Greater Than One District Inclusion Summit builds bridges among metro school districts < Updated

Students from six Nebraska metro school districts built bridges of compassion, understanding and friendship with each other at a major educational event in Lincoln.
 
Lincoln Public Schools hosted its second-annual “Greater Than One District” Inclusion Summit at the Don Clifton Professional Learning Center this spring. Elementary, middle and high school students from LPS, Omaha Public Schools, Westside Community Schools, Bellevue Public Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools and Papillion-La Vista Community Schools came together for the event. They participated in activities that helped them learn about subjects such as belonging, inclusion and engagement.
 
Southeast High School senior Catrice and Omaha North junior Michael said they were grateful to join the 114-person group. They said the summit’s welcoming setup was helping them construct lifelong leadership skills.
 
“I’ve really enjoyed meeting all sorts of new people,” Michael said. “It’s really nice that rather than us going and sitting at a table with all of the same people that we normally do, we’re able to sit with a big variety of people throughout the metro area.”
 
“Walking into a room and being able to trust someone before you know what’s happening is a big skill to have,” Catrice said. “Even though it might be hard to trust someone you’ve only known for five minutes, it kind of already makes the relationship. Putting yourself out there and making yourself vulnerable will only make you a stronger person.”
 
Peter Ferguson and Andrea Haynes beamed with pride as they watched a large conference room become a beehive of activity. Ferguson is coordinator of culture, inclusion and scholar development at LPS and Haynes is assistant superintendent of Westside's human resources and district operations. Both said it was important for students to have conversations that would provide permanent feelings of empowerment and affirmation.
 
“For me, it’s so special because we’re not just building a better school district for particular students or a particular district, we’re building a better educational experience for all students in the state of Nebraska,” Haynes said. “Where all students feel a sense of belonging, a sense of feeling connected to their school, a sense of getting to know students from other districts. It’s about motivating and inspiring one another to do great things in life and achieve at high levels.”
 
“When I’m looking at empowerment, I want it to be something that lasts long after this,” Ferguson said. “I want this to serve as a catalyst for them to continue or start the work that they’ve always wanted to.”
 
LPS and Westside teamed up last year for the inaugural equity summit. Students enjoyed the event so much that they decided to deliver a presentation about their experiences at a Missouri Valley human resources convention. Leaders from other districts were impressed by what they heard from the group, and that sparked the idea of having a larger event with more schools.
 
Ferguson, Haynes and LPS Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Vann Price spearheaded months-long planning for the summit. They invited leaders from LPS, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and community organizations to guide conversations and breakout sessions throughout the day.
 
Amanda Morales, an associate professor of critical multicultural and multilingual education at UNL, and Ndrao Faye, a second-year doctoral student from Senegal, led one of the morning’s activities. Students first met someone they didn’t know and had icebreaker conversations with them. They then formed larger groups to create and perform skits about important ideas such as diversity and acceptance. Everyone shared their reflections with each other after the performances.
 
“It’s about creating a brave space for us to work together,” Morales said.
 
Ferguson said organizers wanted to ensure students could speak freely about all types of subjects at the summit. They knew this would help them build self-confidence and develop both trust and respect for people of various backgrounds and opinions.
 
“All of this is for naught if they’re not having the ability to engage,” Ferguson said. “To be not just in a safe space but in a give-grace space where they truly can be their authentic self and engage in that capacity.”
 
Michael and Catrice both felt that goal had been achieved.
 
“The fact that we’re able to discuss with our peers about this topic, and not necessarily feel judged, to be able to have that conversation where we can say, ‘Here’s where I disagree, here’s where I agree,’” Michael said. “It’s really important that we are building that kind of community.”
 
“Last year when we had Westside join us, it was like, ‘Wow, this is awesome. I’m so glad we can share with another school,’” Catrice said. “But now that there’s five other school districts here, it’s really cool to see not only what they have to bring, but also the experiences that they’ve had. I’ve been able to relate to a lot of them.”
 
Ferguson said LPS Equity Cadre alum Kaylee Denker provided motivation for the gathering last year. Denker said if positive change was going to happen, it had to come from many school districts banding together. Haynes said Denker’s vision had come true with what she had witnessed at the summit.
 
“Not only are we sharing unique perspectives and things that make us different, we’re also getting down to what it is about us that’s alike, that we’re all connected in a way,” Haynes said. “Learn about others, learn about ourselves and learn how to create better belonging for everyone.”

To learn more about the school district’s equity goals, check out the LPS All Means All action plan at https://home.lps.org/board/all/.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 25, 2024

Elementary students showcase talent during district art show < Updated

Kooser Elementary School student Santana is a shining example of the positive power art can have on lives of all ages.
 
Santana, a fourth grader at Kooser, shared his talent alongside dozens of other young artists at the 2024 elementary district art show. Lincoln Public Schools students, parents and community members gathered at the Steve Joel District Leadership Center and the Hawthorne Building this spring to look at more than 220 vibrant drawings, paintings and prints.
 
Santana presented a watercolor painting that showed a nature scene full of hope. He said art is comforting for him and has helped him feel better.
 
“Many bad things have happened to me, but I figured out how to move away from them and start having a more happy life,” Santana said.
 
Joann said she has noticed the uplifting influence of art in her son’s life. She watched with pride as Santana explained how he created his watercolor scene.
 
“I think it’s good for him,” Joann said. “It’s good to freely express his emotions and puts him in a better mood overall. He draws at home too.”
 
Santana’s artistic skills have also made a major impact on other people. Morgan Beach leads art classes at Kooser and watched Santana paint a bright rainbow above green grass and flowers. He drew clouds above the rainbow and flipped back his paintbrush to create rain droplets on the canvas. He added a teal-and-blue sky with the words “Days can be sad but always stay happy” at the top.
 
“It’s going to be hard for me to part with this,” Beach said. “I’ve already talked with the computer teacher, and I’m going to make a whole bunch of color copies. I’m going to have a hard time parting with this particular piece.”
 
LPS students Vanellope, Granger and Ke’dric also spoke about their artistic creations. Vanellope, a second grader at Roper Elementary School, created a print of floating hearts for the district show. She made hearts of various sizes in two rectangular prints. One side featured a solid blue-and-white design of the hearts, and she made the second side in an identical shape through a “ghost print” process.
 
“It’s kind of like jelly,” Vanellope said. “Every color you have to paint on paper and then you put on a kind of jelly, and then you stamp it on the paper. If you still have a little more paper left, then you can make a ghost print.”
 
Granger is also in second grade at Roper. She produced a print called “I Love U” using the same type of method.
 
“I did it because I love a lot of people,” Granger said.
 
Granger said it was fun to cut out her design on paper and roll paint on it. She said it was “very special” to know her artwork was giving other people joy at the district show.
 
Ke’dric talked with excitement about his drawing of a giraffe that was on display. He picked a full spectrum of hues and shades for the giraffe when he began working on it.
 
“I chose the gold because gold is my second-favorite color, I chose the pink down here because that’s my first-favorite color, the blue is my third-favorite color, and then I did these for the different spots,” Ke’dric said. “I did the ears because it looked cool.”
 
Kafi said he was happy to see his son gain confidence from the art projects he has completed at LPS. Ke’dric is in fourth grade at Adams Elementary School and has brought home many drawings from his art classes.
 
“I think it’s amazing,” Kafi said. “I’m very proud of him. He has a lot of skills, and one of his skills that he’s really good at is art, so I’m glad that he was able to express himself in this painting.”
 
The district exhibit is one of many opportunities LPS artists have to showcase their successful work. Individual buildings host dozens of art shows throughout the school year. Art teachers also guide students in projects such as the “Only One You” rock painting venture at Kahoa Elementary School and the Glow Art Show event at Humann Elementary School.
  
