Her bands and students have performed at the regional, state and national levels. South Sioux City Band Director. Michelle Bluford, 55, who has been with Elkhorn Public Schools for more than 20 years, was charged Wednesday with one count of intentional child abuse. Copyright 2021 WOWT. He brings a vast knowledge of brass pedagogy that helped to take our students to the next level. According to an ESHS band website, Bluford has been a teacher for 33 years 21 of them in the Elkhorn school district. According to her biography on the Music for All website, where Bluford is listed as a summer symposium faculty member, before teaching in Elkhorn she spent six years at Ponca Public Schools and six years at Benson High School. Posted By : / how do i access my talk21 email /; Under :eaglestone village lambertville, mieaglestone village lambertville, mi Average annual salary was $55,450 and median salary was $55,972. Officials say Bluford was arrested around 7 p.m. Monday on the warrant charging her with felony child abuse. Bluford drove the girl around in her car, where cuddling sessions occurred, Kjelstrup said, and Bluford tried to get the girl to fall asleep. Average annual salary was $55,450 and median salary was $55,972. Director bands Elkhorn High School, since 2000. You have permission to edit this article. She also taught for six years at Omaha Benson and Ponca Public School, according to her bio on that site, and has also served as president of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association. She is accused of sexually abusing a student who has since graduated. Elkhorn South Band Director. Douglas County Sheriff's Office (NE) announce the arrest of Elkhorn South High School Band Director Dr. Michelle Bluford, 55, in connection with an inappropriate relationship with a student for three years. The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. Parks went on to say they are dedicated to protecting students from abuse and neglect and said they will take prompt action when a report is received. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. (KMTV) Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn South High School band teacher who is accused of felony child abuse, made her first court appearance Wednesday morning. The alleged victim graduated in 2019, documents state. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. One board member, Nancy Rogic-Greufe, was absent during the vote. District Staff | Elkhorn Public Schools District Staff Below are the campus buildings that house District Staff with the departments listed under each building. Phone: 402-444-1068. She then would rock the victim with her face close to her chest as if she were trying to breastfeed, Kjelstrup said. (KMTV) Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn South High School band teacher who is accused of felony child abuse, made her first court appearance Wednesday morning. That charge could include endangering the life of a child; depriving them of necessities; placing the child in a situation that could lead to sexual exploitation; or forcing the child to engage in prostitution, indecency, pornography, or another situation allowing for sexual abuse. Further into the release, DCSO states, the relationship consisted of predatory grooming behaviors which eventually lead to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Dr. Bluford. Officials say no more details will be released to the public until the investigation is complete and the Elkhorn Public School admission has been fully cooperative. Elkhorn South band director charged with child abuse in case involving former student. 22 9 comments Best Add a Comment Her bands, orchestras, and jazz bands have consistently earned Superior Plus and Superior ratings at District Music Contest, state and regional competitions, the website states. Mark Hiebner. Bluford worked for the Elkhorn school district for 21 of her 33 years as a teacher. Serving as Music Director of this group is truly a great Michelle Bluford is alleged to have initiated and nurtured a relationship with a former student over a period of three . DSCO says the time frame was about three years but court documents say two. Michelle Bluford - Elkhorn South High School 2014-2015 John Keith - Millard West High School 2015-2016 Frank Ibero - Scottsbluff High School 2016-2017 Brady Rohlfs - Waverly High School 2017-2018 Dan Sodomka - Aurora High School 2018-2019 Carolyn Barber - University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2019-2020 Chiyo Trauernicht - Otte-Blair Middle School She was booked around 7 p.m. on Monday. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. Copyright 2021 WOWT. Investigators accuse her of using predatory grooming behaviors which eventually led to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Bluford. Send an Email. Litchfield Band Director. Bluford is accused of intentional child abuse with no injury, a Class 3A felony, for a possible inappropriate relationship with a student. 1.1K1.1K. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Once, Kjelstrup said, the girl went to Blufords apartment, where the girl saw numerous photos of herself, including one large photo. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. During an initial court appearance on Wednesday, a judge set bond was set at 10% of $75,000 for 55 year old Michelle A. Bluford. Former Elkhorn South band director accused of child abuse bonds out of jail. Band Director. Matthew Knipe, Blufords attorney said she has long-standing ties to the community. His laid back demeanor, however, does not diminish his level of focus and attention to detail with fundamentals. Parks said they are conducting an internal review of their policies and protocols surrounding professional boundaries and will be providing training for all staff. 