Staff Spotlight: Sydney Weddleton - gifted facilitator in the curriculum department

November 26, 2025

Every week, we shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! This week, meet Sydney Weddleton, gifted facilitator in the curriculum department.

“Sydney consistently goes above and beyond to serve students, support teachers and communicate with families in the many capacities that she works in. She served as a classroom teacher at the beginning of her career and uses that knowledge and experience to offer creative programming, flexible instruction, and effective approaches when working with high-ability learners and gifted students. She consistently meets with teams across two elementary buildings to offer support to classroom teachers, and she does countless things for the district as a whole while working on elementary gifted curriculum and more. Lincoln Public Schools is lucky to have such a dedicated, passionate and collaborative educator.” - Kaylee Urbanovsky, first grade teacher, Prescott Elementary School 

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I serve as a gifted facilitator and itinerant teacher at Prescott and Everett Elementary schools, and also do some work at the district office. My role primarily involves working with students in these buildings to guide their individualized learning. I also partner with teachers to support their work with students.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my tenth year!

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
My dad was a teacher until his retirement this past year and I really found inspiration in seeing his work with students and families throughout the years. When I was young, I would tag along with him to events and meetings and really soaked up the impact that a positive teacher can have on students, families and the community. As a kid, everyone would always ask if I would become a teacher, too. Though my answer was a definite, “No way!” at the time, I always felt led to that path as I grew older. Teaching feels like home!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I feel grateful to work with such a supportive community of expert educators. The joy of my role is that I work with everyone on the gifted facilitator team, as well as the teachers at both Prescott and Everett. I am able to learn so much from these connections and cherish the opportunity to grow myself and support others through this work.

I also highly value the ability to work in a district that prioritizes supporting students beyond just the surface level and sees the diverse strengths and needs of individuals. In my role, I work with many students throughout their entire Elementary journey, and it’s such a privilege to see their growth as they discover who they are as learners and leaders.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended the Montessori program at Everett Elementary from first through fifth grade, then transitioned to Park Middle School. I then had the pleasure of going to Lincoln High with an amazing group of classmates and teachers in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. LHS, you know!

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After high school, I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, completing my degrees in education and psychology. I really enjoyed the collaboration at UNL and appreciated the opportunities to connect with students in our city throughout my educational program.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the atmosphere in Lincoln—we are all on a team to support one another. Though I am not a huge sports fan, I find that this feeling of all coming together to support our sports teams, regardless of our differences, often seeps into other areas of our city. I constantly see others stepping up to help their neighbors, contribute to families they have never even met, and offer kindness to people they pass on a walk to the park. These little things build a strong sense of who we are as a community and make me grateful to live here!

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
More than a single book, the impact of reading has been ever-present in my life. My parents read to me early and often, and reading really opened up my world. Not only did it allow me ownership and independence, but it also expanded my perspectives on other cultures and ideas from a young age. Growing up, I’d always be found with my nose in a book, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
This is a tricky one, as I’ve had the joy of working with so many fantastic teachers who have built me up and seen potential in my journey. I’ll highlight some standouts that come to mind.

My teachers at Everett, Ms. McKenzie, Ms. Nore, and Ms. Mayer really laid the foundation for an intrinsic love of learning that infuses through my life now. I am always curious and want to find the next thing to understand more deeply. This was enhanced by my gifted education teachers, Ms. Harvey, Ms. Harr, and my mentor Monica Lieske, who taught me that my thoughts truly mattered.

High School gave me the opportunity to expand my understanding of the world and our place within it. Ms. Meyer and Ms. Goodwin pushed me to consider new perspectives. Ms. Peterson supported me through hardships along the way. Mr. Heibel’s class was a core foundation of my community and made sure I felt capable. While Mr. Putnam showed me that even when things seemed impossible (IB Chemistry gave me quite the challenge), I could still persevere and find my own success. I am grateful for all of these teachers every day.

Do you know a LPS staff member we should feature for Staff Spotlight? Fill out this form to nominate them!

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