Confidence soars for AFJROTC cadets after joining focus program community < Updated

Lincoln Public Schools students like Madicyn, Camden and Gabrielle are watching their futures take flight through a focus program that provides confidence, camaraderie and community.
 
The three cadets are members of the Lincoln Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) unit. High school students from multiple LPS buildings come to Northeast High School each day for classes and activities. In addition to their AFJROTC courses, cadets also complete community service projects, learn leadership skills and participate in activities like drill team, color guard, flag detail, archery and model rocketry.
 
Madicyn is in her second year with the focus program. A sophomore at Northeast, she joined because she wanted to expand her leadership abilities. She has earned a spot as a physical training leader (PTL) and uses her organizational and communication gifts to help others.
 
“My leadership skills have definitely gotten a lot better,” Madicyn said. “I’ve learned how to work with teams more, and I’ve gotten a lot better at presentations. I used to be scared to talk in front of people, but now I’m not.”

 
Camden, a junior at Northeast, also displays his management talents in AFJROTC activities. He oversees all of his classmates as the air group commander. He is responsible for each of the five squadrons – internal relations, operations, information management, recruitment and public affairs – and works with fellow cadets on many outreach and community service projects.
 
Instructors and classmates showed their belief in Camden last year when he earned the title of deputy group commander. He said it was both encouraging and motivating to know that other people supported him in the focus program.
 
“I took that as there’s something that the sergeant sees in me, so then I was like, ‘I want to prove that there’s something to see,’” Camden said. “When you feel that other people are looking at you, you want to do more. It gives you that little bit of self-confidence.”

 
Retired Master Sergeant Justin Twilley joined LPS as the unit’s aerospace science instructor this summer after serving in the Air Force for the past 20 years. The Kansas City, Mo., native took AFJROTC classes in high school and said the program steered his life in a positive direction.
 
Twilley said his top goal is to help current students follow their own bright post-graduate paths. Cadets enroll in colleges and universities, attend trade schools, enter the workforce or enlist in military branches after completing the program.
 
“It helped me find what path I wanted to be on,” Twilley said. “If I can help one person make that same kind of decision, to find the right way forward for themselves, then it’s a win.”
 
Twilley said AFJROTC has become a more dynamic program since his school days. The curriculum has branched out from its core topics of aviation science, space exploration and military history. Today’s students also learn about basic survival skills such as identifying edible plants, attend leadership development seminars and talk about life topics such as budgeting and finance.
 
“It’s evolved a lot, and it’s really built for the student self-confidence aspect of the program,” Twilley said. “We talk about a lot of life skills that might be missed out elsewhere. It’s all about what comes next in their lives, and I really like that.”

 
The enhanced curriculum also gives cadets like Gabrielle a chance to learn about traits such as accountability and cooperation. All students handle assignments such as maintaining historical records, organizing school events and managing group projects. They can rise to leadership positions by displaying initiative, teamwork and responsibility throughout the school year.
 
Gabrielle, who is in her third year with the program, said those personal skills have benefited her in many ways. She said it is uplifting to know that her peers hold her to a high standard in class.
 
“I joined freshman year, and I definitely do better in school and have a lot more friends now,” Gabrielle said. “I’m just more involved in things ever since I joined.”

 
Twilley said the blended classroom approach of Northeast’s unit strengthens this sense of unity. All four grade levels take courses together, which gives more experienced students a chance to sharpen their mentorship talents. It also provides newer cadets with role models to watch from the first day they step into the AFJROTC classroom.
 
“Many high schools with a program break the program up to first years, second years, etc., but I personally feel like this takes away from an amazing opportunity for the cadets to coach, mentor and learn from each other and engage in small-team leadership locally,” Twilley said.
 
Madicyn is taking advantage of those mentorship opportunities through her PTL role. She arranges schedules for the group’s physical training activities that happen every Friday. Her assignment has helped her meet people from across the school district and learn about both management and organization.
 
Madicyn said she is looking forward to her remaining time with the program. She felt the LPS experience would help her launch into a bright career path.
 
“I think it’ll definitely prepare me for the future, because I know how to handle challenges better now,” Madicyn said. “It’s boosting my leadership skills and is helping me to help other people with their challenges too.”
 
Ready to choose your journey with the Lincoln AFJROTC program? Explore its website at afjrotc.lps.org to learn more. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 17, 2025

IB students form impactful ideas in Creativity, Activity, Service class < Updated

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program students like Marione and Everett are using creativity, activity and service as sparkplugs for their educational engines.
 
The Lincoln High seniors are driving on positive learning highways in the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) class. The two-year course is a core part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Lincoln High, which is designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. CAS activities teach them lifelong skills such as problem solving, organization, self-reflection and generosity.

 
Marione said it has been fulfilling to work on her CAS ventures. She has coded a Lincoln High-based computer game, crocheted plush animals for Toys for Tots and organized a physical fitness contest at a school pep rally. She felt her experiences and projects have shown her why perseverance is so powerful.
 
“I think what I’ve enjoyed the most about doing all of the projects is seeing the end result of your work,” Marione said. “Especially for the coding one, there were a lot of hiccups, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I should keep doing this.’ But eventually I was able to pull it all through, and that was a really good feeling.”

 
Everett said his CAS activities have also made a major impact on his life. He has volunteered at Lincoln City Mission, sewn together thrifted clothes, analyzed his tennis skills and developed leadership abilities as a marching band drum major. He said the three CAS components have helped him connect the IB classroom to the greater Lincoln community.
 
“I think those are all three very important things to build a good community, and that’s what CAS is focused on for me,” Everett said. “It’s doing things out in the real world and then reflecting on it to see how it changes you as a person and how you can move forward with it. I’ve enjoyed talking about that a lot and taking these concepts and applying them.”

 
Joe Pahr has led CAS classes at Lincoln High for the past nine years. He has watched students gain confidence from trying new things and stretching their comfort zones through the program. Ideas have ranged from building a wheelchair ramp for a person’s home to creating computer games for fellow Links.
 
“For me, personally, it’s just satisfying,” Pahr said. “It makes me feel good when somebody does something and they say, ‘Wow, I didn’t think I could do that,’ or ‘That really had an impact on me.’ It’s part of their growth. It’s fun to see that.”
 
The class – which is a mandatory part of the IB program – is based on the three CAS strands of creativity, activity and service. Creativity is defined as exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance. Activity is defined as physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, and service is defined as engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.
 
IB is a two-year focus program designed to develop well-rounded, globally-minded students. In addition to CAS activities, the program also features extended essay and theory of knowledge elements. Students are encouraged to think critically, reflect on their learning and work with others.
 
Marione, Everett and other students design all of their short-term and long-term CAS activities. Pahr guides them through a process that includes setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused and time-bound) goals. They create detailed timelines, solve logistical questions and learn about cooperation.
 
Marione turned her passion for computer coding into one of her CAS enterprises. She invented a game called “Links Lunch Rush” for fellow students. Players are tasked with steering a line of connected blocks across a floor plan of Lincoln High’s cafeteria. They score points by guiding their lines over food items that pop up at different spots in the lunchroom.

 
Marione said it was rewarding to launch the completed game for the first time. She felt the challenging process would benefit her in many future life moments.
 
“You push through it and you realize, ‘Wait, that wasn’t that bad,’” Marione said. “And once you figure that out, you keep going and keep going. You’re able to find comfort in the uncomfortable.”
 
Everett relied on his musical background to complete one of his CAS missions. He was one of Lincoln High’s drum majors in the 2024 marching band season, and he and two other 2025 drum majors wanted to improve their talents for this fall. They went to a summer leadership camp and created videos of themselves conducting others. They then studied the tapes to see what they had done well and what they needed to work on.

 
Everett said he was happy with the personal growth he experienced in several CAS areas.
 
“For me, that was partially creativity, because conducting is a creative thing, and it also relates to service,” Everett said. “I see being a leader as being a type of service, because you’re trying to help everyone around you.”
 
Everett said the self-evaluation skills he and other CAS students have learned have also been invaluable. He felt that would help them accelerate into successful futures as IB graduates.
 
“I’ve never been someone who wrote journals or anything, but for this, it’s almost kind of like that, where after the fact I’m looking back on what I’m doing and seeing, ‘Okay, what did I learn from this experience? How can I take lessons from what I did?’” Everett said. “It’s been really good. I think being reflective on what you’re doing each day is a very powerful thing.”
 
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at Lincoln High has helped hundreds of LPS students flourish inside and out of the classroom. Explore how you can customize your high school experience through the IB program at home.lps.org/ib.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 17, 2025

LPS graduate inspires current orchestra students with international achievements

Lincoln High graduate Annemarie Schubert has played violin for members of the Dutch Consulate, earned a master’s degree from The Juilliard School and toured around the world with award-winning groups.
 
And the first notes of that successful career started in Rhonda Neely’s orchestra ensemble at Sheridan Elementary School.
 
Schubert is a shining example of how Lincoln Public Schools can jumpstart bright futures in all areas of education. She and other LPS alumni are using the skills they gained in Lincoln to become role models for a new generation of musicians.
 
Schubert became involved in Sheridan’s orchestra program and the Youth Ensemble of Strings (YES) soon after her family moved to Lincoln. Neely laid a firm foundation for Schubert’s violin-playing talents with her caring mentorship in both activities. Schubert has carried those memories with her to concert stages in North America, Europe and Asia during the opening stanzas of her professional life.
 
“I think fundamentally the most important person at my time in LPS was Ms. Neely, who led the string program at Sheridan Elementary School and conducted YES,” Schubert said. “Both of these were my first ensemble experiences, and her warm-yet-disciplined classes were always fun.”
 
Schubert is now serving as a major influence in the life of Lincoln High sophomore Sophia, who earned a spot in last year’s All-State Orchestra. She first learned about Schubert’s talents from Brett Noser, who leads varsity and prep orchestras at LHS and is the music department chairperson. Sophia said it is exciting to know that the smooth violin notes she hears in Schubert’s ensembles are coming from a former Link.
 
“Mr. Noser has talked about Annemarie Schubert before, and the quartet she plays in sounds like it will do amazing things,” Sophia said. “Starting in high school, and even middle school, orchestras can really help students like me figure out if professional string playing is something you want to do when you’re older. The LHS orchestra helps students build on their skills, so if they want to play professionally later in life, they are able to do so!”

 
LPS alumni like Schubert have also inspired Northwest High School senior Hathaway and Lincoln High junior Laurelin. Both were selected to be All-State Orchestra violin players last year.
 
“It is very encouraging to know that LPS graduates are now professional orchestra musicians because it reassures me and others that making this part of a career is possible, and in a variety of ways,” Hathaway said.
 
“I think it’s wonderful that LPS graduates have become professionals,” Laurelin said. “It gives me hope that I can also do great things once I graduate. Whether it’s in music or some other subject, it’s encouraging to see that LPS graduates are able to achieve great things.”
 
Sophia, Hathaway and Laurelin said they understand why LPS has been a good training ground for musicians. Thirty-nine LPS students were selected either as participants or alternates for last year’s All-State Orchestra. More importantly, the orchestra programs have promoted student well-being by giving them confidence, camaraderie and a feeling of accomplishment.
 
“I think the best part about the orchestra programs in LPS is that there’s a sense of community that makes it easy to feel safe and accepted within the group,” Laurelin said.
 
“I have enjoyed taking part in orchestra programs at LPS because of the community it builds,” Sophia said. “Every orchestra has a connection with each other and the other music students at the high school. In the LHS orchestra, we are all super comfortable with working with one another and supporting each other.”
 
North Star High School graduate Ian Wright said LPS teachers strengthen that classroom unity by remaining active musicians. Wright, who leads classes at Pound Middle School and Zeman Elementary School, is also part of Lincoln Symphony Orchestra’s string bass section.
 
“The music-making process is why most – if not all – of us got into teaching, and without opportunities to perform or create, we lose something that connects us to our subject area,” Wright said. “Sometimes rehearsing and performing with the symphony after a long day of teaching can be challenging and tiring. But when I get to do it, I’m able to better relate to my students who are doing the same thing every day in my class.”

 
Schubert said her LPS years were filled with many supportive teachers, including Neely, Noser and Irving Middle School music instructor Mike Robb. They encouraged her to chase her goals with determination and perseverance.
 
“It’s true that it takes a lot of work to ‘make it,’” Schubert said. “Not just the hours practicing or studying, but also the entrepreneurial skills and resilience you have to develop to be an artist today. I remember how disappointed I was when I received my first rejection from a music festival in high school. But as Principal Mark Larson always said, ‘LHS got grit!’”
 
After double majoring in violin performance and neuroscience at Oberlin College and Conservatory, Schubert earned a master’s degree in violin performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She then earned a second master’s degree in historical performance from The Juilliard School.
 
Schubert recently traveled to the United Kingdom and China with Juilliard415, the performing early music ensemble of The Juilliard School, and she is a member of the New York City-based Quartet Novalis. She has also founded a historical music ensemble called As The Crow Flies (ATCF). Quartet Novalis and ATCF have both earned acclaim in classical music circles, and they have allowed her to use her passport in places like France, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

 
Sophia said Schubert’s success is proof that LPS buildings are places where musical dreams can become reality.
 
“Seeing someone like Annemarie in that position is really encouraging for me because it shows that anyone is capable of doing great things, and it all starts with playing in LPS orchestras,” Sophia said.
 
Want to learn more about how LPS music programs are giving students key life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork? Visit home.lps.org/music to discover how LPS musicians are flourishing in their elementary, middle and high school classrooms.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 12, 2025

Connecting with the future: LPS leaders foster community and conversations with student teachers

For Sarah Baillie, the three Cs of connection, community and conversations led to an A-plus experience at Lincoln Public Schools this fall.
 
Baillie gained many valuable tips about the educational trade at an inaugural event hosted by LPS Human Resources. The department invited student teachers to come to the Steve Joel District Leadership Center to build strong relationships with others within the school district. LPS teachers, principals and administrators were on hand to offer positive advice for those who attended.
 
Baillie is helping first graders in Trisha White’s class at Hartley Elementary School this fall. An East High School graduate and University of Nebraska at Kearney student, she told LPS leaders that she was enjoying her student teaching experience.
 
Callan Neilan nodded in agreement as he listened to Baillie share her story. Neilan is in his second year as a full-time third grade teacher at Wysong Elementary School. He felt it was important to encourage young educators like Baillie because of how much student teaching benefited him.
 
“It greatly impacted me,” Neilan said. “I feel like I gained a lot of relationships. Going into student teaching, I didn’t feel ready to be a full-time teacher at all, but coming out of it I felt much more prepared. It’s hard to put it into words, honestly. There were just a lot of great experiences.”
 
Amanda Christiansen, a recruitment assistant with LPS Human Resources, said that type of positive reinforcement was why department staff wanted to hold the outreach program. Their goal was to create meaningful connections for student teachers in a comfortable setting. The department is planning to offer a similar event later this school year for student teachers who will be at LPS in the spring semester.
 
“Our goal is to actively engage with student teachers and showcase the amazing opportunities available within Lincoln Public Schools,” Christiansen said. “By fostering this connection early on, we hope to inspire and attract passionate educators who are excited to join our community and contribute to our students’ success.”

 
Nearly a dozen LPS representatives provided their supportive presence. The group included LPS Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Vann Price, Supervisor of Secondary Education and Director of Recruitment Ryan Escamilla, Supervisor of Elementary Personnel Services Kristen Finley, Supervisor for Special Programs Personnel Jenny Fundus and several other LPS administrators and educators. 

Wysong Elementary School Principal Stephanie Drake wanted student teachers like Baillie to know that LPS would offer a welcoming environment for them to thrive in. She said the school district’s “All Means All” mission statement applies to everyone who walks into LPS buildings.
 
“They can learn what LPS is all about,” Drake said. “We really mean ‘All Means All’ for our students and for all of our staff too.”
 
One of Neilan’s primary messages for student teachers was about the assistance he receives from both the building and district levels. In addition to having helpful co-workers at Wysong, he has also enjoyed receiving district guidance about classroom subjects.
 
“I feel the support from the reading department,” Neilan said. “I feel the support from the math department as far as curriculum things go. That’s what I want student teachers to understand, too.”
 
