Meet the LPS Student Advocates

Lincoln Public Schools employs student advocates to represent multiple student groups throughout the school district.  These advocates use a strength-based approach to provide academic support to students, families, and school staff while promoting an understanding of student perspectives and assisting with integrating school and family goals for the greatest academic success of the student.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we are highlighting our student advocates and the important work they do, as it has a direct impact on the mental health and wellbeing of our students. 

William Bryant, African American Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

13 years

Where did you attend college?

UNL

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – Lincoln High, Southeast, Southwest
Middle Schools – Irving, Lefler, Moore, Park, Pound, Scott
Elementary Schools – Respective feeder schools to middle schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

It was instilled in me at an early age that academic success would affect my quality of life for the rest of my life, and there were people along the way who nurtured that will to succeed in me. I am pay homage to those people by helping to insure that the children and families that I work with are seen, heard and given that same encouragement.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

We wish that there was no need for advocates.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

Having students beam with pride when they ask me if I have seen their grades.

Kris Ross, Native American Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

23 years

Where did you attend college?

Kearney State (UNK) in Airway Science Management and UNL for Master's degree work in Education.

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – Lincoln High, Southeast
Middle Schools – Irving, Park, Pound
Elementary Schools – Beattie, Calvert, Elliott, Everett, Hill, Holmes, McPhee, Prescott, Randolph, Rousseau, Saratoga, Sheridan, Zeman

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I started out with a degree in Air Traffic Control but decided I would rather manage and direct young scholars instead of airplanes and pilots, so I went back to school to get a teaching degree in elementary education and Master's degree work in ELL and Special Education. This position was such a unique one and once I built strong relationships with families, I knew I couldn't leave them because of the trust they put in me to be there for them. I want them to believe that they are cared for in the education system after being treated so horribly in boarding schools. It is my personal quest at reparations--righting the wrongdoing and mistreatment of Native Americans, once child at a time.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

We work very hard and care deeply about our students. It is all about relationships and we wear many hats, from social work, counselor, educator, coach, and cheerleader, to name a few.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

The best part of my job is the relationships we make with the scholars and their families. The Native American community is so beautiful and the values they hold like respect, caring, compassion, honesty, truth, generosity, humility, and wisdom are all the things we need more of in this world. Our country would be a better place if we seek to re-Indigenize the way we approach life.

Lisa George, Native American Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

3 years

Where did you attend college?

The University of Nebraska at Kearney

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – Northeast, Southwest
Middle Schools – Culler, Dawes, Mickle, Scott
Elementary Schools – Adams, Brownell, Cavett, Clinton, Hartley, Huntington, Kahoa, Meadow Lane, Norwood Park, Pershing, Riley, Robinson, Roper, Wysong

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I loved teaching, but being a student advocate gives me the opportunity to really get to know my students and their families on a much deeper level. I knew that being an advocate would be even more rewarding than teaching for me and it is.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

I don't believe that people are aware of just how much time we spend working and how invested we are in our students and in their well being and success. Advocacy is not an 8:00-5:00 job. We're helping our kids and families before school, after school, in the evenings, on the weekends. That's what it's all about, being available to our kids when they need us. I also don't think people realize that we, student advocates, are educated and many of us hold degrees in Education and are former teachers.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

Seeing the happiness and hope in my students' eyes when they realize that going to college is possible for them is a big highlight of this job. Earning kids' trust and having them know I'm here to help and support them is also without question the main reason I love this job. 

Charles Pratt, LGBTQ+ Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

1 year

Where did you attend college?

Florida Atlantic University

What schools do you serve within LPS?

All schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

My career has always centered on working with scholars and helping youth find their strengths, resilience, and reach their own goals! Being able to play a small part in having a positive impact on the development of students, schools, and communities has been incredibly rewarding for me.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

I get to engage in conversations about the things students enjoy, such as D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), while building positive relationships and helping them feel connected to their peers, school, family, and community. By being a supportive adult, through mentorship and advocacy, I contribute to fostering the ability of students to achieve academic and life success, meet their goals, and feel connected to their community.

Efrain Jimenez, Homeless Outreach Coordinator

How long have you been a student advocate?

I have been the Homeless Coordinator for about four months. Prior to that, I served Spanish-speaking families as a Bilingual Liaison for the district for about a year and a half. 

Where did you attend college?

I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.  

What schools do you serve within LPS?

All schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I have had many professional roles in which advocacy has been an essential part of my responsibilities. As a Bilingual Liaison, I helped support many students and families with their language needs, as well as ensuring understanding between parents and their children's education. Prior to this, I worked as a 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher, a case manager for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses, and a Foster Care Specialist for children in the foster care system. My experience providing advocacy for those marginalized populations contributed greatly in confirming that this role would be a great fit for me and the population I wanted to serve. 

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

Our team of Homeless Advocates travels anywhere and everywhere through out Lincoln, to ensure we are serving everyone we can who needs our help. From the People's City Mission, to various Food Bank locations through out town, we are everywhere trying to secure vital resources for our LPS families.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

I enjoy the impact we can make on a personal level with parents and students. We help problem solve through many difficult barriers, help streamline access to resources, and celebrate all the wins with our families! It's been extremely rewarding to walk with them through their lowest of points and see them reach their goals! Many of our families have shown such resilience in unimaginable circumstances, which continues to be a source of inspiration for me.   

Robert Perales, Native American Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

I have been an advocate for 3 years but as a Native person, I have been advocating for our students, families, and the Native community for many years.

Where did you attend college?

Colorado State University in Pueblo

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – East, North Star, Northwest
Middle Schools – Goodrich, Lefler, Lux, Moore, Schoo
Elementary Schools – Arnold, Belmont, Campbell, Eastridge, Fredstrom, Humann, Kloefkorn, Kooser, Lakeview, Maxey, Morley, Pyrtle, West Lincoln

What made you want to become a student advocate?

Growing up in similar situations as our students and not having those supports back then made me want to be an advocate. I wanted our students to know that they have someone to turn to, someone that will not judge, someone that will listen, and someone that understands why they feel the way they do. I want to be able to make a difference with students that may not think that they matter or have a future.  My passion has always been for our students.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

That we exist and all the hard work and time that we put in for our students, families, and the Native community.  We put in a lot of time and effort to make positive connections and support our students.   

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

My favorite part of my job is knowing that I am making a difference - making my students feel special, wanted, and not invisible.  I can see their eyes light up when they see me there at their schools to meet with them.  That makes my day! 

Melissa Moreno, Latinx Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

I have been a student advocate for about one and a half years. 

Where did you attend college?

I received my undergraduate degree from UNL and am currently working towards my master's degree at UNO.

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – East, North Star, Northeast, Northwest
Middle Schools – Culler, Dawes, Goodrich, Lux, Mickle, Schoo
Elementary Schools – Respective feeder schools to middle schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I've always been passionate about educational equity. Schools are a beacon of hope in our society through their ability to provide education, resources, support, safety, and enrichment for all students.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

I don't think people are too familiar with the role of a student advocate. The reality is that our role within schools is very versatile. I love when educators reach out to see how we can work together to support students.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

My favorite part of the job is celebrating and acknowledging students' successes, regardless of how big or small that achievement may be.

Shanna Letcher, African American Student Advocate

How long have you been a student advocate?

13 years

Where did you attend college?

Doane University

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – East, North Star, Northeast, Northwest
Middle Schools – Culler, Dawes, Goodrich, Lux, Mickle, Schoo
Elementary Schools – Respective feeder schools to middle schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I knew early in my career that working with students and families was something I wanted to explore. It's always interesting to visit with not only struggling students but sometimes the high achievers get overlooked and may also require a little TLC from time to time.

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

We all work summer school each year. If you have an urgent request, it's best to call or email us, we are seldom at our desks. 

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

Problem solving has always been a way for me to connect with the students I serve.  It's personally a gift to myself to assist in making a difference in their lives, and getting to work with and learn the varying differences between schools and meeting with students, parents and administrators.

Stephanie Cerrato-Rodriguez, Latinx Student Advocate 

How long have you been a student advocate?

2 years

Where did you attend college?

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 

What schools do you serve within LPS?

High Schools – Lincoln High, Southeast, Southwest
Middle Schools – Irving, Lefler, Moore, Park, Pound, Scott
Elementary Schools – Respective feeder schools to middle schools

What made you want to become a student advocate?

I have always had a passion for uplifting and supporting students and families as they work toward reaching their academic goals. I worked with a wide range of ages from early childhood to adulthood and I can see how education positively impacts all aspect of life. 

What is something people may not know about student advocates?

We partner with a lot of organizations and members in the Lincoln community to work on common goals. As the Latinx community in Lincoln grows, we all want to make sure our fellow neighbors have the same opportunities. 

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why"?

The students. They make me feel a wide range of emotions (mostly positive) and I enjoy being able to witness them succeed both academically or personally. They are my "why" for this job. 

 

To learn more about the LPS student advocates, please visit https://home.lps.org/federal/student-advocate/ 

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