OMAHA- For the past four decades, Omaha Public Schools teacher Kaye Kiepert-Hensley has welcomed numerous students into her classroom at Franklin Elementary School, with this year, her 41st, being no different. "Every day, every year, is a new day and a new year. Every group is different," said Kiepert-Hensley, "They're fun. They're excited to be here. I'm excited to see them."

Besides some recently installed blue carpet, Kiepert-Hensley has remained in and maintained essentially the exact same classroom over the past 41 years, with very little changing from year to year. The veteran teacher graduated from what was once known as Technical High School before its closure in 1984. Today, her old stomping grounds exist as the Teacher Administration Center.

Her reason for staying at Franklin Elementary: "I love to see the families, because it's the same families that I had many years ago, when they were students in here. Now I have their babies again. So, they know it's a safe and a loving place in our room." Franklin, along with the rest of the elementary schools within OPS, began the fall semester on Wednesday, with Kiepert-Hensley set to instruct around 14 kids; a number she says will grow as more students move into the neighborhood throughout the fall.

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