LPS leaders like Drake, Irving Middle School Principal Rachael Kluck-Spann and Randolph Elementary School Assistant Principal Viviana Morales also offered advice to student teachers who would like to apply for full-time education positions. Morales talked about the importance of researching schools prior to a job interview. She said panelists notice if candidates have taken the time to learn more about the school they would like to work at.
 
Kluck-Spann said displaying an ability to build genuine relationships with others was a critical part of an interview, and Drake said she likes to hear authentic responses from candidates about how they plan to help students. Topics like having a growth mindset, attention to detail and a student-first outlook were also mentioned during the discussion.
 
Christiansen said she and other LPS Human Resources staff would like to help student teachers form a deep-rooted community within the school district. She said this would give them extra confidence that they can pass along to their students, which strengthens the entire campus. This helps the district achieve goals outlined under the Staff Wellbeing and Outcomes priority in the 2024-2029 LPS Strategic Plan.
 
“Having a community of peers fosters collaboration and encourages professional growth,” Christiansen said. “These connections often extend beyond student teaching, forming the foundation of lasting professional relationships throughout their careers at LPS.”
 
Want to learn more about what the LPS student teaching experience is like? Visit home.lps.org/hr/student-teaching-at-lps to discover more about what LPS offers to student teachers. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 11, 2025

Lincoln Board of Education names John Skretta LPS superintendent

The Lincoln Board of Education voted Tuesday at its regular meeting to appoint John Skretta as the next Lincoln Public Schools superintendent, removing the word interim from his title.

Board President Bob Rauner said the last eight months gave the Board confidence in removing interim from the title and proposing the contract amendment, eliminating the need for a costly search process.

“Based on significant board interactions and observations, and uniformly positive community and staff input, the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education now wishes to remove the interim title and employ Dr. John Skretta as the full-time superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools,” said Rauner. “Dr. Skretta’s extensive experience, from his roots as an LPS teacher to his exemplary service as a superintendent and ESU chief administrator, makes him the ideal choice. Given his impressive track record and the significant progress he's already made, a time-consuming and costly search process would be redundant and unnecessary.”

Other Board members weighed in during the meeting saying:

• Board member Barb Baier said, “You connect well with teachers, families and students. I joined you on a tour of McPhee Elementary recently and it's obvious that the teachers connect with you, that you are an instructional leader and they can turn to you. Thank you for your service, and I personally look forward to working with you over the next several years.”
• Board member Annie Mumgaard added, “We could do a search, we could spend the money and do the time. It takes a lot of time and money. One thing we are wise in knowing is that we didn’t need to. When you have the right one in front of you, you don’t need to look any further. I really think you epitomize our All Means All.”
• Board member Piyush Srivastav said, “I want to say how proud of the work Dr. Skretta has done since stepping in as interim superintendent back in January, and before that as associate superintendent in July 2024. In this short amount of time, the understanding and knowledge of LPS, the engagement he has shown is truly remarkable. I’ve seen how well he is connected with staff and students, he listens, he communicates clearly and he is present which is extremely important.”
• Board member Marilyn Johnson-Farr added, “It’s a good season to come to the Board new. Now with the interim title shortly removed, we got Dr. Skretta’s best, but now with the interim removed we can anticipate better.”
• Board member John Goodwin agreed with others saying, “They say there are two important days of a person’s life - the day they are born and the day they figure out why. Just the time we have spent together, I know you know the why of why you are on this earth. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside you to make sure we are impacting lives in the community and the students of Lincoln Public Schools so the gift can be deployed to the world.”
• Board member Mara Krivohlavek finished the remarks by saying, “As a parent with three sons at LPS, how fortunate I feel as a Board member and as a parent to have you leading the district. What an incredibly exciting time. Thank you for your service.”

The Board approved a two-year contract. As is standard practice and in alignment with the associate superintendent contracts, the superintendent contract can be extended at any time to include additional one, two or three years. 

The superintendent’s salary for the 2025-2026 school year remains the same as what Skretta was earning as interim superintendent at $333,720 per year. Any salary increase for the 2026-2027 school year will be considered and voted on at a later date by the Board in the normal annual cycle of determining pay increases in concert with determinations of annual salary and benefits determinations for all staff.

“I'm deeply appreciative to the Board for the vote of confidence and the commitment to continuing our collaborative work. This is a great Board anchored in mission and purpose to ensure that every LPS student thrives,” said Skretta during his update. “Lincoln Public Schools is a destination district. The fact that I get to do this work and get to continue this work energizes and excites me, and I see that same love of learning and doing reflected in our LPS team members.  I look forward to continuing our work to fully realize our mission of ensuring that every student is prepared for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement. We know we have the team to get it done.”

Skretta was appointed to serve as interim superintendent in January through June 2026 after the retirement announcement of Paul Gausman. Skretta joined Lincoln Public Schools in July 2024 as the associate superintendent of civic engagement.

Prior to returning to LPS in July 2024, Skretta was the chief administrator for Educational Service Unit 6 from 2019 until 2024. Part of his duties as administrator included overseeing all personnel and operations for the ESU that served 16 public school districts in the counties of Seward, Saline, York, Fillmore and Lancaster. In that role Skretta was responsible for administration of technology, professional development and student services including mental health, early childhood, transition education and special services. He was also charged with budget development and staff negotiations. As an active member of the ESU Coordinating Council Legal Committee, he focused on legislative advocacy and coordination of activities of non-staff lobbyists. 

Skretta started his educational career at LPS as an English and reading teacher at Northeast High School in 1995. In 2000, he became an instructional coordinator at Northeast High School and then associate principal in 2001. Skretta left Northeast High School in 2004 to be the principal at Norris High School. In 2008, he was named associate superintendent for Norris Public Schools for two years before becoming superintendent in 2010. 

During Skretta’s nine years as superintendent at Norris, he provided visionary leadership and practical guidance to the Norris Board of Education for all school district needs, including strategic planning and policy development. Skretta was also responsible for developing and maintaining community partnerships, managing all facets of human resources and fiscal management for the district, providing instructional leadership and facilitating fundraising efforts on behalf of the Norris School Foundation.

Skretta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Arts degree in English, a Master of Education degree in educational administration, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration degree, all from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 

The Nebraska Association of School Administrators named Skretta Region 1 Superintendent of the Year in 2012, and State Superintendent of the Year in 2017. In addition, he earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Association of School Administrators in 2021. He was announced the 2021 Nebraska Career Education Outstanding Administrative Leader by the Nebraska Department of Education.

Posted on September 09, 2025

Lincoln Board of Education to consider naming John Skretta LPS superintendent

The Lincoln Board of Education announced Friday they will consider removing the word interim from John Skretta’s title of interim superintendent at the next regular meeting scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 9. 

Skretta was appointed to serve as interim superintendent in January through June 2026 after the retirement announcement of Paul Gausman. Skretta joined Lincoln Public Schools in July 2024 as the associate superintendent of civic engagement.

Board President Bob Rauner said the last eight months gave the Board confidence in removing interim from the title and proposing the contract amendment, eliminating the need for a costly search process.

“Based on significant board interactions and observations, and uniformly positive community and staff input, the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education now wishes to remove the interim title and employ Dr. John Skretta as the full-time superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools,” said Rauner. “Dr. Skretta’s extensive experience, from his roots as an LPS teacher to his exemplary service as a superintendent and ESU chief administrator, makes him the ideal choice. Given his impressive track record and the significant progress he's already made, a time-consuming and costly search process would be redundant and unnecessary.”

As part of the consent agenda, the Board will vote on a two-year contract appointing Skretta as the LPS superintendent. As is standard practice and in alignment with the associate superintendent contracts, the superintendent contract can be extended at any time to include additional one, two or three years. 

The proposed superintendent’s salary for the 2025-2026 school year does not include an increase and remains the same as what Skretta was earning as interim superintendent at $333,720 per year. Any salary increase for the 2026-2027 school year will be considered and voted on at a later date by the Board in the normal annual cycle of determining pay increases in concert with determinations of annual salary and benefits determinations for all staff.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue serving in such an important leadership role and privileged to work in an amazing district,” said Skretta. “We have an awesome team in LPS dedicated at every level to making a positive difference on a daily basis for students, families and community. I am grateful to the Board of Education for the confidence in my work.”

Prior to returning to LPS in July 2024, Skretta was the chief administrator for Educational Service Unit 6 from 2019 until 2024. Part of his duties as administrator included overseeing all personnel and operations for the ESU that served 16 public school districts in the counties of Seward, Saline, York, Fillmore and Lancaster. In that role Skretta was responsible for administration of technology, professional development and student services including mental health, early childhood, transition education and special services. He was also charged with budget development and staff negotiations. As an active member of the ESU Coordinating Council Legal Committee, he focused on legislative advocacy and coordination of activities of non-staff lobbyists. 

Skretta started his educational career at LPS as an English and reading teacher at Northeast High School in 1995. In 2000, he became an instructional coordinator at Northeast High School and then associate principal in 2001. Skretta left Northeast High School in 2004 to be the principal at Norris High School. In 2008, he was named associate superintendent for Norris Public Schools for two years before becoming superintendent in 2010. 

During Skretta’s nine years as superintendent at Norris, he provided visionary leadership and practical guidance to the Norris Board of Education for all school district needs, including strategic planning and policy development. Skretta was also responsible for developing and maintaining community partnerships, managing all facets of human resources and fiscal management for the district, providing instructional leadership and facilitating fundraising efforts on behalf of the Norris School Foundation.

Skretta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Arts degree in English, a Master of Education degree in educational administration, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration degree, all from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 

The Nebraska Association of School Administrators named Skretta Region 1 Superintendent of the Year in 2012, and State Superintendent of the Year in 2017. In addition, he earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Association of School Administrators in 2021. He was announced the 2021 Nebraska Career Education Outstanding Administrative Leader by the Nebraska Department of Education.

Posted on September 05, 2025

Successful Stratospheres: Engaging programs help North Star students form high-flying futures

North Star High School students like David and Liam are soaring into clear career skies by exploring two engaging programs at Lincoln Public Schools.
 
The Navigators are taking part in both the LPS Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program and the SkillsUSA Nebraska organization. They are learning about many aviation-based jobs through their involvement with the programs, which are separate entities but share the same educational missions. The goal of both groups is to help students learn about career and technical education (CTE) occupations and become skilled professionals in those fields.
 
Liam, a senior, first learned about SkillsUSA when he joined the focus program as a sophomore. He began SkillsUSA activities the following year and has enjoyed meeting people who share the same interests.
 
“It’s really nice community,” Liam said. “I made a lot of new friends here. We hang out. It’s fun.”

 
David, a sophomore, said both organizations will help him launch his career in aviation maintenance after high school. He attended his first SkillsUSA meeting this fall with many current and future members. He smiled as he competed in a Lego race car challenge with them on North Star’s campus.
 
David said activities like the car races are providing a good foundation for his aviation dreams. Focus program students learn how to read technical drawings, analyze electrical systems and fix aircraft parts, and SkillsUSA teenagers work on projects, enter contests and meet people from across the state.
 
“I think they are important because once you understand this, this can help you build onto your skills with something bigger, like the aircraft here,” David said.
 
Amanda Woodward said both programs are allowing students like David and Liam to chart exciting educational courses. Woodward teaches focus program classes and advises North Star’s SkillsUSA chapter. She was honored this past spring as the SkillsUSA Nebraska Advisor of the Year for her positive influence on students.
 
LPS began offering aviation classes in 2019-20 and dedicated a state-of-the-art airplane hangar in 2023. More than 300 students are now taking classes in the focus program. Many Navigators are accessing extra knowledge through their SkillsUSA activities after school hours.
 
“I think that at the end of the day, every single kid in high school is looking for a place to go and make friends and belong and be a part of something,” Woodward said. “And so I think that whether they are first in the aviation focus program or they’re first in SkillsUSA, I think the overlap is just like, ‘Oh, there’s a thing I can do after school that is going to be fun and exciting, and I can make friends,’ and so they want to be there.”
 
Woodward said the activities shine a light on the unlimited options students have in trades-based careers. Focus program classes like Power Mechanics, Advanced Aviation Flight and Advanced Aviation Maintenance teach them about jobs such as flight engineers, service technicians and industrial truck operators. SkillsUSA contests encompass more than 130 CTE occupations ranging from architectural blueprint reading to mobile robotics technology.
 
“I think it really, for me, it comes down to kids can’t pursue careers they don’t know about,” Woodward said. “There are so many well-paying, in-demand, incredible smart-thinking, intellectually stimulating careers in the trades that you never think of. I think a lot of time kids know about being a teacher, being a firefighter, being a doctor, being a nurse or a welder. But, you know, there’s thousands of different trades careers that we could get you into, and there is definitely a spot for everybody.”
 
Liam said that variety has made it fun to be in both groups. His willingness to learn new information has also opened many educational doors for him.
 
One of those moments came last year when Liam and six other Navigators guided younger students at the SkillsUSA Nebraska Middle School Skills Championships. The group developed games, led breakout sessions and judged contests during their time there.
 
Liam said all middle and high school students can benefit from being involved in SkillsUSA.
 
“If you like competitions or there’s a hobby that you really like, SkillsUSA tends to have competitions for the design stuff,” Liam said. “Give it a shot, at least be there for the community. I’m able to connect with it.”

 
Leading both programs has allowed Woodward to spread her trades-based knowledge to even more students. She shared how several girls were eager to learn how to weld last spring, but they weren’t able to find time during the school day. Woodward set up meetings with them during her SkillsUSA sessions to teach the new talent to them. That same flexibility has helped many other Navigators soar into successful learning stratospheres at North Star.
 
“When kids are engaged in these aviation focus program classes during the day and they want to be somewhere after school, there is nothing better than letting them come here and do an extension of what they learned in the classroom after school hours,” Woodward said. “And then planning a field trip for them to learn even more through our after-school arm of the aviation focus program, because we have set field trips for our classes. But SkillsUSA can do a field trip after school to places where we might not be able to take 80 kids to during the day. And so it just extends the opportunities and the possibilities that are available.”
 
Want to see how your future can take flight with our Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program at North Star? Explore how you can customize your high school experience at aviation.lps.org.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 05, 2025

Nebraska Business Focus Program students gain priceless knowledge from college-level class

Nebraska Business Focus Program students like Trey are gaining valuable career assets from an experienced accounting professional this fall.
 
Steven Hegemann, an associate professor of practice in accountancy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is lending his decades of expertise to juniors and seniors in the Nebraska Business Accounting Differentiated class. The course is part of a focus program pathway that provides students with a large amount of educational income.
 
Trey chose to apply to the focus program - embedded at Standing Bear High School in partnership with Nebraska’s College of Business - because of his interest in business operations. He has enjoyed learning about behind-the-scenes aspects of business such as general ledgers, journal entries and accounting procedures. He has been able to access the college-level material without leaving his high school’s hallways.
 
“It’s really nice,” Trey said. “It’s more convenient, because I can just be here at the high school the whole time and still get a college education.”

 
One of the program’s unique values is having Big Ten Conference faculty members from UNL like Hegemann teach participants during the school day. He travels to Standing Bear three times each week to instruct the accounting class. The Fremont native shares his life experiences with students to illustrate the wide variety of potential accounting careers. He has monitored construction companies as they cleaned up debris from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, provided forensic accounting and litigation support to companies and worked at an investment bank.
 
“The thing I try to get across with high school students is that there are a lot of misconceptions about what accountants do and what accountants are,” Hegemann said. “I try to highlight that there are a lot of different opportunities, and it kind of provides the foundation for everything in business. It opens a lot of doors and provides a lot of different opportunities.”

 
Andrew Christensen, the chairperson of Standing Bear’s business department, said the college-level accounting class is challenging students in a good way. Hegemann is teaching them what types of study habits and time management skills they will need to succeed at a college or university. They are also discovering how to analyze more complicated business lessons in many real-world scenarios.
 
“I think it’s important for every student,” Christensen said. “If their desire is to pursue post-secondary collegiate education, I think getting exposure to that in high school is enormous.”

Hegemann is covering various accounting principles, concepts and practices with students throughout the semester. Financial statement preparation and analysis, payroll systems, cost accounting, internal reporting and interpretation of financial information are all subjects on the syllabus.
 
During one class early in the year, Hegemann explained the relationship between assets, liability and equity in financial transactions. He showed students a sample chart of accounts and walked them through several examples of business agreements. He then asked them to identify how paying a year’s worth of rent in advance or selling shares of common stock would be classified in accounting terms.

