Block schedules, wildcat crazies, and whatever else you think of when you think of Millard West, you can most likely thank Dr. Rick Kolowski for coming up with it. Beginning in 1971, he started at Millard High School and blossomed from there. From starting as a history teacher, then department head, to finally giving himself the title of “head learner.”
After working at Millard South, he got the idea to break ground on a new school, but doing that isn’t as easy as you may think. First, he traveled the country, looking at the newest and most modern schools, to find out what would make the perfect new fit for the community around us. His sons, David and Jason Kolowski, got to watch their dad’s imagination skyrocket when it came to building West.
“He broke ground on the school when there was nothing out there, just a dirt road,” Jason Kolowski said. “He had the vision to call it Millard West, and once it got built, it would attract a lot of people, homes, and businesses.”
He played a huge role in the development and the flow of everything. Some things, like needing more security, are hard to predict, but when those challenges arose, he got right on top of that as well. The focal points he wanted were the library and the commons area when you walk into the building.
After the structural work on the building was set in place, he put hours into how the school day would work. With the students as his first priority always, he wanted to make sure they are learning in the most productive ways he could. One of the things he put the most time into was the block schedule.
“He and his team worked really hard on the block schedule to make sure it would work perfectly with the students and the building,” David Kolowski said. “At the end of the day, he picked the right people for the right place and the right schedule that the kids still love today.”
In 2008, Dr. K passed the school down to principal Greg Tiemann, who is still the principal today. As he was taking the school from the man who made it himself, Tiemann learned a lot about how to keep the school successful and unlike the others.
“When I became principal, one of the most valuable lessons I learned from Dr. Kolowski was the importance of having a clear vision, communicating it effectively, and building strong relationships with the entire school community,” Tiemann said. “He was the face of Millard West, and he showed how much trust and respect can grow when people feel connected and supported. He mentored me in my first days and was always a phone call away, and I am grateful for his leadership and friendship.”
Anyone who knew Dr. K could remember him from his big personality and all the laughs they’ve shared. The legacy he leaves behind is unmatched, and Millard West carries the joy he created in the hallways all the way in 1995.
Dr. K sadly passed away on September 4, 2025. The family celebrated his life on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the UNO Thompson Alumni Center.
