Listen to the full interview with Carla Warren.
North Platte, Neb. - Carla Warren has spent decades quietly becoming part of the family for countless North Platte children — a steady presence who shows up, celebrates small victories, and greets each morning with a smile. This month, she was named the Community Hero for Kids by The Post and Prairie Friends & Flowers, an honor she met with genuine surprise and humility.
Her path into childcare wasn’t sudden. “Oh geez, that was a long time ago,” she laughs when asked how she first started working with kids. She began at North Platte Community Daycare in the infant room, later spent ten years with Head Start, and about fifteen years ago she started working for the school system. What began as a lunchroom para eventually became a role she knew was meant for her when coworkers encouraged her to apply for a special-needs para position. “That’s kind of where my heart is,” she says.
Carla points to family as one root of that calling. Growing up, she had a cousin with cerebral palsy who “was just always special to me,” and her parents influenced her outlook as well — they were foster parents to many children. Those early experiences, combined with a faith community she credits, helped shape a mindset that’s equal parts practical and deeply affectionate.
She speaks about the kids she works with with a soft, clear affection. “They teach me just as much as I teach them,” she says. “They’re open and loving and caring — especially the ones I work with at Adams. I’ve worked with kids I first met in Head Start who just graduated last year. That’s crazy.” Watching that arc — from preschool to graduation — is what Carla calls the most amazing part of the job.
There are difficult moments, of course, and she’s honest about that. Some days come with challenges, but those are quickly overshadowed by the small, human moments her work creates.
“Then you go to the grocery store and from clear across the store you hear, ‘Miss Carla,’ and a kid comes running and gives you a hug,” she said with a smile. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Carla admires the courage of the children she supports.
“They have so many struggles, but yet unconditional love,” she says. “They’re so strong — they’re not afraid of anything. They just try things — that’s awesome.”
Her respect for their capability is direct and warm: “They can do anything that we can do.”
Some stories from her years stand out as reminders that her job stretches far beyond the classroom. Once, a single mother invited Carla to help on a family trip to Puerto Rico so the mom could relax and enjoy a vacation.
“At first it was all a joke — the little girl came to school and said, ‘You can come in my suitcase,’” Carla remembers. When the mom really did call and ask her to come, the trip turned into an unforgettable experience and an example of how deep the bonds she builds with families can run.
When asked what it felt like to be nominated, Carla called the recognition “humbling” and a little surprising. “I’m just out there doing my job,” she said. The nomination came from a family she has known since preschool — a fact that makes the award as much about shared history as it is about her work.
Carla’s support system at home is part of what keeps her giving so much to others.
“My husband, of course. He’s always my biggest fan,” she says, noting he’s the one who encourages her to slow down when she needs it. Faith and the church community are also central pillars in the way she approaches life and work.
Practical advice is never far from Carla’s lips. For anyone thinking about working in childcare or special education, she recommends trying it out first. “Shadow a day in the special needs room and see if it’s a fit,” she suggests, echoing the advice she received early in her career. “It’s not for everybody.”
Her gratitude extends to the families who have trusted her with their children, the co-workers who encouraged her, and the community that has embraced her over the years. “Once they’re part of my circle, they’re always part of my circle,” she says.
Quiet, steady, and full of heart, Carla Warren isn’t looking for praise. But for the families who nominated her — and for the children who run into her arms in the grocery store — the recognition from The Post and Prairie Friends & Flowers is a small way of saying thank you for a lifetime of showing up.
Each month, The North Platte Post and Prairie Friends & Flowers honor a Community Hero for Kids — someone who dedicates their time, talent, and heart to helping children thrive. From teachers and mentors to coaches and caregivers, these heroes represent the best of what community means.
Nominate our next Community Hero For Kids Here.