spoke to Heather Weist about why she loves being a mentor and how she feels to be honored for it.

Weist has worked in District 66 for over a decade, first as a teacher, but now as Westside's PowerSchool Specialist. PowerSchool is the student database used by the district that oversees enrollment, grades and more.

Not only does she oversee the database for the district, but she's also able to use her teaching background to mentor other educators and PowerSchool specialists across the country.

"I love being a mentor, you’ve been a teacher and you’ll always kind of be a teacher. You love helping other people so I get to take my knowledge of PowerSchool and help answer other people’s questions of what they might not know but I also use the forum to help myself it’s really great and it’s a community we have," Weist said.

PowerSchool named Weist Mentor of the Year, saying she has gone above and beyond ever since it launched the mentoring program.

"Heather has been one of the most active users in there. She has answered over 500 questions for her fellow peers and that's amazing, that's what we encourage. We appreciate her contribution and that makes a huge impact for both educators and students outcomes," Maulik Datanwala, Chief Operating Officer of PowerSchool said.

Weist says she's grateful for the recognition even though that's not why she does it.

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