Longtime St. John Nepomucene School secretary to receive St. John Bosco Award
Southern Nebraska Register
For nearly three decades, Barb Rezac has helped keep St. John Nepomucene School in Weston running smoothly while making its students feel loved, supported and, occasionally, a little better with the help of chocolate.
Rezac, the school’s secretary and bookkeeper, will receive the Diocese of Lincoln’s 2026 St. John Bosco Award for Support Staff Member of the Year. Her wide-ranging responsibilities include managing school finances, ordering custodial and maintenance supplies, helping serve lunch and caring for students who visit the school office.
“My day to day is very busy,” she said. “I always say it’s never the same day twice in a grade school. Kids are awesome.”
Students who are not feeling well know Rezac has a special remedy waiting for them.
“I am always the one that’s known for saying, ‘my medicine is chocolate,’” she said. “And so I always give the ill child a piece of chocolate, and I tell them to eat it before they go back to class. But usually word spreads, and I probably have a few more students that end up not feeling well, and then they’re in the office.
“I always make sure I have a lot of chocolate on hand,” she added.
Rezac began serving at St. John’s in 1997, when her middle child started preschool and struggled to stay at school without her. She was invited to help in the preschool classroom, beginning what would become a long and meaningful career in Catholic education.
Her work eventually expanded to include the school library, art and craft projects with students and, later, her current responsibilities in the school office.
“I started working in [the] library,” Rezac said. “And then that changed from library and working with the kids to doing some art projects and craft projects. And so I started doing that, and then eventually I moved up into the office part, and that’s where I’m at now.”
Although she did not attend a Catholic school herself, Rezac grew up in the Catholic faith as a member of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Plasi. She attended a one-room country school from kindergarten through eighth grade and later graduated from Prague High School.
When she and her husband – now members of St. Vitus Parish in Touhy – were deciding where to educate their children, they found St. John Nepomucene School. All three of their children attended St. John’s and later graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo.
“At St. John’s school, when we went there, we were drawn to it,” Rezac said. “It had small classes. Teachers were one-on-one with the [kids], and very, very friendly and helpful. Anything that we needed to know or ask, they were there for us.”
Her decision to begin working at the school also gave her more time with her children.
“That was the best decision I made,” she said. “I could be at home with my kids during the summer. I had school hours, and… my kids and I bonded more than ever. They would ride with me to and from school.”
Today, Rezac strives to offer every student the same sense of care and belonging that her own family experienced at St. John’s.
“You have to be compassionate with them,” she said. “…You just want to make them feel that they’re at home and that they can always come to the office if they need anything. I try to care for every one of them as my own.”
Rezac said the students themselves have been among her greatest inspirations throughout her years of service.
“They’re funny! They can say some funny stuff, and I just love working with them,” she said.
She also values the close-knit relationships among the school’s faculty, staff and families.
“[The faculty] are so supportive and they’re hard workers, along with all of our teachers that work there,” she said.
Rezac believes Catholic education leaves an enduring mark on students and their families. After almost 30 years at St. John’s, she now welcomes the children of former students she once taught in art and library.
“A Catholic education is important to me because it [leaves] a lifelong impression,” she said. “When I started, I had a bunch of students which I did art and library with,” she continued. “And now I have their kids at St. John’s School.”
The next generation at St. John’s now includes someone especially close to Rezac: her granddaughter, who attended preschool last year and will be at the school every day this year.
Rezac said one of her greatest achievements has been seeing the lasting impression she has made on students.
“I’ve had students run into [me] and ask me if I’m still at St. John’s and share that they remember me. Some even still have art projects I did with them way back when,” she said.
Encounters like that always warm Rezac’s heart.
For families considering Catholic education, Rezac encourages them to visit a school, meet its teachers and experience its community firsthand.
“People that are considering a Catholic education: go check the school out, come visit,” she said. “If you come see St. John’s in Weston, I will give you a tour of it! I believe you cannot go wrong with St. John’s School. We have awesome teachers. The kids get along. And we have a super lunch program,” she shared with a smile.
She also advises new families and educators not to hesitate to seek help.
“If you’re starting out, do not be afraid to ask questions,” Rezac said. “I’ve been there for a long time, and I kind of forget what new parents don’t know.”
Rezac said she was shocked to learn she had been selected for the St. John Bosco Award.
“I was super surprised to even just be nominated, yet receive the award,” she said. “I cannot believe it. I still can’t believe it, actually. So it’s an honor!”
She shares the recognition with the entire St. John’s community.
“I want to give credit to our teachers who work so hard,” Rezac said, “and our parents at St. John’s. They work hard. They’re very supportive. I can ask any one of them if I ever need help. They do a lot of fundraising, and I know they’ve got our backs.”
After nearly three decades, Rezac still cannot imagine serving anywhere else.
“I love working at St. John’s School,” she said. “The days are long, but the days go fast. I don’t think I’d be anywhere else. I love the kids like my own. The teachers are like family to me.”
“Thank you for this award. I so appreciate it,” she added.
