Johnetta Hebrlee
Johnetta Hebrlee is a dedicated educator and historian with over 35 years of experience fostering a love for history and learning in her hometown of Garden City, Kansas. A fifth-generation resident of Finney County, Johnetta earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education and History from Fort Hays State University, where she also gained hands-on leadership experience as a resident assistant and resident manager of Custer Hall. Her early career included 20 years of classroom teaching and coaching track and field, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to youth development and community engagement.
Fifteen years ago, Johnetta transitioned to her dream role as Education Coordinator at the Finney County Historical Museum and Society. In this position, she has built the education department from the ground up, leading school and public tours, organizing cemetery walks with historical reenactors, conducting genealogy research, and managing the Pioneer/Horizon Award program. She engages audiences across all age groups—from preschoolers to nursing home residents—and collaborates with local initiatives such as Real Men, Real Leaders, ensuring that the stories and history of Finney County remain alive and accessible to the next generation.
Beyond her work at the museum, Johnetta serves on the Citizens Input Committee for the city and county, advocates for historic preservation, and volunteers extensively with organizations such as the Ladies Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, and LiveWell Finney County. Her personal connection to local history is deepened by her family’s heritage, including her grandmother’s collection of historical documents dating back to the 1930s. Through her teaching, programs, and outreach, Johnetta continues to inspire others to value their community’s past while empowering young people to take pride in their heritage.
• 2017 Every Voice Leadership Program
2017 Every Voice Leadership Program
• Fort Hays State University - B.A.
• Garden City High School Hall of Fame Award
• Leadership Garden 2017 Every Voice Leadership Program
• LiveWell Finney County
• Ladies Chamber of Commerce
• Citizens Input Committee (CIP)
• Quilts of Valor for Veterans
• At-risk Youth Programs
• Real Men Real Leaders
• Nursing Home History Programs
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and respect for others. What you see is what you get with me - I'm not a pretentious person. I treat people the way I want to be treated, and until you prove otherwise, I treat you with the utmost respect that I would expect. It's a Kansas thing, but it's also how I was raised - if people treat you well, you treat them well, or you try to change their mind. I love that I can walk down the side streets of my town and say hello to people, and they say hi back. We haven't lost that pioneer spirit, and there's still that underlying feeling of home where people still talk to one another and stay connected.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't take no for an answer. I see, especially in women's studies, that we know all about the founding men, and I've made it my mission that we are finding out more about the founding women. Because where would they be without us? They would be nowhere. Whether that woman is your wife, your sister, or back in the day when two siblings didn't marry and tended to live together - she was his best friend and she elevated him. I want girls to know they can do that. When I think about young women like the one here who ran for state office, took care of her elderly parents until her dad died, ran the business and professional women's Club before women were allowed into the Chamber of Commerce, and didn't let grass grow under her feet - I want to be like her, and I want girls to know they can do that too.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is that it's a dying field. I think it's important that people realize outside of our own community how important museums are to education. Daily, I'm on a server email from across the state of other museums, and we're seeing museums close monthly because nobody's supporting them. That's why my work is so critical - I need to light the fire for the next generation so they will take ownership and take care of our history and heritage.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, and your character - that all comes together of who you are. When you say you're gonna do something, do it. I treat people the way I want to be treated, and until you prove otherwise, I treat you with the utmost respect that I would expect. It's about hard work and respect for others, being authentic and not pretentious, and maintaining that pioneer spirit of connection and community where people still talk to one another and stay connected to each other.