Long-time teacher retires from WNCC

Earlier this year, long time cosmetology teacher Pam Leever announced that she would retire from Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC).

After having a stress-related heart attack in September, Leever decided to makes some changes in her life, focusing more on her family.

"After a scare like that, it puts things in perspective." said Leever.

Leever first started cosmetology school in Colorado in her younger days. Married at the time and pregnant with her oldest son, Leever was forced quit school two weeks before she graduated due to illness. At the time, the State of Nebraska gave only a two year window to finish the required hours before having to start the classes over again.

After her divorce in 1973, Pam decided to move closer to family in Nebraska. Pam met her husband John Leever, who was working at the Sidney Airport at the time.

Prompted by her passion, and with her husband taking classes at Western Nebraska Vocational Technical School, Pam made the decision to return to school and complete her cosmetology degree.

After graduation Leever worked for the Cameo Salon for two years before opening up her own salon, Headlines, located on 10th Avenue. The building that is now an extension of Sonny's Super Foods. Headlines remained there for six years before she bought a building and moved the salon to 917 20th Avenue, putting in another four years behind the chair. She then sold the business to current owner Angie Dickman.

"I enjoyed loved my business, but I was having a lot of trouble with my arms." said Leever.

Pam said she took a year away from the cosmetology industry, passing her time working at the Coffee Corner until making the decision to get her instructor's and associates degrees. She said she started teaching at WNCC seven and a half years ago.

"I always wanted to be a teacher, that passion was always there." said Leever.

What she enjoyed most about teaching said Leever, was the students.

"They were my life for seven and a half years, just to see them grow, to keep in touch with them, its just fun to see where they have ended up." said Pam.

"I believe teaching is 100 percent that you have to give yourself 100 percent to those students. You don't focus on you, you focus on the students and what you can do to make them better." said Leever.

"The whole time I have been a teacher I have learned something from my students, so in turn I hope they learn something from me." said Leever.

Wednesday was Leever's last day at WNCC.