Cooking, rescuing animals, gardening, and working are all hobbies of a staff member at North Platte High School. Mesharia Montgomery cooks and serves food to students at NPHS.  

Montgomery was born in North Platte but raised in Denver, and has now ended up back as the cook at NPHS. She is married, a mother, and a grandmother. “My kids changed me, and my grandkids, they are pretty special to me,” Montgomery said,

This is Montgomery’s second year at NPHS working as a cook. “I was looking for a job that wasn’t full time and this was a great opportunity, and I had summers off,” she said.

Cooking isn’t just a job for Montgomery, but it is also a hobby of hers and very relaxing. “This is like the perfect job,” she said. “I wanted to work at the high school, I like high school-aged kids.” 

Rescuing animals is another hobby of hers. Montgomery loves animals and has two donkeys, eight cats, a toy poodle, and a golden retriever puppy. “I have a passion for animals,” said Montgomery. “I like to see them have a good home.” 

 Montgomery rescued her donkeys as pets after a horseback riding accident that happened around four years ago. “I really can’t ride [horses] like I used to, so I decided they [donkeys] would make good pets,” she said.

Her busy life of rescuing animals, gardening, cooking, and working is very important to her, and she is very glad to be living back in North Platte. “I’m just happy to be here in a smaller life and slower paced,” she said. 

Montgomery enjoys her smaller, quieter life in North Platte and plans to retire here. “I don’t have plans to retire soon, this is the perfect job,” she said. 

“I love my job at NPHS. The kids are great and I couldn’t ask for better co workers or supervisors,” Montgomery said. “I enjoy coming to work everyday.”