 
Hegemann spent time after the lecture answering questions from students about their previous homework assignment. He guided them as they scrolled through a worksheet on their laptops and clarified how to find financial answers about several topics. Christensen said that personalized approach was a major benefit of taking the class in high school.
 
“This is a course at UNL that’s typically taught to a lecture hall of hundreds of students,” Christensen said. “Here, it’s a group of ten this year, and next year it’ll be a group of about 30. Having that smaller class size gives them a chance to interact with the professor and just take five minutes at the end of class to address questions on homework.”
 
Similar opportunities are happening in other Nebraska Business Focus Program classes as well. Students in grades 11-12 can explore subjects such as business management, entrepreneurship, sports and event marketing, macroeconomics and personal finance. Several courses offer opportunities for dual credit through UNL.
 
Trey said having a chance to strengthen his educational portfolio made it an easy decision to apply to the focus program.
 
“I’m hoping to get college credit from this,” Trey said. “I wanted to get a head start on life after high school.”
 
Hegemann secured a doctorate from Pace University in 2013 and has taught business courses at both UNL and Nebraska Wesleyan University. He has seen how early preparation from advanced high school courses can give students like Trey a leg up when they enter college.
 
“I think it’s important for them,” Hegemann said. “It makes the transition from high school to college a lot easier.”
 
Christensen said he believes students like Trey will see many benefits from being around skilled classroom leaders in the focus program.
 
“I think it’s a healthy challenge,” Christensen said. “I think this particular group of students recognizes the opportunity of having someone who has experience living it and working it teaching the class.”
 
Want to know how you can customize your high school experience with the Nebraska Business Focus Program at Standing Bear? Explore more on its website at business.lps.org.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on September 05, 2025

TeamMates of the Month: Riley and Lindsay

 Ever-Ready for What Comes Next

Riley has to think back to fourth grade to remember her first impression of her mentor, Lindsay.

“She was…well…she reminded me of a bunny.”

Lindsay laughs and explains further.

“We got connected because we both love bunnies: having bunnies, wanting bunnies, cuddling bunnies.”

It was years before Riley had the courage to admit she’d told  Lindsay that she had a bunny before she actually had one.

“When Lindsay told me she had a bunny, I just kind of pictured a bunny in my head, and then it came to life. She was definitely surprised when I told her.”

Lindsay has her own take on how she felt about fourth-grade Riley’s imaginary bunny.

“The intention was to be able to connect a little more. So the intention was really beautiful.” 

Admitting a mistake and extending grace signals the trust that has grown between the two.

According to Lindsay, Riley’s trust took a big jump in middle school.

“There was a moment in middle school, where you told me something, and I thought, ‘Alright, there's just some trust here,’ and that has continued in high school too.”

Times when Lindsay had to watch Riley figure things out for herself haven’t been easy, such as when Riley got into what she admits was a “toxic” relationship.

“I just care about her so much,” Lindsay said, before turning to Riley. “To see you in a relationship that just wasn't benefiting you was hard. You never stopped talking to me about things, though. I feel like it almost brought us closer together. And you made it!”

“I did,” Riley says. “I made it out of the [toxic] loop.”

The strength that Riley showed in moving through that hard stretch is something Lindsay models for her.

“Whatever is in Lindsay’s way, she sees her way through; she never gives up. I’ve had a lot of struggles, and she has never stopped wanting to talk to me and be available. She always sees through the dark.”

Riley looks at Lindsay and searches for the right words to capture her impact. 

“You just made me feel more open, like I could talk more, like I felt seen.”

They can imagine graduation now, a time when they’ll celebrate what Lindsay calls Riley’s “amazing growth and perseverance,” a time when they’ll have a chance to just get some ice cream together as friends.

You can learn more about Lincoln TeamMates at https://lincolnteammates.org/.

Posted on September 02, 2025

Grizzlies make bright memories at inaugural Senior Sunrise event

Standing Bear High School seniors welcomed the dawn of a new era in their lives when they watched the morning rays of sunlight peek over the horizon.
 
More than 40 students made bright memories together at the inaugural Senior Sunrise celebration. They enjoyed the start of their final year at Standing Bear with games, group photos and smiling conversations on the football field. The new sunrise tradition was meant to symbolize the beaming hope that they have for the rest of 2025-26.
 
Student Council members Janet and Shahnaz said it was fun to mark the beginning of a milestone year for everyone. The Class of 2026 will be the first full group of Grizzlies to graduate from Standing Bear, and student leaders felt a Senior Sunrise event would be a good way to kick off the year.
 
“We’re going to step into such a big new chapter of our lives, but on top of that, I mean, we’re the trailblazers for this school,” Janet said. “I mean, we’re setting the legacy. We get to start so many fun traditions for all the grades that are going to come after us, and I think that’s just such an incredible opportunity, so it’s very fun.”
 
“To me, it feels like it’s an honor to experience something like this,” Shahnaz said. “There’s so many opportunities open for us, and I really think this school is amazing. It’s a great school to go to.”

 
Fellow seniors Nickolas and Eden were sitting on a blanket with their friends in the middle of the football field as the sunrays streamed in. Nickolas said it was exciting to know that the motto found on student t-shirts – “The Legacy Starts With Us” – was talking about their 120-person class.
 
“We’re setting the ground for other seniors for the next, I don’t know, however long this school is going to be,” Nickolas said. “It’s just truly like an honor.”
 
Standing Bear Associate Principal Trisha Lind said she and other administrators felt it was important to establish meaningful traditions like Senior Sunrise. She said the activities gave students a chance to create core memories and be part of something that grows a sense of belonging.
 
“What we enjoyed most was having an opportunity to enjoy an activity of celebration with our seniors and be part of some of our first traditions being set by our inaugural senior class,” Lind said. “This group chose us in year one, and they have been instrumental in paving the way as upperclassmen for what many of our ‘first’ experiences are and look like moving forward.”
 
Many Class of 2026 members came to Standing Bear when the school opened its doors for the first time in the Fall 2023 semester. Freshmen and sophomores were the only groups of students to pass through the hallways that year, as Lincoln Public Schools leaders wanted to create a smooth transition for everyone on campus. Three grades took courses in the building throughout 2024-25, and all four grades are filling Standing Bear’s classrooms this fall.

 
Nickolas said he has benefited from the close-knit bonds that seniors have developed since their first day together. That unity was on full display throughout the early morning. Students tossed beanbags in games of cornhole, played giant-sized versions of Connect 4 and held up custom-made Senior Sunrise picture frames for their photos.
 
“It feels really cool,” Nickolas said. “A lot of students transferred in from other schools, and we all have some things in common. We all came from different schools and we were all just looking for new friends.”

 
Eden said she was proud to take part in the first Senior Sunrise. She felt these types of traditions fulfill Standing Bear’s mission of helping students learn about the powers of place, connection and cooperation.
 
“I think it means making a community at school,” Eden said. “We’re setting the standards. How we’re acting now is how we’re going to be perceived in the future and for years to come. I feel like it means we’re making a safe place for people in the future and we’re creating this for people to come.”

 
Student Council members like Janet and Shahnaz are working on creating many more community-based moments this year. Janet said the group is already planning to offer a Senior Sunset celebration next spring. The evening event will symbolize the end of a legacy-building era for the Class of 2026 at Standing Bear.
 
Janet said she was glad to know that the inaugural Senior Sunrise had been a success, even if it meant an earlier-than-normal wakeup call for the Grizzlies.
 
“It was really fun to just see everyone was in a good mood,” Janet said. “I mean, coffee was definitely a great thing today, but we were having a great time. I mean, setting this all up and getting to be a part of this, and on Student Council, getting to be behind the scenes was also very special to me. I had a great time.”
 
Want to learn more about LPS activities like Student Council? Visit home.lps.org/athletics/get-involved to view opportunities for students at LPS middle and high schools.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 28, 2025

Frozen actresses melt Sheridan hearts during encouraging visit with students

As the sounds of the famous song “Let It Go” filled Sheridan Elementary School’s gym, fifth grader Elizabeth looked around and delivered an Elsa-like smile with her singing classmates.
 
Dozens of Sharks met professional actresses from the Disney musical “Frozen” during an inspiring hour of talking and singing. Ensemble members Brittany Rohm and Jasmine Swaby encouraged students with stories of their own journeys to the big stage and provided helpful advice for the younger artists. Sheridan fifth graders will perform “Frozen” for their school musical in December.
 
Elizabeth said she enjoyed learning about Rohm and Swaby’s artistic abilities. She said one of the highlights was joining more than three dozen students in a circle for a singing session with the experts. She said it gave her an avalanche-sized amount of confidence for Sheridan’s own “Frozen” experience this semester.
 
“I think singing in the circle was really cool,” Elizabeth said. “Just looking around and seeing all of us just singing together as one big group, I feel like our musical is going to be really good.”

 
Perry said he also had fun listening to the “Frozen” cast members. Rohm and Swaby both told the Sharks to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams in all areas of life.
 
“I felt it kind of helped us, because it made us think that we can do anything we want and we can be anything,” Perry said.
 
Rohm and Swaby came to Nebraska as part of a “Frozen” co-production with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Kansas City Starlight Theater and the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Rehearsals began July 10 and the cast opened the show in Pittsburgh July 18. They traveled to Kansas City before spending two weeks entertaining Lincoln audiences.
 
Sheridan music teacher Megan Stroup selected “Frozen” for the school’s 2025 musical before knowing that the professional show would be part of the Lied’s lineup. She reached out to Lied Education Outreach Manager Sasha Dobson to see if it would be possible to set up a visit with the Sharks. She was thrilled when Dobson told her in mid-August that there would be heartwarming moments for students in the gym.
 
“As a teacher, I look forward to referencing this visit throughout our preparation for ‘Frozen,’” Stroup said. “I think it will have a long-lasting and positive impact. It’s not often that a show you choose a year in advance ends up perfectly aligning with the Lied Center schedule! It is such a unique opportunity for kids of any age to interact with performers from the big stage.”

Stroup shared the happy news with the Sheridan fifth graders when they began the new school year. What was it like when everyone learned that Rohm and Swaby would be coming to campus?
 
“Oh, we were stoked,” Elizabeth said. “We were so excited. We were just so excited because they’re actually in the real production of “Frozen,” and we’re doing “Frozen.” We just were really excited to meet them and sing with them and ask them some questions, because we were really interested about it.”
 
Rohm grew up in Pennsylvania and went to high school at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) 6-12. The magnet school features intensive instruction in art forms such as music, dance, theater and production technology. She and other CAPA students frequently met people whose tours or shows stopped in Pittsburgh during their classes. She said it was an amazing feeling to be on the other side of those artistic conversations at Sheridan.
 
“I feel like it’s impacted me in a lot of ways, but specifically, I remember sitting there listening to those actors and just thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I would love to do that one day,’” Rohm said. “It’s really special to be able to now be that actor standing there and answering these questions for these kids.”
 
Swaby recently graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance with a concentration in jazz. She also minored in biological sciences with a pre-med track. She wanted students to know it is okay to chase a range of interests, especially as they move through middle and high school.
 
“I hope they just try things,” Swaby said. “I think that’s the biggest gift anyone can have, is just the lack of a fear of trying things.”
 
Perry said he and other Sharks will carry that message with them to their auditions. All fifth graders can try out for two roles such as Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Hans and Queen Iduna. They asked Rohm and Swaby how they practiced for on-stage interviews, what they enjoyed about acting and how they overcame nervousness.
 
“I think it really helped, because a lot of people are like, ‘I don’t know what to do. I’m scared, I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ and that kind of helped us make our confidence build up,” Perry said.
 
Stroup said it was “nothing short of magic” to watch her students sing “Frozen” songs with Rohm and Swaby in a chorus-filled circle. She said the Sharks would replay those moments for many years to come.
 
“These experiences can be very meaningful and memorable to students,” Stroup said. “Seeing performers on a stage in a formal setting can create a barrier between performer and audience member, so this kind of experience makes the performers feel real and dreams feel tangible.”
 
Visit home.lps.org/music to learn more about the comprehensive preK-12 music curriculum at LPS. Music enriches the lives of all students through classes, activities and performing groups.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 26, 2025

Anatomage Table helps Northwest students pursue healthcare dreams

Northwest High School students Charlotte and Nicholas stood in amazement as they watched the entire circulatory system of a human body appear on a state-of-the-art research table.
 
They then explored how the blood travels around the body by zeroing in on the head, arms, legs and feet of a life-sized three-dimensional image.

 
The two Falcons are using the Anatomage Table to pursue their healthcare dreams in the Bryan College of Health Sciences (BCHS) Focus Program. The high-tech digital platform allows students to perform hundreds of virtual scientific experiments on an interactive computer. They can complete virtual dissections, view human tissues on a cellular level and explore a library of more than 1,000 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans.
 
Charlotte and Nicholas both said the Anatomage Table has been a game-changing piece of equipment for them. Charlotte, a senior, is planning to become a general surgeon after completing college and medical school. Nicholas, a junior, is contemplating several types of healthcare careers.
 
“I think it really gets that early onset of exposure to the body that I wouldn’t otherwise have from just textbooks and paper,” Nicholas said. “It’s a really cool hands-on experience.”
 
“I would say it’s definitely giving me a head start, because I know a lot of people who take courses like this, and they don’t have tools like this, so I’m definitely getting a jump start on it,” Charlotte said.
 
Katherine Karcher and Cindy Larson-Miller said they have been thrilled with the learning opportunities the table has created. Karcher is director of high school outreach programs at BCHS, and Larson-Miller is the science department chairperson at Northwest. Both said the Anatomage Table has generated many currents of educational electricity for students.
 
“To see those light bulbs go off, that’s a teacher’s favorite moment, I would say,” Karcher said. “One of the things that it has been so good for is piquing that curiosity. Students are just so curious about how things work, especially about how the human body works when it relates to anatomy.”
 
“One of my favorite things about teaching in general is to hear kids go, ‘Oh,’ and that happens all the time on this table,” Larson-Miller said. “It’s, ‘Oh my gosh, look at that!’ or ‘That’s so cool, look what you can do here!’ or ‘I never thought it looked like that!’ or ‘Why is the intestine that color?’ They can ask questions and think about things in a different way than they would if they were just reading about it or watching a video about it.”
 
BCHS Focus Program students first learned that Anatomage Tables existed when they saw one at a Nebraska Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference. They immediately told Larson-Miller that they needed to have a table in their classroom, and Larson-Miller soon realized how valuable the tool could be.
 
The Anatomage Table is a large computer that features many specialized software applications. The BCHS Focus Program model includes images of five cadavers of people who donated their bodies to science. Workers at Anatomage – the company that made the table – cut the cadavers and took digital photos of each part of the bodies. They then virtually reassembled and compiled all of the photos into 3D-rendered images for students to learn from.
 
Karcher’s predecessor, Jason States, worked with both Larson-Miller and Jason Thomsen, the curriculum specialist for career and technical education (CTE) at Lincoln Public Schools, on the project. They shared ideas with a BCHS grant writer who submitted a proposal to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE).
 
The NDE awarded the BCHS Focus Program nearly $85,000 through a reVISION Action Grant to purchase the table. State officials felt the equipment aligned well with the purpose of the reVISION Action Grant initiative, which is to improve, modernize and expand CTE programs.
 
Charlotte said she has enjoyed using the table since it arrived at Northwest this summer. She and other BCHS Focus Program students have already made many discoveries on it. Unlike a cadaver, which can be dissected only once, bodies in the Anatomage Table’s library can be digitally cut and reassembled as many times as needed.
 
“We’ve studied anatomy in the textbooks, but actually being able to see something like that in person is, it’s just really cool,” Charlotte said.
 
Nicholas said the Anatomage Table is also influencing decisions about his own personal health. One of the cadavers included in the table’s library is of a person who died from a tumor in his chest. Students have been able to see how the tumor affected the patient and possible reasons for its formation.
 
“When I saw the tumor in his chest, it was very likely caused by just behaviors and habits that he may have picked up over his life, so when I think about my future and if I don’t want to go down that path, it’s an awakening when you think about it,” Nicholas said.
 
Karcher said the Anatomage Table will continue to help students like Charlotte and Nicholas pursue their healthcare dreams for many years to come.
 