In addition to providing examples of artmaking abilities, the district show also gave glimpses of the personal power art can have on society. When Santana was asked why he liked painting, his response was immediate and heartfelt.
 
“You’re the reason I love art,” Santana said as he pointed at Beach.
 
Beach smiled back, knowing that art would give Santana a chance to create many more winning rainbows in his life.

Click here to learn more about the wide array of art classes available at LPS. The site includes a list of school and district art teachers, programs of study and links to area museums and galleries.

The school district’s secondary art show will be on Thursday, May 9, from 5-7 p.m. at the Steve Joel District Leadership Center. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 24, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Jose Hidalgo Ramirez - Behavior Interventionist at Culler Middle School < Updated

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Jose Hidalgo Ramirez, behavior interventionist at Culler Middle School.

“Jose brings many talents to a busy and sometimes difficult job, but his ability to develop authentic relationships with the scholars he works with is led and driven by his heart, and it's shown by the love in which he gives. Jose is many things to many scholars. Maybe the most important of these things is a safe place where they can reflect on their actions while he provides guidance, developing plans with them to repair harm and relationships with others. Jose positively affects the entire Culler community in ways that can't be measured.” David Dyson, Culler Middle School teacher.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a behavior technician. We have a room here for kids that are escalated or unable to be in class, and I work with a teacher to come up with plans for them to be successful back in their classes. I am also the head girls soccer coach at Northeast High School, a position I have held for six years.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I have worked in LPS for six years at Lincoln Northeast as the head girls soccer coach, and I have been at Culler for two years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I am a huge advocate of diversity, and when I was growing up, I didn't see many teachers or school staff that looked like me or had a similar story. LPS has such a diverse population, and I wanted to be a representation of that diversity.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I love watching the progress and development of my students and athletes. When they are able to make goals, meet those goals and develop great habits, that is what is most rewarding to me. Students and athletes all have different stories, unique stories, and when they share those stories and grow as people, that is definitely my favorite part.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I did! I attended Meadow Lane Elementary School, Dawes Middle School and Lincoln Northeast High School! Go Rockets!

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the close-knit feeling that Lincoln has. I can feel the love and support every day from the people in Lincoln, and to me that means everything.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
In fifth grade, we read a book called “Crash.” In the book, the main character starts off being a bully and picking on a kid that just moved into the neighborhood. By the end of the book, the amount of growth and development that he goes through to change his outlook in life is inspiring.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I have tons of people that helped me and influenced me to be the person I am now. Pete Ferguson was a huge influence for me. Dave Dyson continues to inspire me every day at Culler. The biggest influence has been Chris Simley. He believed in me, at times when I didn't believe in myself, and showed me the blueprints to be successful.

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

Posted on April 23, 2024

Uniting through harmony: Martinez celebrates culture and diversity through LPS music workshops

Lincoln Public Schools students are learning that the language of kindness and respect is as easy to understand as do-re-mi.
 
Daniel Martinez, a Lincoln-based recording artist and Nebraska Arts Council music ambassador, taught students valuable life lessons with his “World Music Tour in Lincoln Public Schools.” Martinez is the school district’s artist-in-residence. This spring, he’s brought his music translation skills to Everett, Sheridan and Beattie elementary schools during his multi-year campaign. 
 
“The goal is to share inclusion through music, where students will understand the differences of each instrument with the main purpose of making music,” Martinez said. “As humans, we are different in backgrounds, colors, countries, traditions, accents and languages, but we have one same color (blood/red) and that’s the color that matters.”
 
Beattie fourth grader Micah smiled as he and his classmates worked on a project during Martinez’s second day at school. Martinez and Beattie teachers handed out the rim of a drum and tape to students in the cafeteria. They then created an airtight drum by wrapping long strands of tape all around it.
 
“It’s a really fun process,” Micah said. “It’s long, but it’s fun.”
 
Beattie music teacher Bethany Thompson nodded her head in agreement as she watched Martinez lead three sections of fourth grade in the drum-making exercise. She felt Martinez gave students an advanced course in cooperation, teamwork, acceptance and musical literacy.
 
“Having the hands-on activities for the kids is great,” Thompson said. “He’s a fun guy and he makes it fun for everyone. This is an awesome program. I’m so glad we’re doing this.”
 
Martinez said music is one of the best unifying forces in the world. The guitarist, originally from Peru, specializes in Latin music, but he and his band “Jarana” cover other song styles such as Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, Greek, Flamenco, Rumba and Portuguese.
 
Martinez designed the “World Music Tour in Lincoln Public Schools” in 2018 after realizing music's wide-reaching impact on children.

“Instruments speak the universal language of music with different shapes, sounds, accents and textures,” Martinez said. “We as humans need to speak the same language of love and respect. My goal is to unify our students independently of where we are coming from and be inclusive and respectful using instruments and music as examples of unity.”
 
Martinez and the LPS Music Department had hoped to launch the tour during the spring semester of the 2019-20 school year, but the coronavirus pandemic halted those plans. The project began in earnest in 2022 with financial help from many civic organizations. 
 
Thompson said Martinez made a major impression on Beattie students on the first day. He brought a full slate of instruments to school and gave details about each one to the eager audience. He then showed them that instruments make the same types of soulful sounds no matter where they come from.
 
“I think it helped the kids think a different way about some different things,” Thompson said. “He talked to them about where their heritage is, where their family comes from, and then they got to see an instrument that represents that part of the world. That was awesome.”
 
Students spent the second day making their drums with partners. They covered the rims with pieces of green, yellow, purple, pink and blue tape before using clear tape to create each side of the instrument. One student would hold the drum while the other taped it, and they would then reverse the process.
 
Micah said he was looking forward to making rhythms with his drum. He wants to begin learning percussion next year when he joins the fifth-grade band program.
 
“I just like the beat of it,” Micah said. “It seems like it would be fun to play.”
 
Martinez walked around the cafeteria and watched students working on their projects. He told them he could sense the positive cooperation that was happening during that morning.
 
“Excellent job guys,” Martinez said. “Everyone is doing an amazing, amazing job.”
 
The young musicians finished their drums on the third day and joined the band for a concert on the final day. Hundreds of Beattie students watched them play their drums as Martinez shared his lessons with the whole group.
 
“That has been the moment when the entire school participates listening to a concert with many unique instruments from around the world, participating at the front playing with me and my band and hearing the main goal of the project, which is the universal language of music and love,” Martinez said.
 
Martinez said he has heard many compliments from people who have witnessed the power of music take place at LPS.
 
“Students and teachers have been enjoying the concerts and expressing their sentiments of joy,” Martinez said.

Martinez plans to visit approximately ten LPS schools each year for the next seven years.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 22, 2024

East senior encourages student leadership through kindness and positivity

East High School senior Musab is spreading kindness and joy across campus with a heart as big as the Grand Canyon.
 
East students and staff have enjoyed hearing Musab’s friendly voice in hallways, classrooms and gyms for the past four years. He has encouraged many people with his work ethic and determination to overcome all obstacles.

Musab said one of his top goals is to be a leader for others. He also wants to give fellow East students confidence in their own mentorship and trailblazing abilities.
 
“I try to give the best advice I can to other people, so they can be a leader in the future,” Musab said.

 
Katie Wenz is a school counselor at East and first met Musab when he was a freshman. She said his positive reputation has spread far beyond just the senior class. Hundreds of Spartans in grades 9-12 share smiles with him throughout the school day.
 
