Connecting with the future: LPS leaders foster community and conversations with student teachers

September 10, 2025

For Sarah Baillie, the three Cs of connection, community and conversations led to an A-plus experience at Lincoln Public Schools this fall.
 
Baillie gained many valuable tips about the educational trade at an inaugural event hosted by LPS Human Resources. The department invited student teachers to come to the Steve Joel District Leadership Center to build strong relationships with others within the school district. LPS teachers, principals and administrators were on hand to offer positive advice for those who attended.
 
Baillie is helping first graders in Trisha White’s class at Hartley Elementary School this fall. An East High School graduate and University of Nebraska at Kearney student, she told LPS leaders that she was enjoying her student teaching experience.
 
Callan Neilan nodded in agreement as he listened to Baillie share her story. Neilan is in his second year as a full-time third grade teacher at Wysong Elementary School. He felt it was important to encourage young educators like Baillie because of how much student teaching benefited him.
 
“It greatly impacted me,” Neilan said. “I feel like I gained a lot of relationships. Going into student teaching, I didn’t feel ready to be a full-time teacher at all, but coming out of it I felt much more prepared. It’s hard to put it into words, honestly. There were just a lot of great experiences.”
 
Amanda Christiansen, a recruitment assistant with LPS Human Resources, said that type of positive reinforcement was why department staff wanted to hold the outreach program. Their goal was to create meaningful connections for student teachers in a comfortable setting. The department is planning to offer a similar event later this school year for student teachers who will be at LPS in the spring semester.
 
“Our goal is to actively engage with student teachers and showcase the amazing opportunities available within Lincoln Public Schools,” Christiansen said. “By fostering this connection early on, we hope to inspire and attract passionate educators who are excited to join our community and contribute to our students’ success.”

 
Nearly a dozen LPS representatives provided their supportive presence. The group included LPS Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Vann Price, Supervisor of Secondary Education and Director of Recruitment Ryan Escamilla, Supervisor of Elementary Personnel Services Kristen Finley, Supervisor for Special Programs Personnel Jenny Fundus and several other LPS administrators and educators. 

Wysong Elementary School Principal Stephanie Drake wanted student teachers like Baillie to know that LPS would offer a welcoming environment for them to thrive in. She said the school district’s “All Means All” mission statement applies to everyone who walks into LPS buildings.
 
“They can learn what LPS is all about,” Drake said. “We really mean ‘All Means All’ for our students and for all of our staff too.”
 
One of Neilan’s primary messages for student teachers was about the assistance he receives from both the building and district levels. In addition to having helpful co-workers at Wysong, he has also enjoyed receiving district guidance about classroom subjects.
 
“I feel the support from the reading department,” Neilan said. “I feel the support from the math department as far as curriculum things go. That’s what I want student teachers to understand, too.”
 
LPS leaders like Drake, Irving Middle School Principal Rachael Kluck-Spann and Randolph Elementary School Assistant Principal Viviana Morales also offered advice to student teachers who would like to apply for full-time education positions. Morales talked about the importance of researching schools prior to a job interview. She said panelists notice if candidates have taken the time to learn more about the school they would like to work at.
 
Kluck-Spann said displaying an ability to build genuine relationships with others was a critical part of an interview, and Drake said she likes to hear authentic responses from candidates about how they plan to help students. Topics like having a growth mindset, attention to detail and a student-first outlook were also mentioned during the discussion.
 
Christiansen said she and other LPS Human Resources staff would like to help student teachers form a deep-rooted community within the school district. She said this would give them extra confidence that they can pass along to their students, which strengthens the entire campus. This helps the district achieve goals outlined under the Staff Wellbeing and Outcomes priority in the 2024-2029 LPS Strategic Plan.
 
“Having a community of peers fosters collaboration and encourages professional growth,” Christiansen said. “These connections often extend beyond student teaching, forming the foundation of lasting professional relationships throughout their careers at LPS.”
 
Want to learn more about what the LPS student teaching experience is like? Visit home.lps.org/hr/student-teaching-at-lps to discover more about what LPS offers to student teachers. 
 
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