“It is above and beyond expectations for all of the things that it has allowed us to do, and we’re just so excited to keep learning more about it,” Karcher said.

To learn more about the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Northwest, visit our website at https://healthsciences.lps.org/. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 22, 2025

Full Circle: Goodrich alum brings award-winning teaching back to alma mater

Every time Hilan Younis spoke to her Goodrich Middle School classes during her first week as a teacher, she copied the caring and compassionate leadership style that Nicolle Armstrong showed to her.
 
Younis is preparing to make a difference in hundreds of Goodrich lives this year in her full-circle role as a seventh grade social studies teacher. Younis sat in the same GMS seats more than a decade ago when she studied important pieces of literature in Armstrong’s English class. Now, she is passing along her world history knowledge by building both connection and community for the current group of Dragons.
 
“The reason I do this is because I want my students to know I’m really here for them,” Younis said. “Not just to teach and go, but to show up for who they are. I build everything on relationships. I want them to feel seen and known, not just as students, but as people.”
 
Younis said she often thought of Armstrong’s kindness as she pursued her dream of becoming a teacher. Armstrong encouraged her in class activities, spoke to her in hallways and asked how she was doing during difficult moments in middle school. Younis said that thoughtful approach to teaching has influenced her entire life.
 
“She was amazing,” Younis said. “She was probably the reason why I wanted to step into this role and come back to Goodrich.”

 
Goodrich Principal Kelly Apel said Younis owns those same life-changing talents. She compared Younis to “a first-round draft pick” in professional sports because of her positive personality. During one first-week-of-school activity, students created a timeline of important historical events by looking up facts and photographs on their laptops. Younis lent her support to everyone in the room by holding one-on-one conversations with them at their desks.
 
“Hilan is awesome with checking in with students,” Apel said. “I was in here yesterday and she was moving around the classroom, checking in to make sure that every student has the feeling of success.”
 
Younis’ abilities drew statewide praise this past spring when she received the Outstanding Clinical Practice Educator in Social Studies Award. The Nebraska State Council for the Social Studies (NSCSS) selected her after learning about her above-and-beyond actions as a student teacher at Irving Middle School. The NSCSS recognizes one student teacher each year for showcasing strong content knowledge, building positive relationships with students and developing innovative teaching methods.

 
Irving social studies instructor Trey Ottley was Younis’ cooperating teacher during her student teaching experience. He said Aardvarks in his classroom respected her for overcoming obstacles in her life. She spent nearly eight years working her way through Peru State College before earning her diploma.
 
“I just enjoyed Hilan as a person,” Ottley said. “She is down-to-earth and the students loved her. She has a unique background when it comes to her life as a student that I think students will really benefit from – especially with the more reluctant learners.”
 
Lori Broady was Younis’ student teaching supervisor at Peru State and nominated her for the NSCSS honor. She was impressed with the constructive way Younis approached her student teaching responsibilities at Lincoln Public Schools. Younis spent the fall semester at Irving and was a teaching assistant at Goodrich this past spring.
 
“Her enthusiasm to improve her craft grew throughout the semester I worked with her,” Broady said. “She willingly accepted her cooperating teacher’s guidance, but was willing to stand in her own as well. She understood the nuances of teaching, which was evident in my personal observations in the classroom as well as in the extensive journals she wrote.”

 
Ottley said that willingness to grow was one reason why Younis will be a great teacher at Goodrich. Ottley watched her seek input on everything from lesson plans to behavior management when she was at Irving. In addition to soaking up suggestions from Ottley, Younis also visited with other teachers about their classroom strategies. She then incorporated those ideas when she was in front of her classes.
 
“I just really felt like she was using the student teaching opportunity to really discover what works best for her,” Ottley said. “While she and I had some very similar philosophies, she didn’t assume that she needed to do things just as I would do. Even when working off of lessons that I had originally put together, she would put her own unique spin on it for the sake of trying something new. It’s just clear that she understands how adaptability is such a necessary trait to be an effective educator.”
 
Younis began displaying her educational excellence at Goodrich last spring. She became a coach, encouraged students with their academic goals and spoke to many parents at Goodrich Legacy Night activities. That laid the groundwork for a full year of future inspiring moments at GMS in 2025-26.
 
Ottley felt Younis would make the same life-changing impressions on current Dragons as Armstrong did many years ago.
 
“I think teaching is such a relational field, and she’s such a relational personality,” Ottley said. “She is well-suited to make a huge impact on the lives of the students that are fortunate enough to be around her.”
 
Want to inspire LPS students in the same way as Hilan? View a full list of job opportunities by visiting our careers page at https://home.lps.org/hr/careers. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 21, 2025

Kindergarten-only format on first day receives rave reviews at LPS buildings

The introduction of a kindergarten-only first day at Lincoln Public Schools got five-star reviews from parents, teachers and administrators on Tuesday.
 
Hundreds of LPS kindergarten students like Ella, Carter and Oliver enjoyed meteor showers of support from staff members when they walked inside their buildings. They explored their schools by themselves without having multiple older grades alongside them in the hallways. LPS has followed a similar plan for students in sixth and ninth grades for multiple years, and the school district felt a kindergarten-only format would be just as successful this fall.
 
Ella’s top concern when she entered Cavett Elementary School’s doors for the first time was learning how to pick out her milk carton during lunch period. Her mother Lisa said giving kindergarteners an extra day to find answers to those types of questions was a good thing.
 
“I think it’s really smart,” Lisa said. “They are not as overwhelmed with the people here, and they have extra staff on hand to really just help them get accustomed how to do the simple things.”

 
Cavett parents Derrick and Jeff echoed Lisa’s happiness after a kindergarten family meet-and-greet session with Cavett Principal Kathleen Dering. Derrick and his family brought their son Carter to school earlier in the morning, and Jeff and his family watched Oliver walk into the main hallway at the same time.
 
“It’s awesome for kindergarteners to have their own day,” Derrick said. “It’s been really good for all of the kids. All of the teachers have been helping out and doing a great job, and the kids have been able to come here and not be as nervous on their first day like they might be with a full building here. I think it’s been great overall.”
 
“It’s great having a day where we can drop them off and everybody’s focused on them,” Jeff said. “The first day of school for your child is always a big thing, so this has been really nice.”
 
Teachers at six LPS schools – Adams, Cavett, Kloefkorn, Maxey, Sheridan and Wysong – brought the starry idea for a kindergarten-only first day to their principals earlier this year. Those six principals enthusiastically passed along the suggestion to LPS Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sarah Salem, who worked with other LPS leaders to change the district calendar.
 
“When you think about all the things that kindergarteners have to learn, it’s not just literacy and math,” Salem said. “We also have opening the milk cartons and how you go to specials and how you put away art supplies. When you think about just taking that first day to slow down, the principals thought this would be a really great opportunity to let kindergarteners experience that without all of the other students and classrooms that are happening.”

 
Dering, who has been principal at Cavett since the 2022-23 school year, has also led elementary teams as principal at Elliott and Beattie. In previous years, Cavett teachers from all six grade levels were focused on their own classrooms on the first day. This fall, all of them gave their sole attention to kindergarteners, which meant more smiles, high-fives and nods of encouragement to the school’s youngest Cardinals.
 
“You know your kindergarteners need more. They just do,” Dering said. “They need attention in the lunchroom, because they’ve never gone through the lunch line before. They need more help outside, because they’ve never come into the school before. To be able to take an entire school staff and have them give kindergarteners that extra support is beneficial to all of the kids. I’ve loved how it’s gone today.”
 
That same level of appreciation filled the hallways at Randolph Elementary School. Emily Mujica said she and her fellow kindergarten teachers noticed how much their co-workers pitched in to make the first day special for their students.
 
“Just having more hands on board with other teachers in the building, that was just very helpful for us as kindergarten teachers, but I feel like the kids as well,” Mujica said. “I feel like it eased a lot of nerves for sure.”

Mujica and Salem said the kindergarten-only setup led to many other positive outcomes across LPS. Every member of Randolph’s kindergarten class met their music, art, technology, physical education and library media teachers throughout the day. This helped them learn where those specialized subjects were located in the building.
 
Many schools held informational sessions for kindergarten families as part of their first day. This gave them a chance to form stronger bonds with parents and guardians. Many students also displayed a lower stress level during the morning and afternoon.
 
“There’s a lot of those first-day jitters, and they feel nervous coming the first day, both for parents and for kids,” Mujica said. “I feel like it was a good transition getting acclimated to the building.”
 
“We’ve had pep rallies and activities and shoutouts,” Salem said. “It’s really been fun to watch every school have their own little twist on what kindergarten day means to them.”
 
Lisa said Ella had been looking forward to stepping into Cavett’s hallways for many weeks. She said her daughter’s bright first-day experience made her even more eager to become part of the Cardinal family.
 
“She’s very excited,” Lisa said. “She’s nervous, but excited. She wants to make a lot of new friends.”
 
Want to see more LPS first week of school coverage? Visit our website at https://news.lps.org/first-week-2025/ for more highlights. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 15, 2025

State librarians honor Haeffner for helping hundreds of people at LPS

Lincoln Public Schools librarians raised their voices in celebration this summer when they honored Chris Haeffner for her top-shelf service to the community.
 
Dozens of librarians, family and friends cheered for Haeffner when she received the Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) Meritorious Service Award. Haeffner, the director of library services at LPS, became just the 11th person in Nebraska history to be honored with the award. She wore a stunned look on her face as people from across Lincoln walked into Mickle Middle School’s library for the surprise ceremony.
 
Haeffner said afterwards that it meant a lot to receive encouragement from so many people. The ceremony also included video tributes from more than 20 people who have worked alongside her at every stage of her career.
 
“It takes my breath away to look at the faces of all of those who have supported me and walked with me on this journey and worked side by side with me to do the work that means so much to me and all of us,” Haeffner said.
 
NSLA leaders Joy Harvey and Emily Jacobs both said Haeffner was well-deserving of the applause. Harvey is the current NSLA president and Jacobs is president-elect of the statewide organization. They said Haeffner embodies everything that is good about the school librarian profession.
 
“I think Chris is a strong leader because she has a clear vision for our libraries that puts students and reading at the center,” Jacobs said. “Her passion for creating welcoming spaces and providing great books really shows. She’s kind, thoughtful and open to different perspectives, always working toward the best solution. I appreciate working with her because she keeps our focus on what truly matters.”
 
“Chris encourages all LPS librarians to give their best to all students through her unending support, whether it’s providing curriculum or by reimagining library spaces to make them more welcoming for students,” Harvey said. “She empowers her leaders by trusting them to use their strengths to contribute to our mission.”
 
Betsy Thomas works with Haeffner as a library instructional leader at LPS Library Media Services. She said Haeffner “radiates positivity” with her uplifting personality.
 
“Chris makes people want to be librarians,” Thomas said. “She’s not only an exceptional leader for our district, but also a respected voice at the state and national levels. Her innovative ideas and willingness to openly share what we’ve built have elevated librarianship far beyond our own schools, impacting educators across the country.”
 
People who have made significant contributions to the school librarian profession are eligible for the NSLA Meritorious Service Award. Nominees can be school librarians, but they can also be individuals or groups who have helped others through administrative or community work. Any NSLA member may nominate someone who they feel meets the criteria.
 
The NSLA Board of Directors will review nominations before determining if they will bestow the award that year. There is no requirement for the award to be given on a yearly basis. The NSLA has only presented the honor ten times in the previous 55 years: 1970, 1972, 1988, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
 
Jacobs said the non-annual nature of the prize makes it even more significant.
 
“This award reflects the outstanding leadership and service Chris demonstrates not only in Lincoln, but across Nebraska,” Jacobs said. “Her work, including leading the development and statewide rollout of K-12 library objectives and corresponding lessons, is being used by educators across the state and even nationally.”
 
Haeffner has been at the forefront of many initiatives since her first day at LPS in August 1996. She has spearheaded district citizenship education lessons across all grade levels, curated MOSAIC displays of a wide variety of books and compiled a full range of online resources for students and families. She and LPS Cataloger and Archivist Sara Scott have teamed up on a project to provide digitized yearbooks to the public, and she has been instrumental in renovating library spaces at all LPS buildings.
 
Haeffner, who will start her ninth year as director of library services, has also encouraged her team by highlighting their efforts at many state and national events. She said it is fun to work alongside people who share the same passion for helping others.
 
“I still believe libraries are one of the last truly creative areas in education, where we do get to create and invent and sort of be responsive to whatever educational landscape our communities and schools are living in,” Haeffner said. “We get to do incredible work that I think makes a difference every day to the students and the teachers and the families we serve.”
 
Thomas said the NSLA Meritorious Service Award represents the far-reaching impact that Haeffner has had on hundreds of people. She felt those achievements would continue to inspire others in top-shelf ways for many years to come.
 
“When we’ve presented at national conferences, she’s literally received standing ovations, because people recognize that the work she leads is nothing short of game-changing for students and school libraries,” Thomas said. “She puts instruction and teaching at the forefront of our profession and sets the standard for what excellent librarianship looks like.”
 
Want to learn more about the mission and vision of LPS Library Media Services? Visit home.lps.org/libraries to view dozens of resources that benefit students, families and all community members.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 15, 2025

Wysong starts tenth school year with pack-strengthening activities

Wysong Elementary School staff members showed why their pack is strong this summer by celebrating ten years of winning Wolves memories.
 
Fifty teachers, specialists and administrators marked the beginning of the building’s tenth school year with a festive birthday party. They boosted their teamwork skills in a cake decorating contest, shared laughs at a dancing event and cheered for each other during a rock, paper, scissors challenge. They also held several professional learning sessions throughout the encouraging morning.
 
Wysong teachers Keri Daffer and Larissa Smith said the tenth anniversary celebration was a great way for the Wolves to kick off the new year. They said students will benefit from the enthusiasm that staff showed in the cafeteria.
 
“Our energy directly affects their energy,” Daffer said. “And so I think when we have a positive attitude, when we’re excited about just being at school, all the new things that are going to happen this year, then that shows up in our students too and our families and makes them feel welcome and excited about starting a new school year.”
 
“I think it’s really important to start our school year off positively, so that we’re going into it with a growth mindset,” Smith said. “We know that we have a really important job, and we can influence and shape the lives of so many students. And so I think if we’re not positive, then we will affect the students negatively, so we need those positive and collaborative experiences.”

 
Wysong Principal Stephanie Drake said she was pleased to watch staff members strengthen their cooperation and communication talents. The Lincoln Public Schools theme for 2025-26 is “Leading With Connection,” and Drake felt the birthday party gave the Wolves a chance to do exactly that.
 
“We really focus here at Wysong on teamwork and collaboration, and we know that we can’t do our work alone,” Drake said. “Our kids need us as educators to be on the same team, to be a champion for them, and so that’s just kind of the theme of our birthday party. Yes, we’re celebrating, but we are also focusing on our core values, our mission statement, of teamwork and collaboration.”
 
A cake decorating contest was one of the activities that dovetailed with the LPS theme. Each team had 30 minutes to collect supplies, create a plan and place decorations on their birthday cake. They competed for awards in the areas of “Most Creative Cake,” “Most School Spirit” and “Best Representation of School Mission Statement.”
 
Smith and her fellow third grade teachers captured the “Most School Spirit” honor for their inventive design. They drew a wolf on top of their cake and incorporated Wysong’s royal blue color scheme throughout their pattern. Smith said it was fun to see their blueprints become an award-winning cake construction project.
 
“We really wanted to make it colorful, to make it positive, just like the vibes here, and include everybody,” Smith said. “We all worked together on it as a team.”

 
Drake said it was exciting to watch those types of deeper connections take shape throughout the morning. She and fellow administrators Jessica Hughes and Kristy Kennedy wore t-shirts that listed Wysong’s 2025-26 motto of “One Pack, One Purpose” as they visited each table. Randy Oltman, who was Wysong’s first principal from 2016-22, later surprised the Wolves with his role as guest judge for the contest.
 
“I’m just so proud to lead this staff,” Drake said. “Everyone here is committed to our kids and committed to doing the work they need to do to support our kids. The energy this morning was amazing.”
 
Daffer said the “Leading With Connection” and “One Pack, One Purpose” messages are valuable ones for staff to showcase to students. Connection, caring and unity are all ingredients that create a trusting environment at school. That positive atmosphere then leads to stronger academic results, smiles at the lunch table and pack-building actions on the playground.
 