“It’s pretty impressive,” Wenz said. “A lot of freshmen and sophomores know who he is. And it’s mostly because he goes to every school event, he says hi to every person. If someone is down or sad and he has no idea who they are, he’ll say hi to them or he’ll walk them to class. He just has a genuine heart. He cares sometimes more for others than he cares for himself, and that’s a rarity.”
 
East Principal Casey Fries said he has watched Musab enrich others with an energetic attitude. Fries felt he has grown in his ability to have open and honest conversations with adults, and he has motivated his classmates with kind actions and words at school.
 
“Musab was always a positive person, but he has learned that his personality is contagious, and uses his personality to make others feel welcomed and accepted,” Fries said. “Musab has grown in his confidence, and this confidence has allowed him to be successful in school.”
  
Wenz’s first conversation with Musab in his freshman year was about academics. She and other teachers wanted to help him boost his grades in several courses. Musab said he was proud of the fact that he has been able to persevere in the classroom.

“I think what makes him a good student is that he doesn’t give up, he tries hard and he asks for help,” Wenz said. “School’s not always easy for him, but he doesn’t quit. He asks for help, if he’s wrong or unsuccessful he tries again and he just doesn’t quit.”
 
“I just come to school and try my best to get good grades,” Musab said. “In my freshman year, at the start, I used to dig myself a big hole, and at one point in time I didn’t know if I was going to graduate or not. Ever since then my consistency and my dedication has excelled, and now I am going to graduate without any objects in my way.”
 
Musab has brought his bright spirit into many school activities. He played football, was student manager of the boys basketball team and is a member of East’s Hope Squad. He was also voted Homecoming King by his fellow Spartans.
 
“It keeps me busy,” Musab said. “I take the bus and travel to games and hang out with my friends.”

 
“For everybody else he keeps the motivation high,” Wenz said. “When he’s student managing in basketball, he’s cheering on every play. When he’s on the football team, on the field or not, he’s cheering on every play. So for him, he’s really a leader and a role model. That’s really the most important thing for him. It’s learning those role model and leadership skills.”
 
Students expressed their appreciation to Musab at the season’s last home varsity boys basketball game. He wore a uniform on Senior Night and beamed with joy when he went into the game. The crowd erupted in applause and chanted his name when he scored four points.
 
“When he got to play, it was the coolest thing ever,” Wenz said. “It was one of those things that you only see on social media and never think you’re going to witness in your life.”
 
Musab will be attending Peru State College next year to major in business. He also plans to play football for the Bobcats.
 
“I want to continue finding new people and meeting new people, just succeeding,” Musab said.

 
Fries and Wenz said they believe Musab will continue to spread kindness and joy everywhere he goes.
 
“Musab is accepting of everyone in our building,” Fries said. “Even though school has not always come easy for Musab, he shows up and works hard every day. Musab always has a smile on his face and he sees the good in all people.”
 
“He didn’t quit and he paid attention to what needed to be changed, and I don’t think that would have happened if he wasn’t afraid to ask for help,” Wenz said. “Now he’s doing great. I’m super proud of him.”

Congratulations, Musab!
We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Looking for LPS graduation information? Check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 22, 2024

Meadow Lane wins 2024 Inspire School of the Year Award

Meadow Lane Elementary School students had an inspiring reason to sing their school song during a special assembly Thursday afternoon.
 
The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools surprised Meadow Lane with the 2024 Inspire School of the Year Award on April 18. The prestigious award recognizes one LPS building each year for fostering a strong sense of community, leadership and consistency. It also celebrates the positive and productive learning environment that is present in the school.
 
Principal Daniele Schulzkump said she was thrilled to receive the award for everyone at Meadow Lane.
 
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as the Inspire School of the Year,” Schulzkump said. “This award is a testament to the dedication of our entire school community – students, staff and parents – who have worked tirelessly to create a supportive and positive learning environment for all.”
 
LPS Foundation Marketing Director Kayla Jacox said it was exciting to watch students and staff beam with pride when they heard the announcement. Committee members selected Meadow Lane after reviewing applications earlier this year.
 
“It was really awesome to see the application from Meadow Lane come through this year, because they are really deserving of the award,” Jacox said. “One of the perks of this job is to come and celebrate an entire school for doing just awesome work and really working on pieces of life that are part of education.”
 
Jacox presented a check for $5,000 to Schulzkump in the school gym. A team of Meadow Lane administrators, students and staff will meet to determine how the money will be spent. Schulzkump said it will certainly be used on a school project to reinforce the positive steps Meadow Lane has taken over the past year.
 
Students actively contribute to the school in many ways. Meadow Lane staff have developed programs for math and reading buddies, line walkers and preschool helpers. There is a dedicated time during the school day for students to voice concerns and celebrate successes, and the school has developed a goal of increasing leadership skills in all students.
 
Staff created a new Mustang Mentors program last year that has paid significant dividends. The program pairs students across grade levels in many positive academic and community activities. Schulzkump said it has caused many smiles to happen throughout the school building.
 
“Mustang Mentors fosters a sense of belonging in students, leading to a more positive learning environment,” Schulzkump said.
 
Data has also shown tangible results from Meadow Lane’s dedication to creating a strong school community. Meadow Lane staff have seen an increase in positive behavior among students, and the number of minor behavior incidents has remained relatively consistent between both years.
 
“It’s amazing to see the results our educators can foster in their learning environments with the support of an amazing staff and buy-in from the community,” Foundation President Wendy Van said. “We are honored to recognize Meadow Lane for their hard work on the positive improvements they implemented last year to become a better version of themselves.”
 
To be considered for the Inspire School of the Year Award, principals must detail all of the initiatives that have led to progress in their buildings. A selection committee comprised of the Foundation Board of Directors, LPS district staff and community members reviewed each application. They selected the school they felt made the most significant impact on students, staff, faculty and community.
 
“We are so proud of Daniele and her staff, because they put in a lot of work on that application to make sure they were able to highlight the successes that they’ve had,” Jacox said.
 
Jacox said Meadow Lane students and staff were inspiring everyone in Lincoln with their tremendous accomplishments in their school community.
 
“We are so proud at the Foundation to be able to support all of our students and staff, and today, specifically Meadow Lane for doing awesome work over the past several years,” Jacox said.

Learn about the foundation’s 2024 Inspire Award winners on its website at https://www.foundationforlps.org/scholarshipsandawards/inspire-awards/.

Posted on April 18, 2024

New fashion and design class helps LPS students craft their path to success

Emily is designing a successful future this semester through a new class that is teaching her about everything from textiles to paint textures.
 
The Southwest High School sophomore is joining dozens of her Lincoln Public Schools classmates in a course called Intro to Fashion and Interior Design. LPS added the class this year to give students at all eight high schools the chance to continue pursuing the career pathways. They are learning about the elements and principles of design, the materials and products used in both fashion and interior design and the skills needed for both industries.
 
Emily said she was happy when she learned the course would be available this year. She said it will provide a major boost to her future prospects.
 
“I’d like to go into interior design for a career, so I think this course is going to help me,” Emily said. “I like being creative and figuring out solutions to problems, so it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”
 
Fellow Southwest sophomore Sydney also gave a glowing review about the course. Sydney took the class during the first semester after hearing it would be available. She said learning about the scientific aspects of fashion and interior design – analyzing synthetic and natural fibers, testing durability of floor covers and studying how fabrics absorb dyes – was valuable.
 
“It was interesting to learn how much science goes into these careers,” Sydney said. “It was really eye-opening. We got to see how fabrics have different properties and how different materials react when they’re put under pressure. I thought that part was really important.”

Kristin Vest is curriculum coordinator of family and consumer sciences (FCS) and health sciences at LPS. She said many students had expressed interest in taking more FCS courses once they reached high school. They had positive experiences in their middle school classes and wanted to continue learning about the subjects.
 
