Chatting at the C

Deron Larson and Ray Dewaele - "Wally and the Worm"

Deron "The Worm" Larson has taught English and Creative Writing at Omaha Central since 2002. This humble, generous, and kind man has 3 Central graduates that call him "dad". Deron was also a chain crew member, an Old Man Basketball legend (where he earned the exalted "worm" nickname), as well as the Slam Poetry and Fine Lines sponsor. Ray Dewaele ("DeWally World") spent 45 years in education at many schools on both sides of the Missouri River, first as an English teacher and then as a Special Education teacher just as that discipline was being created. Like Deron, Ray is also has a big heart for kids. Ray was at CHS from 1994-2009, but he has kept in touch with his old co-teaching partner, and, fittingly, they wanted to do this interview together. (00:26) How Ray and Deron got connected at CHS (4:20) Ray's early years and path towards education (8:55) Deron's early years and path toward education (14:20) Ray's arrival at CHS in 1994 (16:05) Deron's teaching career starts at CHS in 2002 (20:10) colleagues and classes (29:10) Deron's 3 Eagle daughters (36:27) Ray's retirement and beyond (49:43) Central High reflections Host: Scott Wilson Art: Beth Wilson Intro and Mid-Pod Music: Drew Ruchti Outro Music: Tallulah Hoeft- CHS '28 (sax and composition) and Luna Escalera - CHS '28 (piano). Produced by Gabriel Escalera Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Generation C" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://chsfomaha.org/support/generation-c/]

Cathy Andrus - "From Brooklyn with Love"

As Central's IB students prepare this week to grapple with their big exams, let's chat with Cathy Andrus who was a counselor, and later Central's Guidance Director, before being instrumental in bringing the International Baccalaureate Programme to Omaha Central. As the first IB coordinator at CHS, Cathy helped shape Central's future by adding to its Tradition of Excellence. Through the vision to see it through, the student-centered approach, the support for teachers, and with a tireless work ethic, Cathy Andrus was a true difference maker at CHS. She was awarded the Alice Buffett Award in 2010. (00:28) from Brooklyn, NY to Provo, Utah (16:43) married life, teaching, and new addresses (25:05) coming to Omaha Central (35:45) birth of Central's IB program (57:25) taking students on travel experiences (1:06:24) hard decision to retire (1:12:22) making a difference Host: Scott Wilson Art: Beth Wilson Intro and Mid-Pod Music: Drew Ruchti Outro Music: Tallulah Hoeft- CHS '28 (sax and composition) and Luna Escalera - CHS '28 (piano). Produced by Gabriel Escalera Special thanks to Connor Paintin (CHS '19) for help with the audio in post-production! Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Generation C" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://chsfomaha.org/support/generation-c/]

Michelle Synowiecki - "Happy Tears"

We welcome Omaha Central counselor Michelle (Pleiss) Synowiecki to the podcast. Michelle started at CHS in 2002 as a long-term sub, before quickly moving to Social Studies where she became a favorite among the CHS student body. Michelle also coached the girls soccer team to their only State Tournament appearance in 2005, before focusing on a career in counseling. Join two old friends for a fun conversation about life at CHS. (00:28) the early years, sports, and school (12:15) CSM and pursuing teaching as a career (23:07) getting hired at CHS (30:06) Social Studies and coaching soccer (41:22) AP Human Geo and life changes (49:44) a new path as a counselor (59:00) a tearful reflection on Central High Host: Scott Wilson Art: Beth Wilson Intro and Mid-Pod Music: Drew Ruchti Outro Music: Tallulah Hoeft- CHS '28 (sax and composition) and Luna Escalera - CHS '28 (piano). Produced by Gabriel Escalera Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Generation C" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://chsfomaha.org/support/generation-c/]

Diane Allen - "From Peony Park to Capitol Hill"

Diane (Nicksick) Allen is a 1986 Omaha Central graduate who taught English at Central from 1997 to 2025. One of the torch bearers of the CHS English teaching tradition (which she first learned as a student), Diane got her start in teaching at Lewis and Clark MS before coming back to her alma mater in 1997. The 2018 CHS Teacher of the Year also sent her twin girls to Central. Listen to this charter member of "the Old '97s" and one of Central's most memorable educators tell her story. (1:13) growing up, choosing CHS, working at Peony Park (10:42) getting hired in OPS (16:45) coming back to CHS (21:42) English colleagues and holding up the standard (25:02) Minority Scholars and Senior Class officers (28:18) becoming a Central parent (33:40) 2018 Teacher of the Year- Diane Allen (36:44) deciding to retire in 2025 (40:00) Central in reflection Host: Scott Wilson Art: Beth Wilson Intro and Mid-Pod Music: Drew Ruchti Outro Music: Tallulah Hoeft- CHS '28 (sax and composition) and Luna Escalera - CHS '28 (piano). Produced by Gabriel Escalera Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Generation C" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://chsfomaha.org/support/generation-c/]

Jerry Kreber - "The Central High Lottery Ticket"

It is Opening Week for high school baseball in Nebraska, and we are joined by long-time Omaha Central coach and Special Education teacher Jerry Kreber. From Iowa to the Omaha Public Schools, Coach Kreber has always put hard work at the center of all he does. Join us as we discuss his amazing career path to becoming the Head Coach of Central Baseball. (00:26) Iowa youth, family, college, and baseball (11:44) hired in OPS as elementary teacher (21:20) coming to CHS (30:10) leaving for an opportunity in Iowa with some regret (34:28) the return to Capitol Hill (40:38) Central dad (48:00) persevering through tough times (54:33) professional Eagle ballplayers (1:07:38) Jerry the author (1:10:00) new facilities at Boyd Park and beyond (1:17:17) reflecting on it all Host: Scott Wilson Art: Beth Wilson Intro and Mid-Pod Music: Drew Ruchti Outro Music: Tallulah Hoeft- CHS '28 (sax and composition) and Luna Escalera - CHS '28 (piano). Produced by Gabriel Escalera Thanks for listening to the show! "Chatting at the C" is supported by the Omaha Central High School Foundation. Consider supporting the CHSF by joining ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Generation C" ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://chsfomaha.org/support/generation-c/]