“To me, that is the core foundation of my classroom, is building strong relationships,” Daffer said. “If the kids don’t trust me, or they don’t see me as somebody that makes them feel safe, then it’s going to be hard for them to learn. So having a positive relationship with my students, with the families, with the staff members, my team, that is the core to, I think, making everything else fall into place.”

 
Lincoln residents authorized the construction of Wysong as part of a 2014 bond issue. More than 300 children walked into the 80,000-square-foot building when it opened on Aug. 14, 2016. That number has more than doubled over the past decade. There were 738 young Wolves learning at Wysong last year.
 
Daffer said that expansion has been fulfilling to witness. She was on Wysong’s first team of teachers in 2016 and will start her 19th year with LPS. She felt the school would continue to have a strong pack as it moves into the future.
 
“We’ve just grown a ton,” Daffer said. “We now have some grades that have six sections. And so it’s exciting to see how the neighborhood has grown, the families, the community that we’ve built here. You know, siblings coming through, full families of four kids, five kids that have made their way through the building. It’s just been fun to see the community growing together.”
 
Interested in a career in Lincoln Public Schools? Stop by our careers page at https://home.lps.org/hr/careers/ to see our current opportunities.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 11, 2025

Volleyball players from three LPS teams net national academic recognition

High school volleyball players from Northeast, Southwest and Standing Bear netted prestigious national awards this summer for their superior studying skills.
 
The Lincoln Public Schools athletes showed how classroom excellence is a pillar of their programs by winning the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. Varsity squads had to maintain a minimum teamwide grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale throughout the 2024-25 year to be eligible for the award. All varsity players were included in the GPA calculations.
 
Southwest Activities Director Andrew Sherman said he was proud of the Silver Hawks for earning the honor for the second straight season. Southwest has captured the AVCA Team Academic Award five times since the school opened in 2002. The program also secured the prize in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2024.
 
“It’s extremely encouraging to see the volleyball program achieving success both in the classroom and on the court,” Sherman said. “It speaks volumes about the character, discipline and commitment of the student-athletes and coaching staff.”
 
Northeast Activities Director Matt Uher and Standing Bear Athletic Director Jeremy Schroeder were also thrilled with the national recognition. It was the first AVCA award for Standing Bear, which began its varsity volleyball program last fall. It was the second AVCA honor for Northeast, which also collected academic accolades in 1999.
 
“This award is such an honor for our program and school,” Uher said. “It shows that we excel not only on the court but take pride in what we accomplish in the classroom! This is truly an athlete award and evidence that our coaches promote and expect academic excellence.”
 
“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment by our volleyball athletes,” Schroeder said. “Standing Bear takes pride in excelling academically and athletically. This honor is great recognition for the hard work our student-athletes put in.”

 
The AVCA began sponsoring the program in 1992 to highlight the academic achievements of volleyball players. Head volleyball coaches in Nebraska must be active members of both the AVCA and Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) to nominate their teams for the honor. AVCA officials reviewed each nomination before recognizing award-winning programs.
 
Standing Bear head coach Nick Spencer said he was pleased to watch players successfully balance high-level competitive athletics, academics and life. None of the Grizzlies on the 2024 roster had participated in varsity team sports before, and they made academics a priority in their busy schedules.
 
“This is even more impressive when you consider that this award considers academic performance over the course of the entire school year, and every one of our varsity volleyball athletes participated in at least one other school sport last year as well,” Spencer said. “I’m proud of them for their commitment to leading and developing the Standing Bear school culture in athletics and the classroom.”
 
Southwest head coach Jessica Kirkendall and Northeast head coach Craig Songster were also happy with the effort of their teams.
 
“I am very proud of the hard work that our girls put in, not only on the court, but in the classroom!” Kirkendall said. “Being a student-athlete comes with some additional responsibilities, such as prioritizing what is most important. The girls had to prioritize getting their homework done around a volleyball schedule and communicate with teachers when they had to be gone for away games. This award is proof that our girls took their academic success just as seriously as their athletic success.”

“I’m super proud of our kids and the work that they put into their academics,” Songster said. “We strive and always talk about how they are student-athletes and that the student part comes first.”
 
Kirkendall, Spencer and Songster said the national honor was also a sign of the long-term academic vision that students have for themselves. Most athletes will see their playing days end after high school, but all will have opportunities to make positive impacts in the world.
 
“I would like to think the girls value their academic success,” Kirkendall said. “We often talk about goals we have, and our goals go beyond the court. The girls have goals of careers for the future, and they know that in order to reach those goals, there are steps that they need to follow. We do have the expectation that they are student-athletes and in that order.”
 
“Our athletes have bought into our program’s commitment to preparing players to handle the next challenge in life, and they believe in the value of academics as a pathway to future opportunities both on and off the court,” Spencer said.

“As a program, we stress to all of them, as do their families, that being successful academically is going to take them further in their life than volleyball,” Songster said. “Sports and activities can teach us all some great skills about teamwork, communication and putting the well-being of others above ourselves, but the academic part is what drives us as we grow and mature into successful adults.”

 
Northeast, Southwest and Standing Bear also earned the 2024-25 NCA Jean Groth Volleyball Team Academic Excellence Award. The state prize had the same criteria as the AVCA honor. State officials recognized volleyball teams from Class A (five schools), Class B (nine), Class C-1 (nine), Class C-2 (12), Class D-1 (nine) and Class D-2 (three).
 
Sherman said the three award-winning volleyball programs were shining examples of how LPS promotes student success in many ways.
 
“Academic success reflects a strong sense of responsibility and effective time management, while athletic success demonstrates teamwork, resilience and a competitive drive,” Sherman said. “When a program excels in both areas, it becomes a model of what high school athletics should be about – developing well-rounded individuals who are prepared for life beyond sports.”
 
Interested in becoming part of a team or student organization at your LPS middle or high school? Visit https://home.lps.org/athletics/get-involved/ to read other stories of how involvement in extracurricular activities can boost academic success.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 08, 2025

Hundreds of difference-makers prepare to make major impacts at LPS buildings

Theora Melcher and Sierra Werner arrived at Southwest High School this summer ready to begin their mission of making major impacts at Lincoln Public Schools.
 
The Riley Elementary School teachers joined hundreds of other inspirational influencers at the 2025 LPS New Educator Week. Professionals from all 70 LPS schools and focus programs picked up important knowledge about the school district during meetings in Southwest’s auditorium and commons area. They shared smiles with fellow educators, learned key facts about LPS and met many administrators and school leaders.
 
Melcher and Werner both said they were looking forward to meeting elementary students on their first day of school Aug. 13. Melcher will teach fourth grade at Riley and Werner will guide a classroom of second grade Rams.
 
Why did they want to become elementary school teachers?
 
“I would say to provide love and support for those who need it the most,” Melcher said.
 
“I want to make a difference in people’s lives,” Werner said.
 
Laura Casne had a similar sunny outlook on her future teaching career. She will lead geoscience and biology classes at Northwest High School for the first time this fall. Casne, who owns degrees in both environmental studies and secondary science education, said she was excited to teach science courses to her students.
 
“It’s going to be hectic, but it should be a lot of fun,” Casne said. “I’m already dreaming about it.”

 
Melcher, Werner and Casne were among 377 new educators who began their first LPS assignments. Some were fresh college graduates, some had been veteran classroom leaders outside of Lincoln and others were starting second careers in the education field.
 
LPS Director of Continuous Improvement Amy Clark said she was impressed with the enthusiasm she saw from the group throughout the first morning. Many struck up conversations with each other at breakfast and maintained that friendly atmosphere the rest of the day.
 
Clark said that was a good sign for the upcoming academic year. Southwest’s auditorium and commons area were filled with people who will be working at every building throughout the school district. Elementary, middle and high school leaders had their first chances to meet each other and discover why LPS is well-respected across the nation.
 
“I thought they had such great energy,” Clark said. “I am so excited about the work that they’re all going to be putting in this week. They were highly engaged and excited about learning, and I’m excited that they’re with us.”

LPS holds New Educator Week each year to help employees become better acquainted with LPS standards, procedures and instructional materials. The 2025 event included activities for both large and small groups of educators. They learned about curriculum topics during the first three mornings of the week and met at their individual schools during the afternoons. They focused on teaching with clarity on day four and spent time working in their school buildings on the final day.
 
While a majority of the 337 participants will be classroom teachers in 2025-26, many others will be supporting students in additional key jobs. Cassidy Morrison and Bethany Dvorachek will help children with their talents as health technicians. Morrison will be a health technician at Goodrich Middle School and Dvorachek will serve as a substitute health technician at LPS.
 
Morrison said she was eager to continue her LPS experience at Goodrich. She worked with children both at Roper Elementary School and Riley Elementary School throughout her college years. Her time with the two enrichment programs convinced her that a health technician position would be a good way to begin her career.
 
“I’ve been with LPS for years through the before- and after-school programs, so I’ve always loved the district,” Morrison said. “I’m happy to be here.”

 
Clark and several other top LPS leaders spoke to the audience during the first morning. They talked about the many layers of support that are available to the 6,200 LPS employees and 41,000 students.
 
Clark said it was important for everyone in the audience to realize they are not stationed on their own classroom or office islands. Instead, there is a peninsula-sized amount of assistance available for them in their workplace roles.
 
“We want them to have a solid foundation of support so that they know who we are behind the e-mails,” Clark said. “We want them to know who to contact and who to get help from as they’re starting their journey in LPS.”
 
Casne said it was encouraging to know that everyone at LPS was rooting for her to succeed. She was happy to be among the hundreds of people who will have difference-making missions in Lincoln this year.
 
“I’m looking forward to getting to meet all of my students,” Casne said. “Beginning to make those connections will be fun.”
 
Interested in beginning your own LPS career? Visit home.lps.org/hr to learn more about the school district and view current job opportunities.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 08, 2025

Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Grover, Arts and Humanities

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs’ core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how senior Grover used the Arts and Humanities Focus Program to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Grover “Wyn”

Grade: 12

Home High School: Lincoln High

Focus Program: Arts and Humanities  

Why did you choose the Arts and Humanities Focus Program?

I chose to go to Arts and Humanities (A&H) because I knew I thrived in smaller, more intimate learning environments. I wanted to continue honing my writing skills while also delving a bit more into art in order to more completely realize some of my creative visions. Additionally, I have family who are alumni of the program.

How did the Arts and Humanities Focus Program change your high school experience?

A&H definitely provided me with an environment I was able to thrive in unlike any other. Developing such close relationships with my teachers and peers makes this school of less than 100 feel much more like a family than a school of 2,000 strangers.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from the Arts and Humanities Focus Program? Why?

A&H has taught me just how unique every person's perspective is. I believe in the image of America as a melting pot. That means we have to acknowledge everyone's differences in backgrounds and beliefs if we are to work towards a more perfect union.

How did the Arts and Humanities Focus Program help you reach your graduation goals?

My teachers at A&H pushed me to go beyond my knowledge and perspective in my projects in order to create more comprehensive products. They have always been supportive of me and have expanded my view of the world.

What are your post-graduation plans?

I will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall, studying political science. I hope to get a job at the Unicameral in college and one day run for the legislature.

How did the Arts and Humanities Focus Program help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

My teachers and counselors were very supportive of my secondary education plans and helped me achieve them while also suggesting opportunities I may benefit from. 

How did the Arts and Humanities Focus Program help prepare you for the future?

The staff at A&H have always pushed me to take opportunities to do what I love and gain prominence from them. Some of the conversations I've had with my teachers have been truly life-altering and I am so incredibly thankful for them.

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Arts and Humanities is not just a school, it's a family. I have felt more at home here than nearly anywhere else. If you're a young artist, this is a great place for you, but you need to be open to the fact that it isn't just an art program. It's about the humanities just as much, if not more. These subjects are codependent and they will both deepen your understanding of the other. If you like project-based learning and smaller environments, A&H is the school for you.

What are you most thankful for about this experience? Why?

I am so deeply thankful for the relationships I have had with my teachers and my peers. I value them more than any in my life. I feel emboldened by them to always strive to be a better person and a leader.

Congratulations, Grover! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Arts and Humanities Focus Program by visiting its website at https://arts.lps.org/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 07, 2025

LPS students drive academic racecars into winning AP Capstone lanes

Twelve Lincoln Public Schools students steered their academic racecars into victory lane this year when they earned major research-based honors.
 
Students from Southeast High School and North Star High School crossed the finish line of the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone program. Southeast graduates Adam Drayton, Jackson Figard, Simone Gergen, Rebecca Halada, Molly Leyden, Emily Miller, Carolyn Skold and Maizie Stricker and North Star graduate Surah Al-Zubiadi collected the AP Capstone Diploma. Southeast graduates Olivia Bechtel and Charlotte Olenick each pocketed the AP Seminar and Research Certificate for their academic achievements.
 
The dynamic dozen conducted original college-level research as part of the two-year AP Capstone program, which includes both AP Seminar and AP Research courses. Skold and Stricker said they improved their investigative skills and built a close-knit community at the same time.
 
“My favorite thing about AP Research was having a lot of creative freedom in terms of the direction we wanted our research to go,” Skold said. “I also loved how independent our projects were, yet we got really close as friends throughout the class.”
 
“I enjoyed getting to know the other students with similar academic goals and aspirations,” Stricker said. “It was cool to have a class with them for two years and grow that connection with others who want to challenge themselves academically.”
 
Al-Zubiadi felt having the freedom to deeply explore individual topics helped her in many ways. In addition to sharpening key career traits such as time management, perseverance and creativity, the program also laid a firm foundation for future college research opportunities.
 
“It teaches students a form of independence within their education, which I deeply valued throughout the whole process of both years,” Al-Zubiadi said.

 
North Star social studies teacher Brian Wandzilak leads the school’s AP Capstone coursework. He said it was exciting to watch students like Al-Zubiadi succeed in their studies.
 
“AP Capstone is a rare opportunity for students to take control over their learning and have a ton of agency over what they are doing in and out of school,” Wandzilak said. “After some initial groundwork and fundamentals are built, it is a true ‘choose your own adventure’ academic experience. I have yet to encounter an experience that better prepares students for college from a skills perspective.”
 
Southeast teacher Colten White was proud of all the AP Capstone graduates. White leads the school’s AP Research class, which is one part of the thought-provoking experience. AP Seminar and AP Research are companion courses that equip students with talents such as critical thinking, decision making and public speaking. They take AP Seminar in year one of the program and AP Research in year two.
 
“The process of original research is the most rigorous academic coursework available at LPS, so I am impressed with every student who graduates from this program,” White said. “These students represent the highest level of excellence that high school students can achieve.”

 
LPS began offering the AP Capstone program at both Southeast and North Star in 2020 to give students extra academic options. Thirteen Knights and Navigators became the first AP Capstone Diploma recipients in 2022, and seven students earned honors in both 2023 and 2024.
 
White said he has enjoyed watching young adults thrive in the AP Capstone setting. They first learn how to investigate a subject, comprehend and explain an argument and evaluate multiple perspectives in AP Seminar.
 
They then use those skills in a long-term project in AP Research. They pick an in-depth theme to explore, speak with expert advisors and develop an annotated bibliography before writing an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words.
 
“AP Research is a rewarding class to teach because each student gets to choose their own topic to research throughout the year, and my role is to guide them as they generate new knowledge on that topic,” White said. “I don’t have answers for them – I just guide them in finding their own answers.”
 
Al-Zubiadi felt AP Capstone had also boosted her public speaking skills. After finishing their academic paper, AP Research students deliver an oral presentation to teachers about their findings. They later speak about their experiences in front of the AP Seminar class.
 
“After taking both classes, my presenting skills had definitely improved, such as the way I spoke, planned, designed and overall just carried out my presentations,” Al-Zubiadi said. “This is definitely an important skill for college, graduate school and other opportunities where I would need to do such. I don’t think any other class could’ve helped me prepare like the capstone classes.”
 
AP Capstone is part of a large array of AP courses that are available at LPS. Students take tests on a five-point scale at the conclusion of each class. They receive the AP Capstone Diploma if they post scores of 3.0 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP course exams. They receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate for earning scores of 3.0 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.
 
Skold and Stricker both said AP Capstone had put them in pole position for their post-secondary plans.
 