“We didn’t have this type of class available at our high schools before this year, which was something that we knew needed to be addressed,” Vest said. “We had students that were saying, ‘I don’t see my class that I had in eighth grade.’ Offering this class now gets them connected with great teachers and great ideas in high school, which is wonderful.”
 
Vest said the interactive setup of the fashion and interior design class mirrored the creative energy found in both of those fields. She said those types of lesson plans would motivate more students in the future.
 
“It’s absolutely key,” Vest said. “They look at classes like this, where we’re providing a lot of great introductory content about a number of careers, and they say, ‘This is something I might be interested in doing.’ It’s really good for students.”

Vest said older students have also been good role models for those in the class. 

Funds from the 2020 bond issue allowed Southwest High School to renovate one of its instructional spaces into a new FCS classroom to better fit the needs for the new courses. FCS courses had previously taken place in one half of the culinary arts classroom, which meant a small amount of space for activities like textile dyeing and fabric inspection. The current room features long worktables with plenty of room for all types of projects and lessons.
 
Several of those life lessons took place during a two-day activity called a materials lab. FCS teacher McKenzie Geier led students as they rotated through six stations in small groups.
 
Students in the first station dyed six different types of fabric to see how they absorbed the stains. They burned small patches of six synthetic and natural fibers to compare qualities such as odor and flammability, and they dyed fabric using a wax-dripping method called Batik. They also learned about ways to remove wrinkles from fabric, compared durability levels of six solid floor covers and evaluated paint finishes such as high-gloss and matte.
 
Emily and her friends talked with excitement as they moved through each project. She said it was helpful to have hands-on activities in class.
 
“It’s good,” Emily said. “I like that more than just taking notes. Getting to experiment and seeing how things turn out in real life is something that’s a lot of fun. I learn better by doing lessons that way.”
 
After they finished all six stations at Southwest, students reassembled in the full class to talk about their findings. They learned that linen is made from fibers of the flax plant, which are light, loosely-woven and moisture-wicking. This meant clothes made from linen would be good choices to wear in the summer. This contrasts with the strong nature of wool, which would be a better fabric to wear in the winter.
 
Geier then pointed to the classroom walls as they discussed various types of paints. She said high-traffic buildings such as schools and hospitals often use high-gloss paints because they are both durable and easy to clean. Matte paints would be a better option for a quieter area such as a home office, because they are sensitive to scratching and rubbing.
 
Sydney said that type of practical information would help students make good choices in everything from clothes selection to career pathways.
 
“I learned a lot about design from taking the course,” Sydney said. “It was fun to learn about all of the different things that go into it.”

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 17, 2024

Northeast senior writes story of resilience during time in school hallways

Yelaniya is proof that how a chapter of someone’s life begins doesn’t necessarily dictate how the chapter is going to end.
 
The Northeast High School senior has overcome several obstacles to become a beacon of hope for students within the building. She has written a life script that now includes words such as Student Council member, peer mediator, elementary school mentor and treasured friend.
 
Yelaniya said she has gained more confidence and self-esteem since arriving on campus as a sophomore. She said it is meaningful to support her fellow Rockets with kind and encouraging actions.

 
“It’s been nice to know that I’m trusted, that people can come to me and I can help them work through their problems,” Yelaniya said. “I feel like that’s really important to have someone at school who you know can be trusted and who you can trust. That’s really special to me. To know that people think of me as one of those students is a good feeling.”
 
Northeast mentors Keri Applebee and Ellie Blume both said Yelaniya’s never-give-up mentality has allowed her to become a positive role model. Applebee is the school’s principal and Blume is a school counselor.
 
“She is a pretty awesome young lady,” Applebee said. “I would describe her as a quiet leader. She is a leader in a variety of settings, from the classroom to clubs and activities such as Equity Cadre and Emerging Educators to simply the way she carries herself in the hallway. She is kind, funny and cares about others.”
 
“She’s just exceptional in every way,” Blume said. “No matter what difficulties come her way, she overcomes them. She strives to do better. There are a lot of good things that she’s doing.”

 
Life wasn’t as bright for Yelaniya several years ago. She missed six weeks of her freshman year after contracting both pneumonia and influenza. She wondered if she would be healthy enough to play basketball again.
 
Yelaniya then transferred to Northeast the following August. She had to overcome a period of social adjustment and conflict early in her sophomore year before blossoming.

“I did a lot of self-reflecting about the people I was around and the decisions I was making,” Yelaniya said. “I feel that was big for me to be able to go through that situation and grow rather than stay in that spot.”

 
Yelaniya immediately began taking steps to make improvements. She deleted her social media accounts, became more involved in school activities and boosted her grades in every class. She also began viewing others with more empathy and compassion.
 
“It definitely made me look at people a lot differently,” Yelaniya said. “Some people can do negative things, but that may not be them in that moment. Going through that made me think, ‘Do I judge people on the first look or judging books by the cover?’ It really made me look at people differently and made me give them opportunities regardless of what they have been through.
 
“I feel that’s something good to learn at a young age. It gave me the capability to give people second chances, because everybody has a story they can grow from.”
  
Today, Yelaniya is a Student Council member, serves on Northeast’s student ambassador team, works as a peer mediator and has earned conference basketball awards. She suffered knee and concussion injuries during her athletic career but relied on her determination and strength throughout those times. She played a key role this year on a Northeast team that finished 18-7 and advanced to the District A-7 championship game.

 
Yelaniya also visits Clinton Elementary School every Wednesday for a volunteer outreach program. Blume said she has been impressed with her choice to inspire younger students with helpful words.
 
“It was completely Yelaniya’s initiative to do that,” Blume said. “No one prompted her. She just had the drive to go and teach to children. It’s just awesome to see that.”
 
Yelaniya said it is personally significant to be an elementary mentor. She sat in the same desks at Clinton years ago and cherishes the chance to help today’s Comets succeed.
 
“I feel like that’s important for them to see that in school,” Yelaniya said. “Seeing someone that went to your elementary school, I probably went to the middle school you’re going to go to, and now I’m going to the high school that you may go to. I feel it’s important to show that representation to them that you’re going to go somewhere in life.”

 
Yelaniya will continue her journey next year at Peru State College. She earned a full-ride scholarship for both academics and athletics and is planning to become a teacher. Her time with Clinton students has planted the seed of possibly leading elementary classes in the future. She is also considering the option of teaching high school students, as one of her favorite subjects at Northeast is history.
 
“Education fascinates me,” Yelaniya said. “Being able to learn different things and teach people different things. I’m really interested in that.”
 
Blume told Yelaniya she was proud of the positive story she was writing for the entire Northeast community.
 
“You had to discover who you are and rebuild yourself socially, so that’s resilience, and then academically you just kept it up,” Blume said. “It’s amazing. I admire that.”

Congratulations, Yelaniya!

We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

Looking for LPS graduation information? Check out our graduation page at https://home.lps.org/graduation/ to get the details on celebrating your favorite high school grad. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 16, 2024

Signing day: LHS seniors commit to be future educators

Lifelong dreams are one step closer to becoming a reality for six Lincoln High School seniors this spring after they officially promised to continue their education towards a career in teaching.
 
Sofia, Nazo, Jeremiah, Janely, Asraa and Ali made commitments to lead new generations of students during a signing ceremony in Lincoln High’s library. The event was a milestone for the new Project RAICES initiative. The six seniors at Lincoln High will receive full-tuition scholarships to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and join 10 other seniors from Columbus, Schuyler, South Sioux City and Wakefield.
 
