LPS announces administrator changes for the 2023-24 school year

Following the recent announcement of administrator retirements, Lincoln Public Schools announces the first in a series of administrator movements for the 2023-24 school year. 

“We are fortunate to have talented and experienced leaders in our district who are excited and willing to take on new opportunities and challenges,” said LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman. “Each of these leaders has proven through their dedication and passion that they are up to the task of moving LPS forward in serving each and every student.”

Congratulations to these LPS administrators on their new positions:

Marco Pedroza

Director of Federal Programs

Marco Pedroza will serve as the director of Federal Programs. Pedroza was named the interim supervisor of secondary personnel services in November and will continue hiring teachers for secondary schools through June 30. He had been the principal at Scott Middle School since 2018. Prior to taking on that position, he was the associate principal at Lincoln Southwest High School, and an instructional coach at Schoo Middle School. Pedroza has taught at Southwest High School and Dawes Middle School. Pedroza also served as a bilingual liaison in LPS Federal Programs. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; a teaching certification from Doane University; a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master of Education in Education Leadership from Doane University; an Educational Specialist certificate from Wayne State College; and a Doctorate of Education from Doane University.

Erik Witt

Supervisor of Secondary Personnel and Director of Recruiting

Erik Witt will be the supervisor of secondary personnel services and director of recruiting. Witt joined the LPS HR team in 2021 as the supervisor of special programs personnel and recruiting coordinator. Prior to his HR role, Witt was the principal at Yankee Hill Education Center for five years, and an associate principal at Southeast High School for ten years. Before moving to Southeast, he taught Special Education and served as both a general and Special Education coordinator at North Star HS. Witt began his teaching career at Elliott Elementary school in 2001 as a Special Education teacher. He earned his Education Specialist Degree from Doane University in 2018. Witt also has a Masters of Education in Education Leadership degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Special Education from Doane.

Jenny Fundus

Supervisor of Special Programs Personnel

Jenny Fundus will help lead the school district’s prioritized efforts in recruiting and hiring certificated staff as the supervisor of special programs personnel in the fall of 2023. Fundus came to LPS in 2012 as the director of Special Education. Prior to LPS, she was the coordinator and later director of early childhood education for Bellevue Public Schools. She began her teaching career in 1999, focusing on Special Education. She taught in Bellevue and Omaha before becoming principal at Central Elementary School in Bellevue in 2005. Fundus has an Educational Administration and Supervision Doctoral Degree from the University of Nebraska - Omaha. She also earned a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision from UNO and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Mindy Roberts

Interim Director of Special Education

Mindy Roberts has been named as the interim director of Special Education for the 2023-24 school year. Roberts has been serving as the assistant director of Special Education since 2021. Prior to that role, she was a Special Education supervisor for five years after serving as the principal at Bryan Community Focus Program from 2010-2016. Roberts was a Special Education coordinator at Schoo Middle School from 2009-2010, Scott Middle School from 2002-2009 and Pershing Elementary School for one year. Roberts started at LPS in 2000 at Goodrich Middle School. She also taught Special Education at Grand Island Public Schools and Epworth Village in York, Nebraska. Roberts earned her Doctorate of Education degree, certifications for secondary school principal and supervision of Special Education, and Master of Education in Special Education/Behavior Disorders degree  from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Roberts earned a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Kearney State College.

Pete Ferguson

Coordinator of Culture, Inclusion, and Scholar Development and Assistant Supervisor of Recruiting

Pete Ferguson has been selected as the assistant supervisor of recruiting in addition to his role of coordinator of culture, inclusion, and scholar development. Ferguson was the youth development coordinator from 2010-2022. Ferguson also worked as the Tri-Mentoring grant specialist in Federal Programs. Ferguson also served as vice president of Leadership Lincoln for five years and coordinator for Youth in Action Center from 1999-2004. Ferguson also worked as a case manager for Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Hastings College in communication arts and English.

These administrators will officially start their new roles on July 1, 2023.

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