Excellent Eagles: Huntington earns 2026 Inspire School of the Year Award

February 24, 2026

Huntington Elementary School students learned why their motto of “The nest is best when you’re here” is so important during a special award ceremony Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools honored the Eagles with the 2026 Inspire School of the Year Award. It is the top honor that the organization presents to a Lincoln Public Schools building or program each year. Foundation leaders recognized Huntington for its outstanding academic achievement and progress toward its school improvement plan (SIP) goals.
 
Huntington Principal Kristi Schirmer said she was extremely proud of every Eagle who has spent time in the building. She felt the award was proof that their academic and attendance efforts had succeeded over the past several years.
 
“It shows our students and our staff that hard work is being recognized, not only just by me,” Schirmer said. “I can be their biggest cheerleader every day, but to hear this information and to get this award from somebody outside of our school and for them to be validated for the hard work that they’re doing means the world to them.”

 
Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools President Natalia Wiita said she was impressed with Huntington’s progress in both academic and prosocial learning categories. She said the school’s students, staff and community have benefited from those achievements.
 
“Huntington Elementary exemplifies what it means to inspire,” Wiita said. “Their journey shows what is possible when a school community rallies around both excellence and opportunity for every student. The academic gains are impressive, but just as powerful is the culture of belief they have built: a belief in their students, their educators and their shared future.”
 
The Nebraska Department of Education placed Huntington in a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) category in 2022. Since that time, Huntington has significantly increased academic proficiency rankings, improved prosocial learning measures, decreased chronic absenteeism rates and built a strong foundation for long-term success. Schoolwide implementation of elementary-level AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) strategies and additional professional learning opportunities have also strengthened the overall environment.
 
The state lifted the school out of the CSI designation last year because of those accomplishments. LPS Superintendent John Skretta said the pride and confidence that Huntington students and staff have gained is even greater than the CSI milestone.
 
“Huntington’s consistent focus on daily attendance, collaboration and continuous learning, and AVID skills at every grade level, have all helped to raise the bar for all of you, as students, to embrace the possible,” Skretta said. “Huntington has created a sense of belonging for students, and in the process, a shared belief you all have in the potential of every Huntington student to succeed.”

 
Many strategies implemented by Huntington staff focused on setting high expectations and ensuring that all students felt valued and appreciated. Those efforts made an immediate impact. The percentage of Eagles who reported experiencing a true sense of belonging soared from 58 percent to 85 percent in just one year. Academic proficiency rates in subjects like math, science and English language arts (ELA) also made noticeable jumps.
 
The school has been intentional about making every student feel welcomed. One example took place this past fall during Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness Month. Students in all classrooms spent several weeks learning American Sign Language words, decoding visual sentences from AAC devices and strengthening relationships with AAC classmates. Teachers and staff were thrilled with the Eagles' enthusiastic response to the inaugural program.
 
Schirmer said those steps have created a supportive atmosphere in Huntington classrooms, the cafeteria and the playground.
 
“We made a collective commitment to ensure every child feels seen, valued and capable of tackling hard things,” Schirmer said. “The growth we’ve experienced, academically and as a community, proves that when students know they belong, they rise to meet their full potential.”

 
As part of the award, Foundation leaders will provide $5,000 for Huntington’s Fund for Excellence program. Schirmer said the school will use part of the money to purchase materials for a new leadership club that will begin next year. Fifth graders will learn about the importance of cultivating and displaying positive leadership traits in the activity.
 
Huntington will also purchase and install a “Buddy Bench” along its outdoor walking track. If someone sees a fellow Eagle sitting on the bench, they know that student is looking for someone to play with. They can then meet a new friend and expand connections throughout the Huntington community.
 
Schirmer was one of only two staff members who knew about the award when she sent a schoolwide e-mail about the 2:15 p.m. assembly at noon. She said seeing students and staff react with pride after hearing about the honor was truly inspiring.
 
“To watch them be as surprised and excited as I was when I got that news just means everything,” Schirmer said. “Positive recognition for our kids means the world, and for our staff as well, for our district to say, ‘Hey, Huntington, you’re doing amazing things. Keep it up.’ That just means everything to our staff and students.”
 
Learn more about how the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools works to support students across Lincoln.

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