“AP Research will be extremely helpful in college as it teaches how to work independently on extremely tasking projects,” Skold said. “This class also prepares you on how to overcome difficulty in challenges throughout the research process. I developed a lot of trial-and-error skills.”
 
“The AP Capstone program taught me how to hold myself accountable for my own work because there was so much independence,” Stricker said. “I feel more ready for college after taking these courses.”
 
Learn more about Gifted Education at LPS on our website at https://home.lps.org/gifted. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on August 01, 2025

Arnold CLC students catch fun learning experiences at summer enrichment clubs

Alayna burst out into a wide smile as she realized a bluegill had transferred its home address from Bowling Lake’s waters to a hook on her fishing rod.
 
Those types of memory-making moments were the norm for students during this year’s Expanding Horizons Summer Clubs Program. Based at the Lincoln Community Learning Centers (CLC) site at Arnold Elementary School, the free summer enrichment camps featured a wide array of options for children. They could learn about subjects ranging from inventions to insects over the course of three weeks in July.
 
Alayna’s decision to come to the weeklong Outdoor Explorers Club gave her a chance to beam while holding her bluegill. She doubled her excitement less than ten minutes later when another fish found its way onto her hook. She said later that she would remember catching a fish for the first time in her life.
 
“It was really fun,” Alayna said.

 
Students like Alayna, who will be a sixth grader at Schoo Middle School, have been reeling in educational opportunities for the past 23 years through the Expanding Horizons program. Arnold CLC School Community Coordinator Dayna Krannawitter has built a vast network of community partners to help children make dynamic discoveries. This summer’s lineup has included arts and crafts opportunities, engineering experiences and trips to Pioneers Park Nature Center, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center and Bowling Lake Park.
 
Krannawitter said it is rewarding to watch students learn life lessons through activities like the Outdoor Explorers Club.
 
“That’s the impact that kids get when they explore their interests,” Krannawitter said. “They get to sign up for the clubs they want, and these kids love being outdoors, so it’s something they really want to do. They just have a great time doing it. It’s all very hands-on, and that’s the best way to do it.”

 
Braden and Aleah nodded when asked if they liked being outside. Braden will be a fourth grader at Roper Elementary School this fall, and Aleah will be entering fifth grade at Arnold Elementary. Braden said he had been having fun learning about animals, looking at insects and figuring out where to cast his reel on the lake.
 
“I caught bugs yesterday and I’m trying to catch fish today,” Braden said.
 
Aleah attended clubs all three weeks of the Expanding Horizons program. She was happy to spend time with her friends while snagging new information about different topics.
 
“It’s pretty fun,” Aleah said. “It’s fun to try new things.”

 
Krannawitter partnered with Lincoln-based Big Gumdrop Outdoors for the Outdoor Explorers Club. Lincoln High graduate Kyndal Hudson is operations director for the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to teaching youth about Nebraska’s natural environment. She leads after-school programs for CLC students throughout the academic year and guides children at summer programs and field trips.
 
Hudson said she is passionate about sharing her love of nature with others. She encouraged each student by the lake and helped them attach their worm to their hook. She cheered when Alayna began hauling in her fish and gave her a happy high five on the shoreline. She said those celebrations are why she chose outdoor education as her career.
 
“This has been a cool way for me to connect kids with nature and get them outside to do something different,” Hudson said.
 
Hudson attended Roper Elementary School and Park Middle School before earning her Lincoln High diploma. A Dean’s List student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Hudson grew up near Denton and spent many hours fishing and boating with family members. She said teaching students like Alayna, Braden and Aleah is a way for her to pass along that outdoor knowledge to the next generation.
 
“When I was a child, I was definitely outside all of the time,” Hudson said. “We didn’t have phones when I was a child because my parents were against it, which I’m grateful for. A lot of kids now are surrounded by screens and don’t necessarily have the same access to being outside, so this is a good way for us to connect them with the outdoors.”

 
In addition to the enrichment camps, Expanding Horizons students also received free breakfast, lunch and summer reading activities this year. Lincoln Housing Charities and the CLC Interlocal Program Fund covered all costs to ensure all area students could attend.
 
Some Outdoors Explorers Club students like Aleah had fished before, but many had never tried the activity until their trip to Bowling Lake. Hudson said it is exciting to watch students of all experience levels develop a deeper appreciation for nature at camps like the Arnold CLC one.
 
“Sometimes at first, they’re like, ‘I don’t want to go outside. It’s hot and there are bugs everywhere,’” Hudson said. “But yesterday, we went bug hunting, and they were catching the bugs and examining them. It takes a little bit of time sometimes, but it’s awesome when it starts to happen.”
 
Want to learn more about Lincoln CLC enrichment opportunities that are available year-round? Visit clc.lps.org to discover information about after-school programs available at more than two dozen LPS sites.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 30, 2025

Lights, Camera, Learning: Foundation for LPS summer tech camp sparks student creativity

Vera and Addie exchanged excited smiles this summer as they scrolled through their checklist of filming questions in a Holmes Elementary School hallway.
 
Where should we set up the tripod that holds the iPad camera?
 
Can we attach an external microphone to pick up more sound?
 
Is this table by the window a good place to record this scene?
 
The strategy session was part of a weeklong script of fun technology adventures at the Spark Middle School Tech Camp. The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools organized the inaugural camp to give students in grades 6-8 a chance to explore many types of activities. Daily programming about subjects like videography and computer coding took place at Holmes one week in June and one week in July.
 
Addie, who will be a seventh grader at Moore Middle School, and Vera, who will be a seventh grader at Pound Middle School, became fast friends after meeting each other on the first day of camp. They created an idea for a short film that focused on two girls at school. Addie said she and Vera were enjoying coming up with pieces of their video puzzle.
 
“When you’re first filming, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if this will look good,’ but then as you put it all together, it’s really cool,” Addie said.
 
Back in the main classroom, fellow camper Gage was solving a similar type of imaginative brain teaser. He had just finished writing the second part of a storyline called “The Smile Experiment” at a desk, and he was starting to record a scene with a lime-green toy animal. He said he had become more interested in technology through the movie-making process.
 
“It’s just fun to do the certain steps to make the final product,” Gage said.
 
Scott Middle School teacher Mark Danley said it was fulfilling to help students like Vera, Addie and Gage learn how to become filmmakers. He led the tech camp’s videography session and taught the class how to plan, script, record, edit, review and publish their own cinematic productions. Their ideas ranged from a newscast using a green screen, a public service announcement about banana bread and Vera and Addie’s multi-scene movie.

Danley felt it was important to offer enriching experiences like the tech camp. Some campers like Addie had worked with film equipment before, and others were experimenting with storyboards, projectors and tripods for the first time. He wanted them to realize that they could someday pursue careers as screenwriters, sound designers or studio managers if they wanted to.
 
“I like to use the analogy of when you’re young, you have all of the doors open for you,” Danley said. “You can go through any door, and you can make any door a reality for you.”
 
Foundation Director of Engagement Kayla Jacox said career exploration was one reason why the organization wanted to offer the new camp. The group has helped elementary children learn about science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) topics for many years through Spark Summer Learning Camp events. Employees and board members felt it was worthwhile to branch out into the middle school level this summer.
 
“While we’ve been thrilled to serve K-5 students, there still seemed to be a need for summer camps for middle school students,” Jacox said.
 
Foundation board member Guy Trainin said he was “genuinely excited” when he learned the middle school tech camp would become a reality. Trainin, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor, felt it was essential to help students expand their technological and career toolboxes at an early age.
 
“This initiative represents more than summer programming,” Trainin said. “It’s about providing meaningful access to technology education during a critical developmental period.”
 
Campers could choose to attend either a single week or both weeklong sessions. They created their own computer games and programmed drones for aerial maneuvers during the first week of classes. They then produced artworks through coding programs and learned videography skills in week two.
 
Trainin said providing several STEAM classes gave campers a chance to connect with technology in ways that were best for them.
 
“Some discover their passion through coding logic, others through visual storytelling in videography or through hands-on robotics problem solving,” Trainin said. “This approach acknowledges that technological literacy develops through multiple pathways, not a single prescribed route.”
 
Vera and Addie’s movie roadway had already produced many happy memories for them. Vera said she was looking forward to sharing their hard work with other people.
 
“I think it will be fun to see people’s reactions when they’re watching it,” Vera said.
 
Danley said the premiere edition of the middle school tech camp was giving students blockbuster-sized confidence in their academic and social pursuits.
 
“That’s what I love about this, is just the encouraging,” Danley said. “Sometimes they’ll go, ‘Is this a good idea?’ and I’m like, ‘Do you feel good about it?’ Just redirecting things so that they feel like they’re actual producers and cinematographers and all those things. That’s what the goal is for me.”
 
Want to learn more about computer science at LPS? Visit home.lps.org/cte/cs to explore details about classes at middle and high school levels. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 30, 2025

LPS leaders learn how connection creates strong school communities

Lincoln Public Schools leaders like Kate Sims and Beth Staswick learned how solid connections create strong communities during a morning full of bond-making moments this week.
 
Sims and Staswick joined scores of LPS administrators, coordinators and supervisors at the school district’s annual Leadership Day. They gathered at Southwest High School on Monday for several professional learning sessions. They listened to district leaders, participated in group breakout sessions and strengthened relationships through face-to-face conversations.
 
Sims and Staswick both said they were excited about the 2025-26 school year. Sims will serve as an instructional coordinator at Southeast High School after teaching Spanish classes there for the previous nine years. Staswick will move from her previous instructional coordinator position at East High School to her new associate principal role at Standing Bear High School.
 
Both said the theme of leadership through connection was something important in their jobs.

 
“It’s about building relationships with students and teachers,” Sims said. “I’m fortunate because I know a lot of people from teaching in the same building, but it really is about talking to others and getting to know them from a new perspective. It all comes down to camaraderie.”
 
“I’m looking forward to using my skillset to help Standing Bear continue to grow,” Staswick said. “I’m really eager to learn from others too. There are a lot of good people in our building who have a lot of experience.”
 
LPS leaders learn how to expand their mentorship talents during Leadership Day each summer. Supervisors from all LPS departments, schools and focus programs build professional friendships by meeting together under one roof. They also explore different leadership themes each year. They then bring that knowledge back to their home schools and offices to construct stronger communities there.
 
LPS Interim Superintendent John Skretta reinforced the theme of connection during his inaugural Leadership Day address. He touched on multiple reasons why creating sturdy leadership links benefited everyone. One of those was the positive energy that comes from forging contagious trust and respect in a school classroom, office or recess area.
 
“Understand that what we project is what we get,” Skretta said. “That’s the thing too. This is one of the things that I want to emphasize. Students see that. Understand how perceptive young people are, and they know if the energy is positive. They feel that. They internalize that. They see that connectedness as well.”

 
Skretta gave examples of how becoming and staying connected with people can promote gratitude, grace, fortitude, vulnerability and energy. He also encouraged LPS leaders to erase the idea of trying to be self-reliant. He said everyone – whether a first-year teacher or a many-decades veteran principal – can learn from their co-workers.
 
For example, a new instructional coordinator who has a question about a certain situation can seek helpful advice from someone who has been in that role before. The reverse is also true. A new assistant principal may have fresh ideas or perspectives that are helpful to people who have been in their position for a longer time.
 
Skretta said the only way to access those benefits is to talk to each other.
 
“Collective capacity beats isolated individualism and total self-reliance every single time,” Skretta said. “So, rely upon one another. Seek the support and the help that you need to make great decisions in the support of great student outcomes.”

 
Southwest Principal John Matzen told the audience that mindset has been invaluable for the entire school district. He has led many school tours for families who have moved to Lincoln. He said they notice right away what teamwork has produced at LPS.
 
“I wish you all could be with me on those tours, because people are truly in awe of our district,” Matzen said. “They are amazed by our facilities, they are amazed by our curricular offerings, they are amazed with our technology. They honestly think I’m playing a trick on them sometimes. Like, I’ll talk about something, and they’re like, ‘There’s no way that a school district can do that.’”

 
Those connective roots extended into each of the breakout sessions that LPS leaders took part in. They explored the power of optimism, the benefits of making bold choices and how people impact the journeys of others in many ways. They also listened to a keynote address from motivational speaker Ginger Johnson, who talked about why belonging is such an important feeling to foster in other people.
 
Skretta said creating positive connections was the primary goal of this year’s Leadership Day event. Sims said that was why having constructive conversations with leaders throughout LPS was on top of her priority list for 2025-26.
 
“It’s going to be a year filled with a lot of learning,” Sims said. “I just want to try to soak in all of the wisdom I can.”
 
Visit home.lps.org/prolearn to explore the many professional learning opportunities available at LPS. These classes, events and activities are allowing LPS employees to provide strong educational services for students.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 30, 2025

Northeast graduate secures national honor for power equipment knowledge

Could you diagnose and fix a broken weedeater in 30 minutes in front of national judges?
 
Northeast High School graduate Jaxson was able to accomplish that and other small-engine feats in award-winning style this summer.
 
Jaxson relied on a full toolbox of skilled and technical sciences knowledge to win a silver medal at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. He captured second place in the Power Equipment Technology contest by showcasing his expertise on both written and hands-on tests. Repairing a wrecked weedeater was one of nine challenges that he completed during the competition, which featured state champions from across the country.

 
Northeast SkillsUSA Advisor Sarahi Lopez said it was exciting to watch Jaxson become a national medalist. She said his curiosity and resourcefulness gave him an upper hand in the contest.
 
“He’s the type of person who’s willing to work hard and who has initiative and all of those life skills that people want in the workplace,” Lopez said. “Not a lot of people have problem-solving skills these days, and he has them. That just puts him ahead of so many of his peers.”
 
Jaxson said it was a surreal feeling being at the awards ceremony. Students and advisors kept their eyes glued to a large screen to learn who would be national finalists in each category. After they gathered on stage, they discovered their place in real time from SkillsUSA leaders.
 
“I remember standing up on stage, and I thought I had third place, because I didn’t think I had placed originally,” Jaxson said. “I remember seeing someone walk up to receive third place, and I thought, ‘Oh wow, I got something more than that.’ Then I heard my name called for second place and walked up to receive it. It was a really cool experience.”

 
Competitors in the Power Equipment Technology event had to first complete a written test about many types of small engines. They answered 60 questions about the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems associated with two-stroke and four-stroke diesel engines and battery-powered equipment.
 
Everyone then solved nine hands-on problems that they could encounter in a dealership’s service department. They diagnosed electronic fuel-injected engines, assembled the bottom end of a small engine and wired a circuit based on a wiring diagram. They also had to identify what was wrong with a broken weedeater, replace the faulty parts and make it run again in just a half-hour.
 
Jaxson said the stations were both fun and challenging. The enjoyable part was solving puzzles with tools like pliers, wire brushes and screwdrivers. The stressful part was looking up at the clock and realizing there were only five minutes left to finish the work.
 
“It really tested your brain on what you know about it,” Jaxson said. “You can give someone a new part and a wrench and say put this on, and a lot of people can do it, but the tricky part is finding what is wrong with it and figuring out what to do.”

 
Lopez said Jaxson’s willingness to ask questions paid off once he arrived in Georgia. He reached out before the contest to Waverly High School graduate Garret Hartweg, who earned the 2024 national Power Equipment Technology title. He also spoke with Lynn Kaufmann, who coordinated this year’s Nebraska-based contest, to gain additional insight about how to prepare for nationals.
 
“He’s the type of person that if he doesn’t know it, he’ll go and figure it out,” Lopez said. “He takes the initiative.”
 
Jaxson grew up spending time in the garage with his father, who taught him hundreds of lessons about the mechanics-based trade. Those moments not only gave him valuable hours with his dad, but they also laid the foundation for his future SkillsUSA success.
 
“When I was younger, I was the kid who was always into cars and everybody else was into sports, and I kind of thought at first, ‘Where is my place here?’” Jaxson said. “Once I got into high school and started competing, now I could show that this is the meaning behind it. I was able to find my place.”
 
Jaxson will begin a two-year apprenticeship at a local aviation company later this summer. He plans to become a licensed airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic and will work on turbine engines of aircraft.
 
Lopez said Jaxson’s engine-based talents are giving him more than a SkillsUSA medal. They are also helping him create a high-flying future in Nebraska.
 
