Brad Luce is back home.
The 2006 Centennial High School graduate is now the Centennial Elementary principal.
“When the opportunity came up to come back home, it was too good,” he said.
Luce grew up in Utica and attended St. Paul Lutheran School through eighth grade. He went to Centennial for high school where he had “awesome teachers and coaches,” he said.
He also met his wife, Chelsea (Wambold), at CHS. She was a sophomore, and he was a freshman.
After high school graduation, Luce attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and had the opportunity to work at Kearney’s YMCA, where he was able to test what he’d learned in class.
“I worked with all ages. It was a good experience,” he said.
He student taught in Grand Island where he learned classroom management and the importance of having a passion for your work.
After graduating from UNK, Luce was hired as a fifth grade teacher at York. During his seven years as a teacher, he coached junior high football and track and helped with high school basketball.
Benji Hoag was the assistant principal at York and had a big impact on Luce’s career, he said. Hoag’s example gave Luce the impetus to try administration. He earned a master’s degree and four years ago was hired as assistant principal at York Elementary.
“I learned a ton,” Luce said.
Now back at Centennial, Luce is excited about the opportunities to meet, talk with and help the students. While some of the teachers are the same, many are new.
He remembered participating in Bronco Buddies, which was led by Jarrett Fowler who still teaches second grade at CES. Julie Dey and Mark Ortmeier also taught at CHS while Luce was a student.
“It’s great to get to know the new people, too,” Luce said. “We’re all here for the same reason – to serve our communities.”
The Luces have four children – Carter, age 10, is a fifth grader; Evelyn, age 5, is in kindergarten; Isaac, age 4, is in preschool; and Isabelle is 4 months.
They are still living in the York area but plan to move to Utica.
Luce said he’s looking to help provide the best experience possible for the students at Centennial.
“There’s already a lot of good things in place,” he said.
The elementary has also added a counselor for the elementary students, which Luce described as “another layer of support.”
He plans to focus on culture and opportunities during the 2022-23 school year.
“Culture is not one thing, it’s everything,” he said.
Luce was able to be at Centennial on the last day of school for the 2021-22 school year. He said he’s excited to see the students back because they bring “a whole different energy” to the building.
School started at Centennial Aug. 11.
