Mitchell Public Schools

October 26-30, 2026: Red Ribbon Week at Mitchell Elementary! Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug-Free. Join us for a fun week as we celebrate making healthy choices and living drug-free. Go Tigers!

Coaches Spotlight

🐯 COACHES SPOTLIGHT: Cassie Weigel
Sport: One-Acts
Coaching: 10 years
Why do you coach?
I enjoy sharing my love of theater with students and I participated in One-Acts when I was a student, so now I get to share my knowledge.

What is the biggest lesson you want your athletes to learn?
I want my students to learn how to step out of their comfort zones and to feel comfortable in their own skin.

Favorite coaching memory?
My favorite coaching memory was watching Sullivan Johnson win WTC Outstanding Actor and Kaidyn Patterson win WTC Outstanding Actress. These awards are the biggest honor an actor/actriess in the Western Trails Conference can receive

What makes Mitchell’s student athletes special?
Mitchell students are special because they are so involved. They all participate in a variety of activities. They can win WTC volleyball on a Saturday and compete on stage in One-Acts the following Tuesday. They all participate in so much.

Fun Fact:
I have an unnecessary fear of gas stations. I don’t like to go to gas stations I am unfamiliar with..

Rapid Fire:
☕ Coffee or energy drink? Favorite Kind? Coffee, my favorite kind is a sugar free vanilla iced, latte.
🏀 Favorite sport to watch? Baseball or hockey
🍕 Favorite food? Nachos
🎬 Favorite movie? The Grinch
🎬 Favorite TV Show? Love is Blind
🎵 Game-day song? Rack City by Tyga

Check out here interview here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19SF6kuKX4pd_vHGzMPLsQ54ScTG8tLI9/view?usp=drive_link

Coaches Spotlight

🐯 COACHES SPOTLIGHT: Austin Sailors
Sport/Activity: 7-12 Band
Coaching: Currently in year 12 at Mitchell

Why do you coach?
I am a band teacher because I get to make music all day with amazing people!

What is the biggest lesson you want your athletes/participants to learn?
Band is a large group class that exposes you to all different kinds of people often of different ages and abilities. Music is for everybody, and I want my groups to be inclusive, so the most important thing they can learn is how to get along with all members of the group and to contribute to the group. Everybody plays every song and no one “sits the bench” in the band, so it’s important for every individual to take responsibility for their own music in order for the group to be successful.

Favorite coaching memory?
It’s hard to choose one specific memory, but my favorite parts of my day are when students are working to be successful and overcome something that they were previously struggling with. I am always proud when a student shows that they are working on improving themselves.

What makes Mitchell’s student athletes/participants special?
It’s awesome to see students work and succeed at multiple different activities. That is not as common in a larger school!

Fun Fact:
I will be traveling to Europe with the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music next summer. It’s a cool opportunity offered to students involved in music!

Rapid Fire:
☕ Coffee or energy drink? Favorite Kind?
Coffee-Black
🏀 Favorite sport to watch?
Tennis
🍕 Favorite food?
Tacos
🎬 Favorite movie?
Star Wars
🎬 Favorite TV Show?
Parks and Recreation
🎵 Game-day song?
Paint it Black

Check out his interview here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SV-wOM2ARNFs8QMWXxMDcWTDWnIDwTmq/view?usp=drive_link

The next Coaches Spotlight for this week is Coach Gonzales!

🐯 COACHES SPOTLIGHT: Jordan Gonzales
Sport: Varsity Cheer
Coaching: 11 Years

Why do you coach?
I have a lot of experience with dance. I have danced and taught dance for a really long time. I also was a part of the cheer team in high school. I enjoy being able to share my knowledge and help contribute to the positive atmosphere at games and events. I really enjoy getting to know my students outside of the classroom setting and in a different space.

What is the biggest lesson you want your athletes to learn?
The biggest lesson I want my athletes to learn is that they are way more capable than they usually think they are. We work as a team a lot in cheer and all the members of the team have to work hard individually in order to make the team work in terms of stunting and using props and other crowd leading things. Many times these things are difficult to do right away and take a lot of time and patience to accomplish. I want my athletes to know that when they work hard and put their mind to something they can accomplish some really great things individually and as a team.

Favorite coaching memory?
Some of my favorite coaching memories are of football games when we have a large group of elementary students down on the track with us. It might look chaotic and a little crazy, but I really enjoy how excited the elementary kids get and how they look up to the members of the team, to me that is what cheering is all about.

What makes Mitchell’s student athletes special?
Mitchell student athletes are special because they are versatile. Most girls on my team are in multiple other sports and activities. I think this makes for some really well rounded kids. They are learning lessons and bringing in new ideas and perspectives to all of the different things they are involved in and I really think that that is special and different from a lot of other schools.

Fun Fact:
I own and run a small business with my husband.

Rapid Fire:
☕ Coffee or energy drink? Favorite Kind?
Both. Hot black coffee in the morning and a red bull in the afternoon-usually the seasonal flavors
🏀 Favorite sport to watch?
Olympic curling
🍕 Favorite food?
Junk food-chips (any kind of chip)
🎬 Favorite movie?
Dumb and Dumber or Billy Madison
🎬 Favorite TV Show?
Criminal Minds
🎵 Game-day song?

Want to see Coach Gonzales interview, click here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15IhgrgU7plSDbginG_5A9q1G-b2eD2Jj/view?usp=drive_link

For the next few weeks we want to outline out fantastic coaches and sponsors within our District! Be on the lookout!

🐯 COACHES SPOTLIGHT: Coach West
Sport: Volleyball
Coaching: First year coming back from a long break - but 7 years of experience

Why do you coach?
I love getting to spend time with my players outside of the classroom. Volleyball was a big part of my life as a student athlete, and I enjoy getting to share the game with my players.

What is the biggest lesson you want your athletes to learn?
Volleyball is a game of ownership, perseverance, and teamwork. I hope my athletes learn to trust themselves and their abilities and carry that confidence with them as they become resilient, powerful young women.

Favorite coaching memory?
I think a memory I will have forever is the moment this year’s Varsity team won Western Trails Conference. They worked so hard every set, every game that day. I was so proud of all of them.

What makes Mitchell’s student athletes special?
Mitchell kids show up every day ready to work and become better. As a coach, you can’t ask for anything more than that!

Fun Fact:
I’m ambidextrous.

Rapid Fire:
☕ Coffee or energy drink? Favorite Kind? Coffee. Black.
🏀 Favorite sport to watch? Volleyball and Football
🍕 Favorite food? Tator-Tot Casserole
🎬 Favorite movie? The Guardian
🎬 Favorite TV Show? The Big Bang Theory
🎵 Game-day song? Barracuda by Heart

Want to check out Coach West's sit-down interview, click the link!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G2z554nnpKGHXj8pEGY5GO76h_OgzPqi/view?usp=drive_link