Bartletts bid adieu — Educators reflect on years at Newcastle Middle School

Between class periods at Newcastle Middle School, Tyler Bartlett often steps into the hallway as students move from one class to the next and calls out, “Let’s go learn,” a phrase that makes students and staff smile, according to English teacher Rebecca Tacy.

The moment passes quickly, and by the next bell the hallway is quiet again. Those small interactions, repeated day after day, became part of the rhythm of the building during Bartlett’s time as principal.

Now, after years in Newcastle schools, Bartlett and his wife, Nikki, are preparing to leave the community where they built their careers and started their family. They will move to Gretna, Nebraska, where Tyler will serve as assistant principal at Aspen Creek Middle School beginning in the 2026-27 school year. Gretna Public Schools announced his appointment in a Feb. 26 news release, and the Weston County School District No. 1 board of trustees accepted their resignations at its Feb. 25 meeting. Nikki will continue teaching middle school English and reading at Giles Creek Middle School.

The idea of leaving developed over time and became more real last summer, when the couple began seriously exploring opportunities in other states.

As they considered the move, their children’s timing became the deciding factor. Their son, Max, will begin kindergarten in fall 2026, and they wanted to avoid moving too early or waiting until a move would be harder for both him and their daughter, Lucy.

“We didn’t want to move too soon while they both are having good experiences at school and day care, but we didn’t want to wait too long, where they were older and maybe moving from friends and the town they know might even be harder for them,” he said.

Nikki said she is grateful that Lucy was able to attend Newcastle Elementary School for kindergarten through second grade.

“They have great teachers in those grades, and I’m thankful for each of them helping Lucy grow into the strong student she is now,” Nikki said.

Nearly two decades in Newcastle

Tyler Bartlett arrived in Newcastle as a 22-year-old teacher. Seventeen years later, he leaves as the principal of the middle school, after serving there as a math teacher, coach and administrator.

“In some ways, I still feel like I ‘grew up’ in Newcastle and at NMS,” he said.

Over time, the school became more than a workplace. It became the place where he built his career, formed friendships and raised a family. 

“Being the principal at Newcastle Middle School will always be one of the best memories and great honors of my life,” he said.

Nikki Bartlett’s connection to the district began even earlier, as she attended Newcastle schools from kindergarten through high school before returning as a teacher. She now works alongside some of her former teachers, which has been “an interesting and fun shift in dynamics,” she said.

Colleagues said she has made a lasting impact on students.

“Nikki is a phenomenal teacher,” NMS librarian Carrie Manders said. “She has a passion to inspire kids to love reading and writing – her focus since she began teaching has been to create seventh grade students who love to learn, which is a feat.”

Manders said NMS students have also enjoyed playing soccer with Nikki as their coach.

“She has been a huge asset to our community and will be missed,” Manders said.

That impact extended beyond individual classrooms into the broader culture of the school.

Leadership and culture

When Tyler Bartlett became principal, he focused on relationships, a priority that shaped both big decisions and everyday moments.

“I hope the staff, the students and their families at home would say we lived up to that goal the past seven years,” he said. “We’ve worked hard to keep lines of communication open and to give everyone ownership of NMS. I’ve certainly made some mistakes along the way, but thankfully we had and continue to have a building full of caring adults who put students first, and so when I made mistakes, they were there to fix them with better ideas.”

Tacy described him as a principal who has made time to connect. 

“Tyler’s leadership style has been supportive by letting us develop our own ways to teach that benefit each of our classrooms, grades and content, while also giving us guidance when we struggle,” she said. “He has always had time for staff. Whenever I have gone to speak with him, he has always stopped what he is doing, looked me in the eye and truly listened.”

Science teacher Jody McCormack said Bartlett’s leadership set clear expectations for both staff and students.

“With no doubt, Tyler Bartlett has left NMS and Weston County School District No. 1 better than he found it,” she said.

That tone was noticeable even to newer staff.

Courtney McFarland, who joined the school in August 2025, said she noticed that environment immediately as both an employee and a parent.

“In the short time I’ve been here, I have been very impressed with how Mr. Bartlett runs his school,” she said, adding that both Bartletts contributed to a positive and supportive atmosphere.

Nikki “welcomed me with open arms,” McFarland said.

“The Bartletts make our school environment fun and comfortable to be in,” she said. “I couldn’t have found a better place for my girls to attend school or for a better boss and coworkers. They truly care about their students, staff and parents.”

Work and home intertwined

Working in the same building while raising their children, the Bartletts said their professional and personal lives were closely connected. They often shared ideas and supported each other’s growth.

“We’ve helped each other grow professionally by being in the same building and working so closely together,” Nikki said.

Tyler Bartlett said many of his ideas came from staff, including Nikki, whose influence he credited openly.

“I’d say 95% of my good ideas over the past seven years have come from the staff at NMS,” he said, adding that many of those ideas came from Nikki.

“She was the secret, unpaid assistant principal,” he said.

Lucy’s early years at Newcastle Elementary School and Max’s time in preschool gave the family a view of the district from multiple stages of childhood.

“It takes a village,” Tyler Bartlett said, noting the role that neighbors, coworkers and families played in supporting both of their children.

Moments that stay

Many of the memories the Bartletts carry from Newcastle come from everyday experiences that unfolded in classrooms and school events.

One day, Nikki Bartlett walked into her classroom to find 100 small plastic octopuses hidden around the room, prompting students to search desks, shelves and corners throughout the day until they finally located the last one taped to the ceiling.

She also recalled classroom activities such as lunch duty races and themed lessons, which she said contributed to the variety she values in teaching.

Tyler Bartlett said many of his memories center on student-led events, including pep rallies where he took part in activities such as getting a pie in the face and kissing a pig.

He also recalled his 40th birthday, when students sang to him while he was sweeping the floor at halftime during a basketball tournament.

“That’ll stick with me,” he said.

Community ties

Both Bartletts said Newcastle’s size shaped their experience in meaningful ways, allowing them to know students, families and colleagues on a deeper level than might be possible in a larger district.

As they prepare to move, the Bartletts said they are looking forward to joining a growing district in Gretna that is working to maintain a sense of connection as it expands.

Tyler Bartlett said he hopes to contribute to that effort by carrying forward what he has learned in Newcastle.

Reflecting on their time in the district, both Bartletts said the community played a significant role in their lives and in shaping their family’s experiences.

“We wouldn’t be who we are or where we are without our village,” Nikki Bartlett said. “There are so many great people in this community. I wish we could bundle them up and bring them with us.”

She said leaving students is the most difficult part of the transition.

“To my students, past and present, this is a tough goodbye,” she said. “You will always be in my heart, no matter where I go.”

Tyler Bartlett expressed similar gratitude for the community.

“Thanks for letting us play a small part in your students’ lives over the years,” he said.