2005 - Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn High School 2006 - Fred Ritter, Columbus High School 2007 - Sharon Hoffman, Bayard Public Schools 2008 - Byron Braasch, Lewis & Clark Middle School 2009 - Stan Johnson, Shickley Public Schools 2010 - Dave Klein, Kearney Public Schools 2011 - Cheri Helmer-Riensche, Papillion-La Vista South High School "We offer our deepest sympathies to the victim and her family and are very saddened by the events that transpired," Parks said, reading from a prepared statement. The arrest warrant doesn't say exactly what Michelle Bluford, 55, is alleged to have done. All of us in the Nebraska Wind Symphony truly appreciate your support not only today but throughout the long and colorful history of our group. She was ordered held on $75,000 bail. The Red Line extension will have three new underground stations . (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. To reset your password, enter your email address and press Submit. OMAHA, Neb. The relationship consisted of predatory grooming behavior which lead to sexual contact. Dr. Michelle Bluford, and her students here at Elkhorn South High School! All rights reserved. The project has a budget of 405.4m, revised from the original estimate of 304m at the end of 2022 due to higher prices for raw materials and labour. Position switches part of 'magic' for Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, Shatel: Sam Griesel is 'living the dream' at Nebraska - all thanks to the transfer portal, Live updates: Nebraska high school girls basketball state tournament semifinals, Elkhorn South band teachers on administrative leave; one person under investigation, Elkhorn South band director booked into jail on suspicion of child abuse, Former Elkhorn South band director faces more charges, is accused of grooming student, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities, Scientists reveal hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza, Greece train crash: Public anger grows as death toll rises. Michelle A. Bluford, music educator. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A west Omaha high school band director has been arrested, accused of inappropriate contact and sexually abuse of a former student over a three-year period. Prosecutors believe she groomed the victim, a student at Elkhorn South, for two to three years. According to an ESHS band website, Bluford has been a teacher for 33 years 21 of them in the Elkhorn school district. Send an Email. According to court documents, during the students junior year, Bluford allegedly manipulated the student into believing their family did not care for them. Bluford also required the girl to hug her at the beginning and end of each school day, the prosecutor said. LISBON Metro has launched a tender for the construction of a 4km extension of the Red Line from So Sebastio to Alcntara. As a guest conductor for our WMU Jazz Orchestra he directed with focus and precision. Send an Email. Documents now indicate that Bluford also faces two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child. The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. Previously was employed with Elkhorn Schools for about 20 years.. Father, son charged with animal cruelty after hundreds of dead and dying cattle found on Lincoln County property. Achievements . The vote came down at a special meeting on Monday afternoon. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Douglas County sheriffs deputies still are investigating the matter and looking into Blufords background. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. You will receive an email with additional instructions. What ever happened to Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn band teacher? An anti-hate activities policy is unanimously approved by the Westside school board, following reports of racial slurs being hurled at Black basketball players in other local schools. Further into the release, DCSO states, the relationship consisted of predatory grooming behaviors which eventually lead to inappropriate sexual contact with the former student by Dr. Bluford. Officials say no more details will be released to the public until the investigation is complete and the Elkhorn Public School admission has been fully cooperative. Select a building to view staff. Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Sheriffs office investigating death of Hall county woman, False reports of school shootings all over Nebraska and the country, University of Nebraska Kearney students make valuable connections at Career and Internship Fair, UNK history professor uncovers Willa Cathers connections to campus, Kearney community, Next University of Nebraska Kearney Science Caf focuses on clinical trials in rural Nebraska, publicfile@ksnblocal4.com - (402) 467-4321. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. (AP) - A west Omaha high school band director has been arrested, accused of abusing a former stude. Dr. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn South High School. She has been an educator for 16 years, including 14 at Benson High. sounds good synonympapa smurf tattoo. OMAHA, Neb. Incidents happened both on and off school grounds over the course of a couple of years. I strive not only to teach my students about the technical aspects of playing a brass instrument, but also to challenge them to think critically about the music they perform and listen to. OMAHA, Neb. The victim would sit on the defendant's lap and she would rock her, Kjelstrup said. At that time, the school district and DCSO said they could not share further details until the investigation had concluded. Blufords attorney, Matt Knipe, said Bluford has no criminal history and many ties to the community because of her two decades of employment with the Elkhorn Public Schools. Perchal said Brian Nelsen has been named Elkhorn Souths band director, while Bluford remains on administrative leave. Michelle Bluford, 55, who has been with Elkhorn Public Schools for more than 20 years, was charged Wednesday with one count of intentional child abuse. OMAHA, Neb. A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The board also approved the resignation of another band director from Elkhorn South, Lindsey Bogatz. Shawn is currently accepting students of all ability levels for in person and online trombone, euphonium, tuba, and Jazz improvisation lessons. Oakland-Craig Band Director. The girl told authorities that approximately three times a week, the two would have quiet time, which was when the girl would sit on Blufords lap. I don't know why it just popped into my head to ask now, but just curious if anyone knows the outcome. Bluford, Kjelstrup said, had told the student that her family didnt care for her and made other statements that led the student to become alienated from her friends and family. Douglas County Court issued a warrant for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, on Friday, according to court documents. Copyright 2021 WOWT. A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. Her bands, orchestras, and jazz bands have consistently earned Superior Plus and Superior ratings at District Music Contest, state and regional competitions, the website states. Officials say Bluford was arrested around 7 p.m. Monday on the warrant charging her with felony child abuse. (WOWT) - An Elkhorn South High School band director is facing a felony child abuse charge stemming from a complaint spanning two years. Former Elkhorn South band teacher facing more abuse charges, Former Omaha Corrections employee arrested for alleged relationship with convicted murderer, Plattsmouth breaks ground on new wastewater treatment facility, 55-year-old Michelle Bluford was originally charged with child abuse. All rights reserved. Deputies have have spoken to the victim and the victims family regarding this matter. A preliminary hearing for Michelle A. Bluford, 55, is scheduled for Aug. 27. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says an arrest warrant was issued Monday for 55-year-old Michelle Bluford, director of the Elkhorn South High School band who has been employed by the district for two decades. Elkhorn South High School average salary is 18 percent higher than USA average and median salary is 29 percent higher than USA median. Superintendent Bary Habrock presented the request for Bluford's contract to be terminated. OMAHA, Neb. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says Elkhorn South High School Band Director Dr. Michelle Bluford was taken into custody Monday evening without incident for one count of Felony Child Abuse in an investigation that is ongoing. Michelle Bluford, Elkhorn South High School's band director, is charged with one count of intentional child abuse and ordered held on $75,000 bail. "I love when the student's lightbulb turns on when they engage," said Sekle. EPS Administration Building Staff District Staff Building Facilities Personnel Student Services Maintenance Teacher Training Conference Center Staff Elkhorn South teacher accused of felony child abuse makes first court appearance. Michelle Bluford, 55,is alleged to have initiated and nurtured a relationship with a former student over a period of three years, eventually , Elkhorn South High School's former band directorwas charged this week with two counts of third-degree sexual assault, which are in addition t. Elkhorn South High Schools band director is accused of grooming a former female student for two years, forcing her to download an app so her movements could be tracked, rocking the girl as if she were breastfeeding her and touching the girl inappropriately. OMAHA, Neb. Elkhorn South band teachers were placed on administrative leave at the end of June as the Douglas County Sheriffs Office investigated allegations of an inappropriate relationship involving a staff member and a former student. Five of the board members voted to terminate the contract without question or comment. Father, son charged with animal cruelty after hundreds of dead and dying cattle found on Lincoln County property, Mullen basketball tournament honors late coaches, Bridge of hope Advocacy Center raises over $15,000 in their event, NPIce closes early due to mechanical issues. The two began texting, Kjelstrup said, and Bluford told the girl that she missed her and couldnt wait for her to hurry back to school. She was ordered held on $75,000 bail.. At this time, this remains an ongoing personnel matter. She also repeatedly kissed the victims head, face and arms.. Bluford was booked Monday into the Douglas County Jail after a warrant was issued for her arrest late last week. Facebook Is her trial still in process? She has resided in the Omaha area for several decades, Knipe said. Elkhorn South High School average salary is 18 percent higher than USA average and median salary is 29 percent higher than USA median. Elkhorn Public Schools is aware of the issuance of an arrest warrant for Michelle Bluford, and we continue to cooperate with the Douglas County Sheriffs office in their investigation. Former Elkhorn South band director accused of child abuse bonds out of jail. She previous also taught in the Ponca Public Schools and Omaha Public Schools . On Monday, Omaha authorities issued an arrest warrant following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship between an Elkhorn South High School band teacher and student, KETV Omaha reported. Bluford also allegedly had the victim sit on her lap at school and rock them three times a week, calling this their quiet time. Later, Bluford also allegedly took the victim to her car for cuddles in an effort to get the student to fall asleep; and would rub her hands over the students body, including private areas, documents show. At one point, Kjelstrup said, Bluford made the girl sign up for an app that would allow Bluford to track the girls location. (Picture from Douglas County Sheriff's Office), Omaha's News, Weather & Traffic with the Good Morning Show, Scott Voorhees, Lucy Chapman, and Sean Callahan with Husker Sports, Traffic Reports from A1 United Heating & Air, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. An investigation was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, which established Michelle Bluford, the Elkhorn South Band Director, initiated and nurtured an inappropriate relationship with a former student over a period of approximately three years. (WOWT) - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge.. She is also ordered not to have contact with the alleged victim. Bluford began to isolate the student, sometimes taking the student off school grounds, texting the student, and having the student sign on to an app so they could be tracked, court documents state. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Omaha, NE - The former Elkhorn South High School band director on Wednesday bonded out of Douglas County Jail, where she had been held on a felony child abuse charge. The girl had reported her allegations of abuse to someone this summer, and the allegations then were brought to authorities. She was booked around 7 p.m. on Monday. Dr. Michelle Bluford, the band director at Elkhorn South High School, was taken into custody late Monday, following a month-long investigation. Dr. Harriet Bluford Memorial Scholarship: Delanie Ferzely: Dr. Michelle Bluford Music Scholarship: Elizabeth Watzke: Echelon Homes Construction & Engineering Scholarship: Miguel Redlin: In an ongoing investigation with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, they were informed of a possible inappropriate relationship with a faculty member and student at Elkhorn South High School. Details revealed in court Wednesday alleged Dr. Michelle Bluford manipulated the student,. DSCO says the time frame was about three years but court documents say two. At this time, this remains an ongoing personnel matter. A spokeswoman with Elkhorn Public Schools confirmed Wednesday that ESHS summer band activities had resumed under the direction of Brian Nelsen, recently named the high schools new band director.