“Not a lot of people place at nationals,” Lopez said. “Now he has that opportunity for him to put it on his resume and say I’m a national medalist.”
 
Numerous LPS students earned recognition at the Nebraska SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championships earlier this spring. View this story to learn more about their accomplishments.

Want to discover more about student organizations like SkillsUSA that are available at LPS? Visit https://home.lps.org/cte/student-organizations/ to learn about career and technical education groups such as FBLA, FCCLA, DECA, HOSA, Educators Rising and FFA.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 25, 2025

Rau receives national recognition for school nursing work at LPS

Wendy Rau’s passion for boosting the mental and physical health of students has helped her reach the pinnacle of the school nursing profession.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) added Rau to an elite list of National Academy of School Nursing Fellows this summer. Rau, the director of health services at Lincoln Public Schools, was one of eight people to participate in an induction ceremony at the NASN’s national conference in Austin, Texas. The honor of school nursing fellow is the most prestigious recognition that the NASN bestows on members. The group has inducted only 138 school nursing fellows since 1997.

Nebraska School Nurses Association (NSNA) leaders Jessica Truman and Megan Lytle said Rau has earned the respect of school nurses from across the country. Truman served as NSNA president this past school year and Lytle, a health services coordinator at LPS, has taken the presidential baton for 2025-26. Both have watched Rau promote the school nursing profession with an uplifting mix of determination, dedication and kindness.

“Not only is Wendy a fabulous school nurse, she is an even better leader,” Lytle said. “Wendy leads by example, is forward-thinking and is always trying to improve the practice of school nursing – not just in Lincoln Public Schools but around the country. Wendy is empowering, encouraging and so humble. She is a true role model.”

“She has a full understanding of what it means to be a school nurse, how legislation affects our work, and the leadership style necessary to support and grow a strong team of school nurses,” Truman said. “Wendy has helped guide our association through conflicts and changes with a calm, patient and confident demeanor. I admire that Wendy consistently works to improve practices – not just for the sake of efficiency, but to enhance student outcomes.”

Former NSNA president Lori Bouda has also worked with Rau on many state projects. She said Rau is “an amazing leader and person” who has elevated school nursing in Nebraska.

“Wendy is collaborative, reliable and brings a positive energy to the team,” Bouda said. “I’ve appreciated her thoughtful input and strong commitment to advancing school nursing.”

Rau said she was honored to be inducted as a national fellow. She said the support she has received from her LPS co-workers made the trip to Texas even more memorable.

“It is extremely rewarding to work with the best school nurse leaders in the country,” Rau said. “Our school nurses at LPS are extremely dedicated to their students and they are extremely growth-minded. They always have that thought that we want to be growing together, being innovative in our care and always doing what is best for students.”

Rau said she has enjoyed every step of her LPS journey. She began working as a school nurse at Lincoln High in 2005 and became director of health services in 2017.

“I absolutely fell in love with school nursing because I have a huge passion for providing care to our students,” Rau said. “Now with my new role, I have even more of a passion for growing school nurse leaders and providing school nurse mentorship.”

Rau has compiled a lengthy resume on local, state and national levels. She was NSNA president in 2014-15, served on the State Immunization Advisory Committee from 2014-20 and was on the NASN Board of Directors from 2017-21. She received the Nebraska School Nurse Administrator of the Year Award in 2020 and served on the NASN Executive Committee in 2020-21.

Rau is on the editorial panel of the “NASN School Nurse” publication, is a reviewer for “The Journal of School Nursing” and is the current NSNA treasurer. She conducts appraisals for 64 LPS school nurses, oversees a mentorship program for new school nurses and coordinates all health services programming and staff training.

Truman said Rau has produced a national blueprint for helping both the mental and physical health of students. She said her creativity has led to many life-changing solutions.

“The school nurse role is a unique one that often requires thinking outside the box,” Truman said. “Wendy always keeps the bigger picture in mind.”

One example came in 2017 when Rau implemented multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) strategies in LPS health offices. The prosocial learning has helped hundreds of students understand how stress-causing events and emotions can affect them physically.

“By intertwining the MTSS framework in their health office practice, they’ve created a model that can be emulated by other districts in addressing the rising mental health needs of students,” Truman said.

Lytle said there have been many other instances where Rau has advocated for students. She has advised the NSNA about topics such as asthma self-management, concussion protocols and cardiac emergency responses. She has also created health training videos, led CPR classes, coordinated immunization clinics and developed plans to add automated external defibrillator (AED) devices at every LPS school building.

“Wendy is a great school nurse because she uses a student-centered lens,” Lytle said. “She is always thinking about what is best for the student and family.”

Truman felt Rau will make a major difference to many more LPS students for the rest of her career.

“I am confident Wendy will continue to positively influence our state’s school health structure to ensure it remains in alignment with evidence-based practice and the National Association of School Nurses,” Truman said. “She truly sets the bar for excellence in school health across Nebraska.”

Learn more about the many ways that the LPS Health Services team helps students across the school district at home.lps.org/healthservices.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 23, 2025

Academic investments pay off for LPS students at FBLA nationals

Lincoln Public Schools students became shining stars this summer by producing many bright moments at a national business conference.
 
High school students from East, North Star, Southeast and Southwest collected meteoric memories at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference. They earned trips to Anaheim, Calif., for their work at the Nebraska FBLA State Leadership Conference this past spring. They took part in educational workshops, competitive events, an awards ceremony and tours of the Anaheim area.

East student Brad Bobaru was one of four Spartans who secured national recognition. He captured fifth place in the UX (User Experience) Design category for his knowledge of website design principles and guidelines. He joined teammates Annabelle Kumm, Emily Kumm and Konnor Garrett on the awards stage.
 
“I really enjoyed seeing all the studying I did pay off,” Bobaru said. “Having fun with the team the whole week of the conference was definitely special and helped me feel relaxed and comfortable.”

Southeast twin brothers Beau and Jack Cassell also returned from California with national hardware. They pocketed sixth place in Hospitality and Event Management for their awareness of hospitality concepts such as customer service, strategic planning and hotel organization.
 
Beau Cassell said the trip served as a capstone for a full year of important FBLA lessons.
 
“Through FBLA at Southeast, I’ve learned how to communicate clearly, lead with confidence and think critically under pressure,” Cassell said. “These are skills that don’t always come from a classroom, but from real experiences that career and technical student organizations like FBLA allow students to take part in. I’ve become more confident in myself and feel more prepared for college and my future career because of everything FBLA has pushed me to do.”
 
East
The Spartans collected a constellation-sized amount of success throughout the week. Garrett earned a second-place medal in the Economics category, and Emily Kumm vaulted into third place in the Introduction to FBLA contest. Annabelle Kumm pocketed one of the country’s top leadership honors when she became the 2025-26 national parliamentarian.

East FBLA Advisor Lori Anderson-Stowe said the Spartans spent hours preparing for their exams and presentations prior to nationals. They participated in study sessions and reviewed their work from previous state and national contests.

 
“Whenever you have someone place in the top ten it is extra special due to how competitive nationals is,” Anderson-Stowe said. “Economics is especially difficult since so many students take AP (Advanced Placement) Macro and/or Microeconomics classes. Konnor is the second member from East to place at nationals in that event. Brad competed in UX Design last year, so it was great seeing how well he did. Emily greatly improved her score in Introduction to FBLA from the state competition, demonstrating how hard work does pay off.”
 
Annabelle Kumm earned the national parliamentarian role by registering the top score on the FBLA parliamentarian procedures exam. She finished first in a field of nine candidates from Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri, Maryland, Iowa, Illinois, Texas and Florida.
 
Kumm will advise 2025-26 FBLA President Yasha Nagathan of North Carolina in matters of parliamentary procedure at national meetings. She will also assist with election and voting processes, provide insight about FBLA organizational bylaws and answer questions from board members about meeting protocols.
 
Anderson-Stowe said Kumm had the support of the entire state delegation when FBLA leaders publicly announced the test results.
 
“Everyone from Nebraska was screaming when her name was called and she ran up on stage,” Anderson-Stowe said. “I am so happy that she has this opportunity where she will grow and use her leadership skills.”

“When I found out I was the winner, I jumped up and immediately hugged my sister,” Kumm said. “I could hear the entire Nebraska section cheer me on as I ran down to the stage for the installation ceremony. It was an unreal feeling. I could barely believe I had won by the time I got to the stage and received my medal. It was so amazing to hug the rest of the new national officers on stage, and it was a moment I will likely remember for the rest of my life.”
 
Securing the national parliamentarian role was the latest brilliant FBLA achievement for Kumm. She earned fourth place in the 2023 Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure national contest and second place in the 2024 Visual Design competition. She served as Nebraska state parliamentarian in 2023-24 and directed the FBLA’s partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association through the National FBLA Parliamentarian’s Executive Council in 2024-25.

 
Garrett captured his second-place award for showcasing in-depth knowledge about economics. He and other students answered 100 multiple-choice questions during their 50-minute test. The exam covered international trade and global economics, macroeconomics, supply and demand, productivity, market structures, investments and interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, business cycles and the role of government in economics.
 
Garrett said it was thrilling to be one of ten finalists on the awards stage. Students learned their placements in real time from FBLA presenters, which gave him a chance to shine in the national spotlight.
 
“When my name was called, I felt proud of myself for achieving a national award, proving how the dedication of much time to the study of economics yielded worthwhile and meaningful results,” Garrett said.
 
Emily Kumm left the awards stage with a wide smile after receiving her third-place plaque. The Introduction to FBLA category gave students in ninth and tenth grades a chance to demonstrate their expertise about the organization. They answered 100 multiple-choice questions about the group’s history, programs, leadership structure, bylaws, publications and overall mission.

"I felt extremely proud and relieved that all of the work I had put in had paid off and I could call myself a national winner," Kumm said. "Walking off stage, I admired my shining trophy, smiled for the camera and returned to my seat to celebrate with my sister."

Kumm said it was fun to soak up a large amount of knowledge about FBLA throughout the school year.

"When I studied Introduction to FBLA, I gained so much appreciation and knowledge about the club and organization and all the amazing opportunities and benefits it provides students," Kumm said. "I enjoyed this event because now I can help other people with choosing events, going to national conferences and learning about scholarships and awards they can win."
 
Bobaru and other UX Design contestants took a 100-question exam. The test covered subjects such as mobile and desktop web design principles, copyright laws and details about programs such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS. They also answered questions about design and typography subjects like leading, kerning, tracking and serif and sans serif fonts.
 
Bobaru and Annabelle Kumm said competitive events like UX Design were one of many teaching tools that FBLA offers for students.
 
“FBLA has shined a light on so many new career paths and things to learn about, as well as providing volunteering opportunities and fun competitions for everyone to participate in,” Bobaru said.

“Each year, we have so many opportunities to network with like-minded peers from across the country, learn from experienced professionals and win awards for our business knowledge,” Kumm said.
 
North Star
Six Navigators qualified for nationals with their work at the state conference. Brooke Adam, Kristi Chumber, Max Roberts, Rachel Harre, Carol Lin and Avari Osentowski finished in the top three spots in their Nebraska events.
 
Southeast
Beau and Jack Cassell said they enjoyed their award-winning experiences in California. In addition to a 100-question exam, the Hospitality and Event Management category also required students to complete an interactive role play presentation. Judges gave teams 20 minutes to prepare a seven-minute presentation about a scenario in the hospitality management and event planning industry.

 
“I have always loved these types of events in FBLA, but hospitality is definitely one of them I have enjoyed the most,” Jack said. “You are able to learn so much about the hospitality industry, and I get to bring in aspects of it that I have learned from my job. With it being such an impromptu presentation, it makes you a better presenter. Judges can hop in at any time and ask you questions, and it has definitely made me more confident.”
 
“Walking into that prep room, not knowing what challenge we’d be handed, and having just 20 minutes to prepare a presentation was intense, but in a good way,” Beau said. “The case study felt like a real business scenario, and getting to problem solve with my teammate is really exciting. Having my twin brother as my teammate definitely makes the experience so much more exciting and rewarding.”
 
Both brothers said persistence, confidence, friendships and communication skills have been some of FBLA’s positive byproducts.
 
“FBLA has helped me become a better leader, but even more than that, it gave me a place where I felt challenged, included and supported,” Beau said.
 
“It definitely wasn’t easy, but the FBLA chapter gave me a new perspective on leadership and perseverance that I will use for a long time,” Jack said.
 
Southwest
Xavier Sorto, Alaina Miller, Payton Wilkason, Alexandria Lionberger and Cole Wilkason represented Southwest. They spent time networking with many industry professionals and learned about multiple business topics. They also celebrated their 2024-25 success by going to an amusement park and a mini golf course.

 
Josh Hinrichs said those experiences made the national conference a worthwhile destination. He advises Southwest’s FBLA chapter and said the Silver Hawks gained a great deal from the trip.
 
“I hope they all appreciated the opportunity to compete at the national level and took away something from one of the workshops they attended,” Hinrichs said. “For my non-seniors, I hope they learned the importance of buckling down to study even more after state and can help me impress that upon any members who may qualify next year.”

East National FBLA Qualifiers

Agribusiness: Owen Wiebe, George Campbell, Alexander Costea
Coding and Programming: Arnav Agarwal
Economics: Konnor Garrett (second place in nation), Owen Wiebe, Alexander Costea
Insurance and Risk Management: Konnor Garrett
Introduction to Business Concepts: Supun Fernando
Introduction to FBLA: Emily Kumm (third place in nation), Shriish Sathish
Introduction to Financial Math: Supun Fernando, James Yu
Introduction to Information Technology: Supun Fernando
Journalism: Shriish Sathish
Personal Finance: Konnor Garrett
Public Speaking: Annabelle Kumm
Securities and Investments: Konnor Garrett
Supply Chain Management: Brad Bobaru, Owen Wiebe
UX Design: Brad Bobaru (fifth place in nation)
National Parliamentarian Contest: Annabelle Kumm (finished first on exam)

North Star National FBLA Qualifiers

International Business: Brooke Adam, Kristi Chumber
Organizational Leadership: Max Roberts
Public Policy and Advocacy: Max Roberts
Sports and Entertainment Management: Rachel Harre, Carol Lin, Avari Osentowski
UX Design: Brooke Adam

Southeast National FBLA Qualifiers

Hospitality and Event Management: Beau Cassell, Jack Cassell (sixth place in nation)
Sports and Entertainment Management: Beau Cassell, Jack Cassell

Southwest National FBLA Qualifiers

Advertising: Cole Wilkason
Business Communication: Cole Wilkason
Business Plan: Alexandria Lionberger, Alaina Miller, Payton Wilkason
Coding and Programming: Isha Valloppilly
Entrepreneurship: Xavier Sorto
International Business: Stefani Johnson, Isha Valloppilly
Introduction to Business Concepts: Daniel Yoo
Introduction to Marketing Concepts: Daniel Yoo
 
Visit home.lps.org/cte/student-organizations to learn more about career and technical student organizations like FBLA that are available at LPS.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 21, 2025

Cultivating Future Educators: Jones receives state recognition for work at The Career Academy

The Career Academy Director Joshua Jones is providing a textbook example of how to help students become future classroom leaders.

Jones was honored for his A-plus leadership skills this spring with the Nebraska Educators Rising Administrator of the Year Award. The group recognizes one person each year who encourages students and teachers with “overwhelming support” for Educators Rising activities. The state organization helps high school students who are interested in pursuing future education careers.

Lincoln Public Schools Director of Secondary Education Jessie Fries said she was proud of Jones for his efforts at TCA. He oversees a joint venture between LPS and Southeast Community College (SCC) that serves hundreds of high school juniors and seniors. Early childhood education and K-12 education are among the 14 career pathways that TCA students can choose to enroll in each year.

“It’s inspiring to see someone like Josh get this kind of state recognition,” Fries said. “Being named the Nebraska Educators Rising Administrator of the Year really shines a light on the incredible talent and leadership we have right here in Lincoln Public Schools!”

Jones said he enjoys watching TCA education students become more confident in the classroom. Educators Rising is an additional way TCA students can learn about the teaching profession. There are also multiple academic courses, field trips and practicum opportunities that take place each year.

