Civic Engagement: Lincoln residents learn about LPS through Citizens Academy series

December 27, 2024

Paul Van De Water will be able to contribute more topics of conversation to his coffee group after attending the Lincoln Public Schools Citizens Education Academy.
 
Van De Water was one of 17 people who took part in the LPS community outreach initiative this fall. Participants learned about subjects ranging from school libraries to student services at the free events, which took place at five LPS sites this year.
 
Van De Water was interested in learning more about LPS because of his longstanding ties to the education profession. He was a member of the Cheney Public Schools Board of Education for several years before the school district dissolved in June 2006. His daughter also has experience as both a teacher and administrator at LPS.
 
“I had heard the perspective from the teacher’s side, and I thought, ‘Well, I think there’s more to the story on the administrative side,” Van De Water said. “So, when the article came out in the paper that LPS had this Citizens Academy, I applied for it and I was happy that I got selected.”
 
Van De Water said he has already shared many of his school-based insights in his social circle. He regularly meets with friends for coffee, and the group has talked about many of the subjects that have been discussed at Citizens Academy.
 
“It’s been an awesome experience,” Van De Water said. “Just overwhelmed with information.”
 
Tammera Mittelstet said her time at Citizens Academy has also been beneficial. Mittelstet is the statewide education and career pathways coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). She also has a vested interest in the school system, as her two daughters are LPS students.
 
“I thought it was a great overview of all the different components of the school district,” Mittelstet said. “It helped me think, as a mom, where can I put my strengths and my skills to support the school district in the future? And, then also as a partner where there might be needs that we hadn’t considered that we can think through in partnerships in the future.”

LPS Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement John Skretta said Citizens Academy workshops were an important way for LPS to connect with area residents like Van De Water and Mittelstet.

“The Citizens Academy really is the proverbial ‘deep dive’ into the myriad programs and key topics of Lincoln Public Schools,” Skretta said. “Citizen participants emerge from this well equipped to be LPS ambassadors. They develop baseline knowledge and become conversant in a wide array of fundamentally important district areas from curriculum, instruction and assessment to budgeting, facilities and operations, and everything in between.

“From Adams to Zeman, they get a real sense of the awesome diversity and incredible personnel and programs serving our LPS students!”
 
LPS resumed the Citizens Academy program last year after the coronavirus pandemic temporarily put it on hold. One of its top goals is to help Lincoln residents become familiar with the inner workings of LPS. The annual workshops also promote open lines of community engagement and provide opportunities for citizen feedback. The initiative aligns with the school district’s 2024-29 Strategic Plan goal of doing outreach that welcomes families and community members as partners in supporting the success of all students.
 
This year’s Citizens Academy participants were Van De Water, Mittelstet, Jason Berlowitz, Heather Bock, Sarah Button, Michele Casanova, Jeanette Fangmeyer, Karen Fangmeyer, Renee Ford, Suzanne Galloway, Betulia Jimenez, Tina Meyer, Adam Rupe, Ana Simic, Zulema Tanquero Herrera, Rebecca Wilson and Sarah Wischhof.
 
The group toured Robinson Elementary School, Northeast High School, Yankee Hill Education Center, Park Middle School and Lefler Middle School at the start of each session. Leaders of various LPS departments then delivered in-depth presentations to the audience.
 
Mittelstet taught pre-kindergarten classes in another state before arriving in Lincoln. She enjoyed learning about the LPS curriculum and how it is designed to ensure equity across the entire school district. She said it was also fascinating to examine the early childhood program that LPS offers.
 
“It’s really interesting for me to come and see how different systems function,” Mittelstet said. “I have a lot of respect for school teachers and school districts and what big tasks they’re given in educating our future.”
 
Van De Water, who has a background in finance, said one of his favorite presentations came from LPS Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish. She spoke about the budget process at LPS and how the school district uses taxpayer funds. Van De Water also enjoyed listening to LPS Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement John Skretta, who talked about state legislation and how it impacts school systems.
 
“Part of the education process is I always continue learning,” Van De Water said. “Even as an adult, I think it’s important that we continue learning.”

Skretta said he was impressed with the curiosity and passion that everyone showed at this year’s workshops.

“It was deeply fulfilling to see the engagement and interest from the participants in the Citizens Academy,” Skretta said. “It’s a tribute to the constituents of our great city and school district to realize the level of commitment and the sense of pride in all things LPS that these citizen leaders possess.”
 
LPS will begin accepting applications next July for the 2025 Citizens Academy sessions, which will take place throughout the first semester. Mittelstet said if someone asked her if they should attend, she would answer with a resounding yes.
 
“I would say to them that every school needs support, and every teacher needs support,” Mittelstet said. “So if you’re interested in supporting the schools, this is a good starting place to figure out where you would fit in to create support that is sustainable and long-lasting for the school district.”

To learn more about Citizen’s Academy, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/citizensacademy/. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

---