Asraa beamed as she talked about the importance of the scholarship prior to the ceremony. She wrote down in kindergarten that she wanted to someday become a teacher. This past summer, her work in the Community Learning Centers (CLC) program at Pershing Elementary School reinforced that goal.
 
“Honestly, I’m beyond excited,” Asraa said. “This is probably the biggest opportunity I’ve ever gotten. This is going to change my entire life and it’s really setting everything down for my future.”
 
Adan Martinez, an instructional coordinator at Lincoln High and a member of the school’s Reimagining Education 4 Liberation (R.E.4.L.) Club leadership team, told the audience he was happy to see the six Links choose the education field. He felt it was important to build a strong pipeline of future teachers today.
 
“We need to grow our own,” Martinez said. “We need to start with us.”
 
Project RAICES stands for Re-envisioning Action and Innovation through Community Collaborations for Equity across Systems. The three-year venture is a joint effort between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences and the Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy at Kansas State University. The mission is to recruit and develop a more diverse group of teachers.
 
Asraa said it was essential to have teachers from a wide array of backgrounds leading classes at elementary, middle and high schools. She felt it would benefit students to see a multicultural mosaic of people in front of classrooms.
 
“I’ve never had a teacher look anything like me, or even closely represented me, so I think it’s important to have teachers that are like me,” Asraa said. “Being able to be a part of that journey where we are going to be able to actually put new teachers who look like me and any of my peers who are also getting this scholarship partway into the education world is such a huge step, because kids who look like me or look like any of my peers are going to be able to say, ‘Yes, I can do education’ as well.”
 
The first part of the project was developing Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) programs for students at each school district. Lincoln High’s R.E.4.L. Club provides members opportunities to explore education pathways. Students study various topics within the education field and come up with ways to help their schools and communities.
 
Martinez said Sofia, Nazo, Jeremiah, Janely, Asraa and Ali have impressed him with their enthusiasm and work ethic. He said that was a positive indication of things to come in their lives.
 
“You guys have been amazing to work with,” Martinez said.
 
A second aim of the YPAR phase of the project is to help students create mentor networks both inside their schools and across Nebraska. Asraa said she has seen this happen with the group of six Links.
 
“I’ve always known them, but I honestly never got connected to them at this level,” Asraa said. “Knowing I have a support system and people who are going to take the next steps throughout this is such a big help.”
 
Students will take part in a summer bridge program before their first semesters at UNL. They will join a learning community in the fall and will receive mentoring and advising support.
 
Project RAICES will feature many professional development opportunities for new teachers at each high school. They will also have chances to take graduate-level courses at UNL after they secure their first teaching jobs.
 
UNL faculty members in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education (TLTE) have worked with YPAR liaisons across Nebraska. They have helped students develop research projects about their individual schools.
 
TLTE Department Chair Loukia Sarroub told the audience she was looking forward to welcoming Sofia, Nazo, Jeremiah, Janely, Asraa and Ali to campus. She worked on academic research projects at Lincoln High from 2002-09 when she was an assistant and associate professor at UNL. She said LPS students like the new scholarship recipients have built a positive reputation in the college community for many years.
 
“I’m very proud of the fact you’ll be joining this dynamic scholarship,” Sarroub said.

Amanda Morales, an associate professor in the TLTE Department, was also enthusiastic about having the Links begin their UNL classes. She has watched many students become school and community leaders through their involvement with the program.

“We can’t wait for them to be on our campus,” Morales said.
 
Family, friends and teachers applauded as the six Links signed their names to scholarship letters. They then shared hugs, smiles and words of encouragement after the ceremony.
 
LHS Principal Mark Larson told UNL representatives he was proud to see the students launch their education careers. He said they would strengthen the teaching profession for many decades to come.
 
“We are passing along six of our best to you,” Larson said.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 15, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Tracy Nelson-special education coordinator at Lincoln Northwest High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Tracy Nelson, special education coordinator at Lincoln Northwest High School.

“Tracy works tirelessly for our special education department at LNW. She wears many hats as our building has an early childhood preschool program, an Individual Success Program, along with life skills and resource programs. Tracy is a positive force. She is willing to jump in and help whenever needed. She does not ask staff to do anything she wouldn't do herself. She is the go-to person for many of our special education students and their families. Her years of experience are put into practice each and every day. I have learned so much from her and continue to do so daily. LNW is better for having her as a part of our team.” Peggy Snurr, Northwest High School Special Education Department Chair.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am the special education coordinator at Northwest High School supporting all school-age special education students, the individual success program at LNW and early childhood centerbase at LNW.

How long have you worked for LPS?
Twenty-seven years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I completed my undergraduate and graduate work at UNL and had all of my educational training within LPS. The staff, schools and community were supportive of all learners including those with learning differences.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working within LPS is the daily opportunity to impact students and support staff within the buildings.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended Millard Public Schools in Omaha.

What path did you take after completing your formal education? 
I completed my bachelor’s and master's degrees at UNL.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I enjoy the diversity within our school community and have appreciated how the city of Lincoln embraces each of its schools.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
“The Wonkey Donkey” by Craig Smith is a book that I enjoy reading with my grandson. It was one of the first books we read to him to engage him in the fun of reading. Learning should be focused on fun and that has helped us open up his interest in reading and learning.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Jan Fisher was my English teacher in ninth grade. She helped me grow as a writer and challenged me to do more. I also admired Mr. Trauernicht, my architecture and design teacher, as he fostered my love of learning and interested me in the teaching profession.

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

Posted on April 12, 2024

Humann students soar into happy worlds at new art show

Humann Elementary School students created a galaxy-sized amount of smiles with artwork that featured everything from comets to constellations.
 
Hundreds of Huskies displayed their imagination at the inaugural Humann Glow Art Show. Students, parents, guardians and friends packed one section of the school to see glow-in-the-dark artwork. They watched animated clay figures on a video board in the gym, walked past the control panel of a space shuttle and gave many compliments to all of the happy artists.
 
Fifth graders Quincy and Josie said they were excited about the schoolwide project. All 500-plus students at Humann made at least one piece of art for the outer-space-themed show, and many created four or more entries.
 
“It’s been really fun,” Quincy said. “I’ve had a good time making the artwork. It’s been something where you can have a lot of fun thinking about what to do.”
 
“We did all of this in four months, so we got a lot done,” Josie said. “It’s our first time ever doing this, so I think it’s turned out really well.”
 
Tabi Zimmerman smiled as she talked about the project minutes before the front doors opened. Zimmerman teaches art at Humann and led all of the preparations for the three-hour show. She was glad to guide students as they formed pictures of planets, pinwheel galaxies and popular space creatures.
 
“It’s truly been an all-year project,” Zimmerman said. “The kids are so excited about this. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited they are.”
 
Zimmerman first told students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade about the “Outer Space in Art” idea in November. They learned about many astronomy concepts such as planets, stars, asteroids and comets. They then made artwork to display in three “solar system” sections of school.
 
Fifth graders created animated objects for the first area. Zimmerman asked them to design clay-based characters that could move, had a face and lived in outer space. They then attached their characters to a wire framework and videotaped them in action. People watched orange foxes, top-hatted penguins and multi-armed lobsters come to life on a giant screen on the gym wall.
 
Students in grades PreK-4 titled the second area “Our Universe” because it focused on art that could be in outer space. They spent time studying science-based ideas and used those to make drawings, sculptures and paper-mache pieces. The “Our Universe” hallway and classroom included lunar rovers, faces of smiling astronauts and a giant pink, red and yellow sun.
 
The third solar system was an area called “Wonderland.” Everyone at school “discovered” Wonderland during their classroom research and voted on what the new planet would look like. They then tailored their artwork to show Wonderland’s environment and the animals and creatures that lived there.
 
