After more than 30 years in education, Appleby ready for retirement

The search for a new high school principal at Summerland Public School is underway.

Greg Appleby, longtime Ewing and Summerland administrator, announced he will retire at the end of the current academic year, after a career spanning more than 30 years in education and 29 in the Ewing and Summerland districts.

The board of education accepted Appleby's resignation during its Nov. 15 meeting.

In his letter to the board, Appleby wrote, It's been my honor and pleasure to serve Ewing Public Schools and Summerland Public Schools for 30 years. I am proud to say that I spent the majority of my educational and coaching career in this fabulous school district."

The principal said "he feels good about what we've done to get Summerland School off to a good start."

"The two great school systems have allowed me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and create relationships that will last a lifetime," Appleby said.

Appleby joined Ewing Public School in the fall of 1993, after spending two years at Trenton (Hitchcock County). At Ewing, he taught physical education and business law for five years and then headed the business education department for three years before moving into the principal's office. He spent 27 years as athletic and activities director and, after earning a Master of Science Degree in education from Wayne State College, became principal in the fall of 2001.

As the Ewing Tigers boys' basketball coach, Appleby sent nine squads to the Nebraska State Activities Association Boys' Basketball tournament between 2000 and 2010, earning Class D2 championship titles in 2006 and 2010. Appleby and company brought home runner-up trophies in 2001 and 2009 in Class D2.

In 2019, he prepared the Ewing girls' basketball team for a trip to the girls' state tournament. The Lady Tigers were eliminated in the first round, 58-39, to Falls City Sacred Heart.

Since Summerland's inception, Appleby has served as head girls' basketball coach.

In an email interview, Appleby told SAM that technology in education has been the biggest change he's experienced through the years, noting both good and bad aspects "as human beings are becoming more reliant upon that little device in their hands at all times."

"We need to remember the importance of human interaction," Appleby said.

Appleby's wife, Kaye, will also retire from her teaching position from O'Neill Public Schools at the end of the school year.

The couple has three adult children: Justin, Kelsey and Lindsey, married to son-in-law, Michael Collins.

"I will miss the students and athletes the most. It is such an enjoyable experience to work with them every day and see students grow and develop," Appleby told the "Advocate-Messenger."

Summerland Superintendent Kyle Finke said the search for Appleby's replacement will start with immediately on Teach Nebraska.

"I hope to run the ad through a good chunk of December," Finke said. "I'd like to interview prior to the January board meeting."

In other business, the board:

• Tabled a decision on accepting a grant for an electric school bus. Five Nebraska districts were tabbed to receive $395,000 grants, with $375,000 earmarked for a bus. The remainder would be applied to costs of a charging station. Additional grants are available through Nebraska Public Power District and Elkhorn Rural Pubic Power District to assist with costs of the charging station. The bus will run approximately 125 miles on a charge, depending on other factors including road conditions and use of a heater or air Conditioner. Finke said the electric bus could replace a town shuttle bus, which travels between 20 and 25 miles per day. A decision will need to be made by April 2023. Board members requested more information about grant parameters.