Lincoln Board of Education to vote on interim superintendent appointment Tuesday

January 10, 2025

The Lincoln Board of Education announced Friday they will consider the appointment of John Skretta as interim superintendent at the next regular meeting scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 14. Skretta currently serves as the Lincoln Public Schools associate superintendent for Civic Engagement, a position he began in July 2024.

As part of the consent agenda, the Board will vote on a contract amendment appointing Skretta as the LPS interim superintendent through June 2026. Board President Bob Rauner said this timeline will allow for the Board to complete a comprehensive superintendent search.

“The Lincoln Board of Education prioritizes community input in our decision making, and selecting the next superintendent is no different,” said Rauner. “Our Board will engage with staff, students, families and community members as we outline our search and hiring process and find the next leader for our school district. This timeline of 18 months will allow the Board to complete this process.”

Prior to returning to LPS in July, 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.

“We are fortunate at LPS to have a strong internal team of associate superintendents who are each qualified to step into this interim role,” added Rauner. “We thank Dr. Skretta for his willingness to serve in the interim role. He is a well known, award-winning Nebraska administrator with years of experience as a superintendent. He will be able to carry the work of our district and the five-year strategic plan forward with little to no disruption.” 

LPS will follow its established hiring process for administrators by posting the associate superintendent for Civic Engagement position after Skretta’s interim superintendent appointment is approved. The new associate superintendent for Civic Engagement will begin July 2025. The interim superintendent and other associate superintendents will temporarily cover the duties as needed until the position is filled. 

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