Students said Wonderland’s environment included floating land, spiral trees, giant flowers, red clouds, rainbows and people-transporting bubbles. They said dragons, walking bananas, unicorns and mixed-up animals lived on the planet. All of the creatures had castles as their homes and used spaceships to travel from city to city.
 
“That’s a pretty neat room,” Josie said. “The walking bananas turned out to be pretty cool. We did a vote on that in our whole school.”
 
Zimmerman said students experimented with fluorescent and neon materials to make their artwork glow in the dark. They formed hundreds of tiny stars from scrap paper and worked together on larger projects such as standing-up sculptures and replicas of Earth.
 
“A lot of them were individual projects, but there were a lot of group projects too,” Zimmerman said. “It was really neat to see them work together.”
 
Quincy and Josie were among 24 fifth graders who helped Zimmerman curate the show. They placed artwork on tables and cardboard walls, set up black lights to make their drawings shine and created signs for each solar system. They then guided visitors on their tours of outer space throughout the show.
 
“They’ve done an awesome job,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a lot of work, but they’ve handled it all really well.”
 
“It’s been exciting to help put this together,” Quincy said. “I think everyone’s been happy to see it all come together like this.”
 
The event blasted far beyond the original art show idea as students told family and friends about it. Humann Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) members secured donations, bought necessary art materials and promoted the show to neighborhood residents. A large book fair took place in the front hallway during the night, and students wore neon bracelets and fluorescent-styled clothes during their journeys through space.
 
Zimmerman said the art show has taught students about problem solving, teamwork, creativity, organization and responsibility this year. She said it has been a positive out-of-this-world experience for everyone.
 
“I’m very happy with how the students have worked on this, especially since we’ve never done it before,” Zimmerman said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 10, 2024

Metteer receives prestigious music award for Southeast teaching career

Southeast High School music students have recorded thousands of positive moments in their lives thanks to the noteworthy leadership of R.J. Metteer.
 
Metteer was recently recognized with the 2024 Duane Johnson Distinguished Service Award. He received the honor at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association’s annual convention.
 
Hundreds of Knights have learned how to play skillful melodies under Metteer’s guidance for nearly three decades. A trumpet player by trade, he oversees a program that includes marching band, concert band, jazz band and pep band ensembles. He is also chair of Southeast’s performing arts department.

 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior Gabi Lawrey said Metteer was a positive mentor for her at Southeast. Lawrey was a two-time All-State Band selection and was principal oboe in the All-State Orchestra in high school.
 
“My journey as a musician was largely influenced by Mr. Metteer,” Lawrey said. “He was always the one to push me to try new things and take the leap in auditioning for honor bands or the Lincoln Youth Symphony. As a young musician, growing your confidence is one of the most important skills, and Mr. Metteer was one of my biggest supporters on my musical journey.”
 
Metteer said guiding music students each day has been a privilege.
 
“Music touches the heart, mind and soul of every kid and every human being,” Metteer said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny little kid who’s dancing around or the music you hear at a loved one’s funeral. It moves you. Music is what makes us human. I love teaching music because it touches every part of our emotional lives.”

 
Metteer owns a bachelor’s degree in education from Wayne State College and a master’s degree in music education from UNL. He spent four years teaching instrumental music in Lenox, Iowa, before becoming a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He began working at Southeast in August 1995.
 
Lawrey said Metteer’s leadership style has inspired students to aim for excellence in every situation. In addition to their musical accomplishments, Southeast students also earned the NSBA Excellence in Academic Achievement Award this year. Band programs whose members have an average cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher received the honor.
 
“If there was one thing Mr. Metteer was known for when I was in high school, it was pushing his musicians to be the best that they could be,” Lawrey said. “His leadership created an environment in which students are encouraged to expand their musical horizons and strive for their greatest potential. Whether it’s providing opportunities for solos, mentoring students through auditions or motivating the marching band to leave it all on the field, Mr. Metteer’s dedication has been instrumental to the success of Southeast’s band program.”
 
The NSBA Board of Directors selected Metteer for the award. Members took into consideration his longevity of teaching, his impact on students and the musical success of Southeast’s band program.

 
Steve Steager said Metteer’s dedication to the state marching band festival also played a key role in his selection. Steager, a longtime music teacher and former NSBA president, said people were always impressed when they visited Seacrest Field each October.
 
“The best way to describe the Seacrest site is a well-oiled machine,” Steager said. “From meeting with the judges, to hosting and escorting each band, to a well-stocked concession stand, there is not a detail that is overlooked. Everyone does their part to ensure the site is run smoothly. R.J. always has the best interest of NSBA in mind, making sure to communicate with the NSBA representatives throughout the day.”
 
Metteer said Southeast community volunteers deserved the bulk of the spotlight for Steager’s compliments.
 
“You can never do that without the band boosters,” Metteer said. “It takes literally thousands of invested hours from hundreds of people to do it. It comes from the dedication of all the volunteers and teachers. I might be there on site, but I play a very small role in it. This is an award for the work of many, many people.”
 
Metteer’s legacy has spread to numerous band rooms across the school district. Former students or student teachers of his are now leading music classes at every LPS high school except newly-opened Standing Bear. His teaching tree’s roots have also extended into multiple LPS elementary and middle schools.
 
“That’s the thing I’m probably the most proud of, is the number of kids who have gone on in music and music education,” Metteer said. “I’m really proud of them, because that means, theoretically, that we had a positive impact on them and they want to share that with other people.”
 
Lawrey said she and hundreds of current and former students owed debts of gratitude to Metteer for helping them record positive notes in their lives.
 
“Starting from my freshman year, Mr. Metteer believed in my abilities and gave me opportunities to flourish, from giving me solos to encouraging me to audition for a senior solo with the Lincoln Youth Symphony,” Lawrey said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have gone on to continue to study music in college and earn my music minor. I am incredibly grateful for everything that Mr. Metteer has done for me, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without his support.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 10, 2024

TCA workshop inspires future leaders in education

East High School junior Emily Bender beamed this spring as she recalled how much she enjoyed playing school in her family’s home when she was little.
 
She took the next step toward working in a school as a teacher during a special event at The Career Academy.
 
Bender joined more than 80 high school students from across the Lincoln area at TCA’s education workshop and career fair. They heard lessons from a pair of Nebraska Teacher of the Year Award recipients, listened to several keynote speakers and spoke with people from many education-related fields.
 
Bender said it has been her lifelong dream to lead students in a classroom. Both of her parents are former teachers and her sister is also in education, which has sparked her interest in having her own classroom someday. She said it was encouraging to learn how many of her classmates shared her passion for teaching.
 
“Being here and seeing all these people that chose to come away from school to learn more about being a teacher and being with children is really cool to see,” Bender said.

 
Barbara Miller and Josh Jones said they were happy to hear those types of enthusiastic stories. Miller is the emerging educators empowerment specialist at Lincoln Public Schools and Jones is director of The Career Academy. Both said they hope the event would help students solidify their love of teaching and highlight the benefits of one day working at LPS.
 
“Having students get an opportunity to take a look at the potential of education as a career, and to hear from those who have been in the positions they’re in, is really valuable,” Miller said. “It is an opportunity for them. Hopefully, it will build that connection with them so they can come back and be a part of our district.”
 
“I think it is extremely important for students interested in going into education to attend these events,” Jones said. “It makes a difference for students to see that there are other students with similar career aspirations as them. It is a day to see that the career is one full of great opportunities, people and fun.”
 