“I am obviously passionate about growing our profession, and the TCA education pathway along with Educators Rising does just that,” Jones said. “Specifically with Educators Rising, I love that this organization gives our students an opportunity to connect with each other and others across the state and nation who are passionate about a future career in education. It is so important to create a level of excitement in people about their future career, and Educators Rising does that.”

Jones began his time at LPS as a special education teacher at Southeast High School. He was assistant principal at Elliott Elementary School before becoming a coordinator at TCA in 2017. He moved into a role as TCA’s interim director in 2020, and LPS and SCC hired him as full-time director one year later.

Jame Cartwright teaches early childhood education classes at TCA and leads the school’s Educators Rising chapter. She said Jones has championed Educators Rising members in many ways throughout her time with the group.

“Josh has consistently supported students by providing them with the freedom to brainstorm ideas and helping bring them to fruition,” Cartwright said.

Cartwright said Jones has been instrumental in helping students attend education-based activities such as field trips and conferences at city, state and national venues. He has provided funds for Educators Rising memberships to ensure everyone can participate, and he has enthusiastically hosted education fairs on TCA’s campus. The fairs have given students the chance to meet and learn from award-winning teachers and speakers.

In addition, Jones has made it possible for teenagers of all economic backgrounds to enjoy Educators Rising experiences.

“He has also worked hard to secure scholarships for students facing financial challenges, believing strongly that every student should have the opportunity to engage and grow,” Cartwright said.

Fries said those efforts have made Jones a trusted mentor in TCA’s hallways. She felt he has made a difference for many people because of his respect for others and his willingness to try new ideas.

“What truly makes Josh such a great principal/director at TCA is his incredible blend of strategic thinking, innovation and collaboration with others,” Fries said. “He’s always thinking ahead and is intentional about bringing LPS staff, SCC staff and community partners together. These leadership strengths make him the perfect leader to guide the important work at TCA.”

TCA students have made the most of the support they have received from Jones, Cartwright and other LPS leaders. Sixteen Educators Rising members qualified for this year’s national conference in Orlando. They earned state awards in contests such as lesson planning and delivery, public speaking, researching learning challenges, creative lecture and children’s literature.

TCA also earned a Blue Chapter Award at this year’s state conference. More than 75 percent of the chapter is currently enrolled in an education and training course.

Jones said his favorite part of working at TCA is watching teenagers blossom as they become involved with their future passions and careers. He said activities like Educators Rising are textbook examples of how LPS is helping students learn what is possible as they pursue their dreams.

“I love talking to students and families who either are at TCA or who have graduated and are still connected to their pathway,” Jones said. “To know that we (LPS) are providing these opportunities to students while they are still in high school is unbelievable.”

Interested in learning how to do high school differently? Explore opportunities with The Career Academy at https://home.lps.org/tca/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 21, 2025

Vest honored for strong FCS leadership skills at LPS

Kristin Vest’s positive personality and passion for family and consumer sciences helped her earn one of the state’s premier FCS awards this spring.
 
The Nebraska Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NAFCS) paid tribute to Vest with the organization’s Leader Award. The annual honor is presented to FCS professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement with both the NAFCS and American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Recipients must have been NAFCS members for at least two consecutive years prior to their nomination and have compiled more than eight years of educational service.
 
Carol Erwin teaches FCS courses at Wayne State College and served as NAFCS treasurer this year. She said Vest has made a noticeable impact at Lincoln Public Schools since becoming FCS curriculum coordinator in August 2021.
 
“Many of the FCS teachers have told me that they really enjoy working with her and are glad she is their leader,” Erwin said. “She has worked tirelessly to bring them current and relevant professional development experiences that they can utilize in their classrooms. She is an amazing organizer for their meetings and curriculum development, and she does a great job with marketing and sharing the positive things that their programs are doing with their students.”

 
LPS Career and Technical Education Curriculum Specialist Jason Thomsen has witnessed that firsthand throughout the school district. He said Vest is a great director of FCS subjects because of her ability to connect with staff and promote collaboration and innovation across Lincoln.
 
“Kristin has a true passion for family and consumer sciences, which inspires a shared sense of purpose among staff,” Thomsen said. “She is dedicated to supporting FCS teachers and is always willing to go above and beyond to help in any way that she can. With a strong command of FCS content and curriculum she is able to create a clear vision for the FCS program and is a strong advocate for FCS education.”
 
Tracy Way and Sarah Hubel have also been impressed with Vest’s energy and expertise. Way is the current NAFCS president and Hubel is a former NAFCS president.
 
“What I enjoy most about working with Kristin on NAFCS projects is her positive attitude,” Way said. “She is always on top of things and follows through on whatever she has committed to complete.”
 
“I really enjoy working with Kristin on projects,” Hubel said. “She has incredible wisdom and does a great job fostering collaboration. I always want to hear her perspective because she is able to envision how things will play out at a larger level and how to make efforts sustainable for future leaders.”

 
Vest began teaching FCS classes in Shelton, Neb., in 2007 and moved to Kearney Public Schools in 2010. She became the human sciences and education career field specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education in 2017 and joined the LPS Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department in 2021.
 
Vest has held many leadership positions both at state and national levels. She has been involved in the NAFCS, AAFCS, Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers of Nebraska (FCSTN), Association for Career and Technical Education of Nebraska (ACTEN) and Leading, Engaging, Advocating, Developing Family and Consumer Sciences Education (LEAD FCS). She has been president of both the FCSTN and LEAD FCS and was the state advisor for the Nebraska Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization.
 
Erwin and Way both said Vest’s communication and organizational skills have been key assets in her district, state and national roles. She works well with both rookie teachers and longtime veterans because of her professional and considerate leadership style.
 
“For those that know less, she patiently explains and gets people on board with the mission of whatever the project is and helps them figure out how they contribute,” said Erwin, who will be FCSTN president in 2025-26. “For those that may know more than her, she asks questions and listens to the answers so she can figure out where she can contribute. And as soon as she can, she volunteers where her knowledge and skills are helpful.”
 
“Kristin is a good leader because she accepts everyone for who they are and works to help individuals grow as professionals,” Way said.

 
That accommodating attitude has resulted in many memorable moments for LPS students. Vest has traveled with FCS classes on field trips to farms and fashion shows, and she has watched high schoolers win major awards at state culinary contests. She has also pored over data to ensure children have strong curriculum materials in their courses.
 
“Kristin’s passion for FCS is evident and I truly appreciate how supportive and collaborative she is,” Thomsen said. “I also appreciate how supportive she is of the FCS teachers as a supervisor, colleague, advocate and friend. When working through various initiatives, she listens, provides valuable input and is always focused on what is best for students and the FCS program as a whole. It always feels like we’re working as a team with shared goals, and that kind of leadership makes a big difference.”
 
Erwin said Vest will continue to inspire current and future FCS educators for many years to come.
 
“She is just a joy to be around,” Erwin said. “Anytime I’m on a team, when I look at the list and see that she’s on the team too, I’m just delighted because I know that she’s a doer. Things are going to happen because Kristin is there. She has contributed greatly to family and consumer sciences education in Nebraska, and I look forward to seeing everything she continues to do in the future.”

Want to learn more about our family and consumer sciences curriculum? Visit our website at https://home.lps.org/cte/ to explore LPS Career and Technical Education. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 17, 2025

Intelligent Investors: East team masters stock market at national contest

Three East High School students enjoyed a bull-market experience this summer by placing in the top ten spots at a national stock market challenge.

Ronav, Anish and George showcased their savvy financial skills at the Junior Achievement (JA) Stock Market Challenge in Atlanta. The three Spartans earned eighth place in the 45-team contest by making a series of wise investment decisions. The group increased its original $1 million amount to $1,144,907 by the end of the 90-minute session.

Anish and Ronav said they enjoyed the fast-paced and realistic nature of the stock market simulation. Teams reacted to market trends and breaking news with critical thinking, flexibility, communication and financial literacy skills. They learned how rapidly stock prices can change and realized the importance of making quick but informed decisions.

“I liked working as part of a team, discussing strategies and trying to predict how the market would react,” Anish said. “It was exciting to see our choices immediately affect our portfolio value, and it taught me a lot about investing, risk management and staying calm under pressure.”

“It was exciting to apply financial concepts in real time, work with my team, and see our decisions impact our standing in the market,” Ronav said. “Being around so many driven students from across the country also made the experience inspiring and unforgettable.”

The East trio qualified for the national contest by winning the JA of Lincoln Stock Market Challenge earlier this spring. JA is a nonprofit organization that teaches students about economic literacy topics. There are more than 100 local JA chapters across the country.

JA of Lincoln Director of Programs and Experiences Kennedy Hecker said she was happy to hear about the Spartans’ productive trip to nationals. She felt the good results reflected well on both students and teachers.

“Seeing Nebraska students compete and succeed at a national level is so exciting, and a huge point of pride,” Hecker said. “Placing eighth out of 45 teams is no small feat. It speaks volumes about their preparation and collaboration. It’s also a testament to the educators who help bring these experiences to the classroom.”

Lori Anderson-Stowe teaches business and technology classes at East and accompanied the trio to nationals. East teams have won the Lincoln-based stock market competition before, but this was the first year that the school competed at an in-person national event. She said it was encouraging to see how their economic research gave them a winning edge.

“I am so very proud of how well this team did,” Anderson-Stowe said. “They were very detailed in going over the various companies and creating their investment plan. They worked extremely well together and were dedicated to doing well for each other.”

JA Stock Market Challenge students tried to maximize their portfolio’s value as much as possible after 90 trading days. Each trading day lasted 60 seconds and required teams to make high-speed choices.

Schools received a list of potential stocks to buy for their original portfolios in late May. They reviewed company descriptions and historical data before picking their $1 million starting lineups.

Each group could buy or sell different stock options during the simulation. They had to always hold at least 100 shares in a minimum of three different stocks throughout the 90 days, and they had to submit their stock trades through floor traders at the event.

Anish and Ronav said the contest’s unpredictable nature made it both exciting and stressful. Schools encountered sudden product recalls, resignations of top executives and rumors of company mergers that shook the market.

One of the most memorable scenarios came when the Spartans learned that one of the companies in their portfolio had experienced a major website crash, causing its stock to plummet. The team had to decide whether to sell or hold the stock with only limited information about the cause and severity of the website problem.

East had to change investment plans again when a tech company’s stock sank due to a scandal. A third tipping point came when an unexpected interest rate hike caused havoc with multiple businesses.

Anish and Ronav said it was reassuring to know the group was able to weather the market storms and come out with a sunny profit.

“Overcoming those challenges felt really rewarding because it showed that staying flexible and reacting calmly to bad news can protect your investments,” Anish said. “It boosted my confidence knowing we could adjust our strategy quickly and still come out ahead.”

“At first, it was stressful, but once we regrouped and adjusted our strategy, it actually felt amazing to see our quick thinking pay off,” Ronav said. “It reminded me how important it is to stay calm and flexible, even when everything’s changing around you.”

Hecker hoped the team’s success would inspire other students to become more knowledgeable about savings accounts, stock markets and strategic investments. She said the stock market activity was one way they could create enriching and long-lasting educational portfolios.

“The JA Stock Market Challenge is an incredible opportunity for students to build financial literacy and future-ready business skills,” Hecker said. “In a fast-paced, competitive environment, students apply concepts like investing, risk management and teamwork in real time. It’s hands-on learning that brings financial education to life.”

Curious about more LPS business learning opportunities? Visit our Career and Technical Education website at https://home.lps.org/cte/ to explore our CTE areas of study and student organizations.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 14, 2025

Lincoln CLC honored for launching Get in the Game at local schools

Lincoln Community Learning Centers (CLC) students are experiencing life-altering changes by adding nets and shoes to their list of learning tools.
 
The Community Health Endowment of Lincoln (CHE) honored Lincoln CLC this summer with the inaugural Place Matters Pioneer Award. CHE recognized Lincoln CLC for its work championing youth fitness activities over the past two years. The Get in the Game project has helped students reap physical fitness benefits, learn lifelong skills and form new friendships.
 
Kate Bolz, president and chief executive officer of CHE, said it was an easy decision to present Lincoln CLC with the award. The CHE Board of Trustees wanted to highlight organizations that have addressed health concerns in the city. Improvement in youth fitness is one of the top priorities for CHE, which would like Lincoln to become the healthiest community in the nation.
 
“Watching the neighborhood come together at the games organized by the Get in the Game project has been inspiring,” Bolz said. “It’s great to see excited kids, new referees, proud parents and excited administrators come together at games! We hope the model inspires others to be involved in youth fitness, and we know that the sense of fun and community will help more people join in.”

 
Lincoln CLC Director Nola Derby-Bennett said she and her co-workers were happy that their efforts were making a difference. They became concerned after reviewing 2023 data that showed a correlation between poverty rates and youth fitness levels in Lincoln. They wanted to make youth sports more accessible and spark a love of physical fitness, which prompted them to launch Get in the Game at 20 CLC sites.
 
“We are so thrilled to see the measurable impact of this initiative!” Derby-Bennett said. “In such a short time, we have seen students excel in sports in which they have never before participated. We have heard and seen school staff and parents come together to support their students. It has been a lot of fun to see how the school communities have embraced these opportunities.”

 
Get in the Game supports students in grades K-5 by providing athletic equipment and covering costs for transportation, coaches and referees. Basketball and soccer leagues began in the 2023-24 school year and volleyball took flight last year. Students can also compete in running activities with classmates and friends.
 
LPS Interim Superintendent John Skretta, Tracy Edgerton of Lincoln Community Foundation and Denise Pearce of Lincoln Parks and Recreation are tri-chairs of the Lincoln CLC Board of Directors. They have been pleased with how Get in the Game has played out.

 
“Our LPS students have benefited tremendously from the CLC initiative to establish youth sports leagues!” Skretta said. “These formative experiences give young people the opportunity to learn about teamwork, to experience competitive success, and to derive the wonderful sense of team unity that comes from being able to learn, grow and thrive together. We are so grateful for the leadership of our CLCs and lead agencies to provide our students with these powerful developmental experiences.”
 
“This initiative is another great example of what our CLCs have done for years – responding to the real needs of our children, families and neighborhoods with creativity and heart,” Pearce said. “By grounding the program in data from the Place Matters report, our CLC team identified cost as a significant barrier and launched this initiative to ensure youth sports are accessible to all children across Lincoln.”

 
The idea for Get in the Game came after CHE and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department released their Place Matters 5.0 report, which included information about access to healthy food, life expectancy rates, poverty levels and youth fitness scores. CLC sites were available in many areas that had lower youth fitness levels, which meant a breakthrough was possible.
 
“As we reviewed the Place Matters map for youth fitness and compared that map with the CLC elementary school locations, it was clear that we had a unique opportunity to very directly impact each of the areas that showed high need,” Derby-Bennett said. “That data was absolutely critical to the development and implementation of this project.”
 
Bolz, Edgerton and Skretta said it was heartwarming to watch what happened next. Pilot programs for basketball and soccer became instant hits at their schools, and the volleyball league experienced the same type of popularity. Many teachers, parents and classmates cheered for students at games, and players displayed social skills like perseverance, confidence and leadership.
 
“I am so proud of the staff at the Lincoln CLCs for their innovative response to the Place Matters data,” Edgerton said. “The Get in the Game project will continue to help local families thrive by making youth sports more accessible in our community. By encouraging participation in activities like basketball, soccer and running, the project empowers our kids to grow their confidence and stay active. The smiles on their faces and cheers for their fellow students are truly a winning combination.”
 
“It’s very encouraging that the Place Matters report can help inspire data-driven change in our community,” Bolz said. “What’s even more inspiring is how data analysis, philanthropic funding, strong leadership and enthusiastic kids, coaches and parents came together for a real win for our community.”
 
“We see direct correlations to our Strategic Plan goals for student well-being and outcomes, knowing that by engaging and involving our students in these activities, we foster an improved sense of belonging for participants and better academic outcomes through increased engagement,” Skretta said. “It’s win-win-win with the CLC sports league initiative!”

 
Bolz said nets and shoes are helping everyone reach their goal of improving youth fitness levels across Lincoln.
 
“The Get in the Game project is an inspiring example of how sports can bring together youth, parents and neighborhoods to promote physical fitness and community connection,” Bolz said. “And, it’s a lot of fun.”
 
Visit clc.lps.org to learn more about the lifelong skills that students gain from Lincoln CLC activities throughout the year.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on July 09, 2025