Nebraska Department of Education honors LPS for outstanding middle school CTE classes

July 2, 2025

State leaders gave Lincoln Public Schools a major thumbs-up this summer for providing a mountain-sized list of middle school career and technical education opportunities.
 
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) honored LPS with the Nebraska Career and Technical Education (CTE) Outstanding Middle School Programs of 2025 Award. Members of the NDE Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education presented LPS with a plaque at the Nebraska Career Education Conference in Kearney on June 10.
 
LPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Takako Olson said she was thrilled with the honor. LPS provides CTE courses to more than 9,000 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades at all 12 middle schools. The classes are designed to boost students into successful high school CTE orbits, whether they choose to explore culinary arts, computer science or certified nursing assistant programs.
 
“It’s incredibly exciting for LPS to receive this prestigious statewide award!” Olson said. “It reflects the hard work of our educators and students. It also validates our commitment to high-quality instruction and the innovative curriculum cultivated by the CTE team in the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Department. This recognition inspires us to keep striving for excellence.”
 
Jason Thomsen oversees CTE activities as the LPS career and technical education curriculum specialist. He said the award validates the hard work and dedication that CTE coordinators and teachers have put into developing engaging and enjoyable coursework.
 
“I think this award showcases LPS’ commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience that meets the needs of all students,” Thomsen said. “It highlights the importance of providing hands-on, career-focused learning opportunities for students, preparing them for future academic and career success.”

A three-person awards committee chose LPS because the school district met several criteria for the honor. These included strong community engagement, student achievement in both career and academic arenas, innovative instruction based on a state model program of study, leadership and personal development through career technical student organizations, effective implementation of career guidance and work-based learning, and alignment to Nebraska’s workforce needs and economic priorities.

Olson and Sydney Kobza, assistant administrator in the NDE Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education, both said it was essential to provide as many CTE opportunities as possible in middle school.
 
“High-quality CTE programs in middle school are important because they help students connect classroom learning to real life, explore career interests early and build practical skills for the future,” Olson said.
 
“Providing high-quality career and technical education programs at the middle school level is a strategic investment in student success and workforce development,” Kobza said. “Early exposure to careers helps students make informed decisions about their education and future, increases engagement in high school CTE programs and provides access to career exploration opportunities for all learners.
 
“By building awareness and foundational skills in middle school, we strengthen the pipeline of prepared, motivated students ready to pursue high-skill, high-demand and high-wage careers aligned to Nebraska’s economic priorities.”

CTE courses encompass a wide range of academic subjects. LPS programs focus on business, marketing and information technology (BMIT), computer science, family and consumer sciences (FCS), health sciences and skilled and technical sciences (STS).
 
LPS offers middle school computer science, technology and STS courses at all three grade levels. The class list also includes Business 8, Healthy Living 6, Family and Consumer Sciences 7 and Family and Consumer Sciences 8.
 
Thomsen said the award confirmed how many high-quality CTE teachers and staff are leading classes throughout LPS.
 
“Winning this award would not be possible if it weren’t for the hard work and dedication of the CTE coordinators and classroom teachers,” Thomsen said. “I am extremely proud of all of the CTE staff as it is a team effort, and this award validates the work each and every one of them do to provide students with a meaningful and impactful CTE experience.”
 
LPS has built a thriving launchpad for middle school CTE students across the city. For example, Dawes Middle School eighth graders learned about food sources and preparation during a two-hour FCS field trip to a local farm this past fall. This helped them feel more confident about adding fresh ingredients in dishes that they cook.
 
At Scott Middle School, eighth graders followed the model of the popular “Chopped” television show in their own “Scott Chopped” cooking contest last year. They had 20 minutes to prepare and serve meals for judges that featured chicken, ramen noodles, pineapple and carrots. The contest gave them practical FCS experience and taught them lifelong skills such as teamwork and organization.
 
LPS has also incorporated CTE lessons into subjects such as science and math. In December 2023, Lux Middle School students constructed solar- and battery-powered racecars through a partnership with Lincoln Electric System. They then pitted their cars against each other in the school gym.
 
In addition to learning about scientific principles such as electricity and energy trends, the experience also yielded CTE knowledge. Students became familiar with STS ideas such as engineering, transportation and project design.
 
Thomsen and Kristin Vest, LPS curriculum coordinator for FCS and health sciences programs, accepted the state plaque in front of representatives from many Nebraska schools and businesses. LPS teachers Wendy Tullis, Mindy Diller, Bethany Green and Kristin Page joined them with the award after the presentation. Tullis teaches at Goodrich Middle School, Diller leads classes at Lux, Green teaches at Park and Page teaches at Dawes.

Learn more about Career and Technical Education on our website at https://home.lps.org/cte.

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