Jones, Miller and other LPS leaders organized the workshop and career fair as a way to inspire students to join the education field. LPS is building a broad-based initiative to attract people to the profession. The effort includes an early childhood education pathway at TCA, the annual Educators of Color Summit, future teacher workshops and additional education fairs. These opportunities also relate to the school district’s strategic vision with its “Grow Your Own” goal and developing diverse educators with the All Means All action plan.
 
Sydney Jensen and Scott Phillips both gave enthusiastic thumbs up when they were asked to participate in the program. Jensen received the Nebraska Teacher of the Year Award in 2019 and Phillips is the 2024 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Both led breakout sessions for students in classrooms on TCA’s campus.
 
Phillips, a seventh-grade math teacher at Aurora Middle School, told students that his own middle school math teacher had motivated him to follow in those footsteps. Phillips had originally gone to college to become a television broadcaster, but he switched to an education major after one year. 
 
“We have some wonderful teachers in our state,” Phillips said.

 
Jensen shared those sentiments in her breakout room. Jensen is a ninth-grade English teacher at Lincoln High who has become a well-regarded motivational speaker across the country. She has talked about education topics with current and future educators, administrators and policymakers.
 
Jensen asked students in one of her sessions to decide whether a rope that was curled up on a table had a pre-tied knot in it. They then tried to persuade others to adopt their point of view before finding out the answer.
 
Jensen said the activity was meant to show them the value of being thoughtful and understanding in their future classrooms. Literature students might read the same words and interpret them differently, and history students might view the same events and dates through separate lenses.
 
“It’s all about perspective,” Jensen said. “Let that be something that you consider in your teaching.”

 
Bender soaked in all of those positive lessons at the workshop. She has become friends with many students in LPS buildings who have special needs. She would like to become an elementary special education teacher after her high school and college graduations.
 
“That would be something I would love to do,” Bender said. “I’ve always loved working with kids, and I’ve always loved working in special education.”
 
Miller said she was filled with hope after hearing dozens of similar comments. She felt the workshop was encouraging many students to continue pursuing their teaching dreams.
 
“It is quite exciting to see how many students are interested in becoming teachers,” Miller said. “In six or seven years, this is who we’ll be able to hire.”

Click here to learn more about becoming a member of the LPS team. The strategic plan for LPS is available here. It talks about the future vision for the school district and how LPS will support teachers.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 05, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Allyn Fujan-Computer Science Specialist & Academic Interventionist at Brownell

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Allyn Fujan, computer science specialist and academic interventionist at Brownell Elementary School.

“Allyn has served almost her entire teaching career at Brownell! She even student taught at Brownell and was a long-term sub at Brownell. She is beginning her 18th year of teaching here at Brownell. Allyn is a dedicated staff member and remains ‘all in’ everyday for her colleagues and for students!” Nikosia Kruse, Brownell Elementary School principal.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
My mornings are spent with third through fifth grade intervention small groups. My afternoons are spent teaching computer science.  

How long have you worked for LPS?
I student-taught here at Brownell in the spring of 2006. I have remained at Brownell ever since. I taught third grade for a year, second grade for eight and fourth grade for three. When our former comp science teacher retired, I expressed an interest in switching to a specialist position. This is my sixth year as our computer science specialist and academic interventionist.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I love that Brownell is this small but mighty school in the "city." It gives me the small-town feel that I had hoped for, but with the support of the district. I know every single student in the building. I know their stories, their successes, their struggles and I can help them overcome the obstacles and celebrate their achievements. I know their older siblings and in a few cases, I even taught their parents!

I have that amazing "small town" feeling with our staff too. We support one another. We step in and class cover without complaining. We make copies. We send reminders. We stop and get coffee for team members on the way to school. We check in on others while their family members are sick or attend weddings. It's just that support and camaraderie that Brownell has that brought me here in the first place, and has kept me here for so long.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Fostering positive relationships with students and witnessing their growth, maturity and ability to overcome obstacles is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an educator. Working with great colleagues has been an enriching and fulfilling experience.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up on an acreage outside Wahoo. I attended Wahoo Public Schools K-12.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for my bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I was accepted to the Primarily Math program at UNL while I was teaching second grade. I went on to finish my master’s degree and graduated in August 2013.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the options available for my own kids within the Lincoln community. I love the inclusivity of the community. I love the available programs for students and adults alike. It's a great place to live, work and raise kids.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
There are SO MANY I could name! My student-teaching cooperating teacher, Patti Brown, was so inspiring to me! I learned so much from her about teaching and being a part of the school community. She helped me open doors in "real life" too! I am so thankful for her guidance and trust. The experience I got in her classroom was so very influential in the teacher I have become 18 years later.

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

Posted on April 05, 2024

East senior selected for United States Youth Senate Program

Ask anyone in the East High School community how they would describe senior Hannah Tang, and all of their answers include the same word: impressive.
 
Tang recently added a trip to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) to her list of A-plus achievements. She was one of two Nebraska high school seniors to travel to Washington, D.C. She spoke with high-ranking federal officials from all three branches of government, visited with the nation’s top diplomat and met fellow delegates from across the country.
 
Tang said the weeklong trip was full of memorable highlights.
 
“It was such an incredible experience,” Tang said. “It was one of the most unique opportunities I’ve ever been a part of, so I’m really grateful and blessed to have gotten to go.”

 
East teachers Josie Gilligan and Nick Herink said they were happy when Tang was selected. Gilligan coaches the school’s Science Bowl and Science Olympiad teams and has worked with Tang for four years. Herink is head speech coach and has watched Tang become a respected and admired team leader.
 
“Hannah always has an upbeat attitude and is involved in practically everything we offer at East,” Gilligan said. “She’s intelligent, outgoing, empathetic, thorough and is an excellent role model for her peers. I’m constantly in awe of how much she balances and the way she maintains a positive outlook.”
 
“Hannah is a great role model for Lincoln East because she takes advantage of the many opportunities East has to offer,” Herink said. “She is involved in and leads numerous extracurriculars, enrolls in challenging coursework and gives her all to the school community. High school is short and Hannah has always tried to get everything she can out of the experience.”
 
Teachers and principals from each state nominated students for the 2024 USSYP. Nominees had to be actively serving in leadership positions of student government or civic organizations at their school. They also had to have a strong academic background.
 
Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher selected Tang and Boone Central senior Isabella Meyer to be Nebraska’s two delegates. Southeast High School senior Amelia-Michelle Nangatie Forlemu and West Point-Beemer senior Jacob Eduardo Dominguez were selected as alternates.
 
Tang said she was excited when she learned she was picked for the USSYP.
 
“I was just really shocked, in the best way possible,” Tang said. “It was just such a surreal time, I can’t even explain it. I’ve been involved in speech and debate where I’ve had a political and economics focus, so to be able to go to a program and have that opportunity to meet fellow people who are so passionate about the same things that I am was such a big honor.”

 
Tang and other delegates toured many federal buildings and historical landmarks. They also met U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts, Mitt Romney, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, talked with Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and posed questions to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
 
“It was really amazing to hear their perspectives,” Tang said.
 
Tang has helped the entire Lincoln community with a resume that includes the titles of cancer researcher, science coach, speech leader and friendly senior. She is founder and president of Nebraska’s first American Cancer Society high school chapter, where she began an initiative to deliver dozens of encouraging letters to patients at local hospitals. She is a member of East’s National Honor Society Advisory Board, is a two-year captain of the Science Olympiad team and is a volunteer coach for Lux Middle School’s Science Bowl program.
 
Tang has helped many speech teammates by developing a lecture series about politics and economics. She has earned multiple state medals for her work in the extemporaneous speaking category, and she has earned Nebraska Seals of Biliteracy for becoming fluent in both French and Mandarin.
 
