Marvelous Mentor: Cassata recognized for positive work as Standing Bear principal

June 18, 2025

Sue Cassata’s rock-solid leadership at Standing Bear High School has led to many enriching moments for students, staff and residents across Nebraska.
 
The Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP) honored Cassata for her many achievements this spring with the NSASSP Region 1 High School Principal of the Year Award. Cassata has become a cornerstone of educational expertise at Lincoln Public Schools thanks to her intellect, integrity and innovative practices. She began teaching at LPS in 1991 and has served in multiple leadership capacities throughout the school district.
 
Bryan Community Principal Denise Craig and East High School Principal Casey Fries both said Cassata was highly deserving of the honor. NSASSP Region 1 officials selected her because of their respect for her inspirational and effective leadership style.
 
“I would say there are several things that make Sue a great principal,” Fries said. “She is a learner who is always driven by personal growth, she is well-read and she has a very strong understanding of high-quality instructional practices. However, I would say what sets her apart as a principal is her unwavering care and compassion for those that she serves. Her ability to lead with empathy, passion and integrity help to create a culture where everyone feels loved, valued and supported.”
 
“In the LPS administrator community, Sue is a leader who makes the rest of us better,” Craig said. “She thinks and talks through problems and solutions in ways that others may not see at first.”

Northeast High School Principal Liz Miller said Cassata is driven by a desire to provide everyone with a positive environment to learn and grow in.
 
“Her leadership style is characterized by patience and a willingness to engage in active listening, building strong connections and relationships within the school community to support individual and collective growth journeys,” Miller said. “Sue is a transformative leader who engages in effective questioning, artfully challenging the status quo to effectively connect diverse ideas for the greater good of the educational environment.”
 
Cassata accepted the award this spring at a Region I meeting in Seward. Craig and NSASSP Region 1 President Justin DeWitt of Cross County Community School District presented the honor to her at the banquet. Region 1 includes school districts of all sizes from 18 counties.
 
Cassata said she enjoys the daily responsibilities that come with her principal position. She began serving as East High School principal in 2008 and accepted the statewide NSASSP Principal of the Year Award in the 2020-21 school year. She became Standing Bear’s first leader in February 2022 and laid a firm foundation for the school’s philosophy and principles.
 
“I love seeing kids thrive, and I love seeing staff do what they do,” Cassata said. “Every day is different and every day is unique, and I just love the energy that a high school brings. There’s not a single thing about it that I don’t care for.”

 
Cassata started her LPS career as a social studies teacher at Southeast High School. She led hundreds of Knights in her Western Civilization and Citizenship Issues classrooms during her tenure. After working in the educational leadership program at Doane University for several years, Cassata returned to LPS as an assistant principal at North Star High School. She spent three years in that role before becoming East’s principal.
 
Fries said Cassata is respected throughout Lincoln because of her willingness to help others. Her open-phone policy has led to many helpful conversations with fellow principals and administrators. Her proactive approach to solving problems has allowed her to become a catalyst for positive change at LPS.
 
“Sue has served – officially or unofficially – as a mentor to nearly every high school principal in our district,” Fries said. “Whenever one of us secondary principals has a question or needs advice, Sue is often one of the first people we call. Her knowledge, built from years of experience and strong relationships across the district, makes her an invaluable resource to our principal group.”
 
Craig said she has also benefited from speaking with Cassata on a range of topics. She said Cassata has a gift for supporting others through both advocacy and encouragement at school. That has created a large amount of trust both inside and outside LPS buildings.
 
“Sue is very in-tune with the humanity of her communities and works to be a good, consistent and fair human to others,” Craig said. “Sue develops strong relationships with her teaching staff, and they enjoy working with her.”

 
Cassata said mentoring is one of her favorite parts of the job. She felt it was essential to help others learn how to become educational pilots in their classrooms, offices and schools.
 
“I think one of the responsibilities we have as principals is mentoring those that want to become principals or see themselves either as a formal school leader or an informal school leader,” Cassata said. “Providing them opportunities and providing them a chance to experience, to see, to grow and to develop their own leadership is so important.”
 
Fries said Cassata’s rock-solid leadership has left a lasting impression across the entire city.
 
“Sue’s influence can be seen in the growth and success of leaders throughout our district,” Fries said. “I believe the LPS community is stronger and better because of her mentorship.”

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