Tang has also been active away from East’s campus. She applied to the Young Nebraska Scientists Program as a sophomore and began working at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that summer. She conducted biology research in the agronomy and horticulture department before moving to a pancreatic cancer research lab.
 
Tang’s work has been published in “Cancers,” a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and she has presented at the International Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers BigData Conference. She is planning to double major in public health and political science before pursuing graduate and doctorate degrees.
 
“I want to pursue medicine someday and see how that intersects with policy in our entire government system as a whole,” Tang said. “Being able to research is being able to inquire and seek answers and open doors to new questions, and it’s also being able to see the mechanisms that drive healthcare and medicine firsthand.”

 
Tang said she has especially treasured her time working with younger Lux scientists. She said it was important to try to give a helping hand to others.
 
“I really think Science Bowl has changed me a lot as a person and as a scholar,” Tang said. “I wanted to give back to Lux in that way and mentor the future generation.”
 
Herink said that selfless attitude is why Tang will continue making an impressive difference in the world.
 
“Hannah really is a great kid, and I think it’s great that she is getting this type of recognition,” Herink said.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 05, 2024

Lux students generate recognition with 2024 Future City competition

If you wanted to build a renewable-energy-based city on a peninsula in Iceland, how would you go about doing that?
 
Lux Middle School students answered that question in successful style during their appearance in a national city-creating contest.
 
Members of the Future City after-school club competed against students from the United States, Canada and China at the DiscoverE 2024 Future City Competition. The eighth-grade team of Alex, Chloe, Luigi, Vasya, Evan, Kellen and Isaiah secured the trip to Washington, D.C., by winning the state contest.

 
Chloe, Alex, Vasya and Luigi flew to the East Coast for the international event. Chloe said it was exciting to represent Lincoln Public Schools in the nation’s capital. Students constructed a model of their city and shared a detailed project plan, 1,500-word essay and seven-minute presentation with judges.
 
“Competing in general was really fun,” Chloe said. “I thought it was kind of cool seeing all of the other models and other people’s presentations and how they competed in different ways.”
 
Lori Feldman and Christy Eichorn both helped the team as mentors. Feldman teaches computer science and technology at Lux and is the club’s LPS staff sponsor, and Eichorn has been mentoring Lux Future City groups since 2019. Both said the program provides a wealth of lessons for future engineers, scientists and designers in grades 6-8.

 
“Now that they’ve seen and been to state and national competitions, I feel like there are kids who are thinking, ‘Wow, this would be a cool career,’” Feldman said. “It could be model building for artistic sets. It could be architecture. It could be urban design. It can be anything they want it to be. It’s really such a great program for their futures.”
 
“I have seen kids grow to become civically engaged, enhance their planning and engineering skills and flourish as speakers and presenters,” Eichorn said. “I am proud of this team’s achievement. I want everyone to know that this is an opportunity for all children to imagine, explore and build robust, sustainable cities of the future.”
 
Students in this year’s contest followed the theme of Electrify Your Future. They had to forecast 100 years from now and build a fictional city powered entirely by electricity generated from renewable energy.
 
Lux students began brainstorming ideas in August and created a comprehensive plan for a town they named Nyfloa. They determined how Nyfloa would provide safe stormwater and sewage collection systems, clean drinking and bathing water, reliable public transportation and a modernized electric power grid. They also explained their city-building strategy and how their plan complied with safety codes and technical standards.

 
Feldman said it was inspiring to watch students work together to meet their goals.
 
“It was a total independent group,” Feldman said. “I was here for support and our mentor was here for support, but they had to decide.”
 
Alex and Chloe said the Future City experience helped the Lightning improve teamwork and time management talents. The group had to meet strict project deadlines to qualify for state and international contests.
 
“It develops a lot of life skills like teamwork,” Alex said. “We had to work together, because we only had a certain time period to do everything. We definitely did a better job of that this year.”
 
“We definitely learned a lot of time management,” Chloe said. “Getting stuff done on time and doing what you’re asked to do is really, really important in this project.”
 
Lux’s team researched potential city locations based on future sea level projections, availability of energy supplies and possible tourism opportunities. They felt Iceland’s capital of Reykjavik checked all of those boxes and decided to build Nyfloa on an Atlantic Ocean peninsula.

 
The group relied on proven energy sources such as offshore wind and geothermal electricity from Iceland’s active volcanoes. They also discovered an emerging technology called a waveline magnet, which floats on water and converts wave energy into electricity.
 
“Because of the Gulf Stream, we found that Iceland had consistent winds, which is great for wind power,” Alex said. “And a new source of energy that we figured out was ocean currents, ocean waves, to generate power.”
 
The Lightning also followed rules when building the physical city model. The budget could not exceed $100 and many items had to be made from recycled materials.

 
“You had to be very creative,” Feldman said. “Custard cups could become skyscrapers, or water bottles could be a pole to hold something up. They used a lot of different engineering skills.”
 
Sixth-grade students Millie, Phoebe, Evan, Rhys, Nolan and Liam also competed at state. Feldman said her goal is to have at least one team in each grade represent Lux next year.
 
Feldman said many Lux students have noticed several large trophies that are displayed in her classroom. She felt this year’s achievements will inspire more Future City groups at school.
 
“Now, kids in every class are looking at those trophies and asking, ‘What is this Future City thing?’ Then they’re saying, ‘I so want to do this next year,’” Feldman said. “We have all of these kids who want to do this. It’s fantastic. It means kids are thinking beyond video games or whatnot. They’re thinking about how can we make our world better in the future.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 03, 2024

LPS students learn tips about writing trade from state authors

Lincoln Public Schools students made paragraphs, poems and pencils all part of their day during the 30th anniversary of a prestigious writing program.
 
Sixty-two eighth-grade students from across the school district took part in the Writers Write Workshop. They traveled to Bennett Martin Public Library in downtown Lincoln for a full morning of educational activities. They met six published authors from Nebraska, produced their own writing pieces and shared their creations with fellow students.
 
Schoo Middle School student Alexis said she was excited to attend the workshop. LPS teachers selected students who have displayed exceptional writing skills in their classes for the program.
 
“I’ve done quite a bit of writing in school, but nothing like this before,” Alexis said as she arrived at the library. “I’m really looking forward to it. I think I’ll be able to take a lot of good things from the whole day.”
 
Nebraska poet Rex Walton was part of the panel of published authors who led the workshop. Walton shared his poem about watching the ocean in California during the day’s first session. He then helped Hayden, Brooklynn, Tesni, Jazzy, Isabella, Grayson, Kaleigh, Jilliana, Jesse and Nick develop their own successful sentences in a small group.
 
“It’s so much fun doing this,” Walton said. “I always get my hopes up about the world after I talk with the kids. When you see what they’re capable of, it’s something that always makes you feel better about things.”
 
Sara Danielson, curriculum specialist for secondary English and language arts at LPS, said it was important to help students expand their literature portfolios. She said the process of writing – generating an idea, searching for ways to express it and crafting the final product – helps build organizational talents, creativity, self-confidence and language arts knowledge.
 
“Writing is thinking, and this event allows students to explore their thinking in new and creative dimensions with a guide who understands the process,” Danielson said. “Of course, students receive strong writing instruction in their ELA courses. Writers Write lets students take those skills a step further with the benefit of a writing community made up of their peers and a knowledgeable practitioner to offer support and immediate feedback.”
 
Nebraska Literary Heritage Association (NLHA) members worked with LPS leaders in 1992 to pen the first edition of the Writers Write Workshop. They created the program to give eighth graders a chance to learn writing techniques from established authors. Many of the top novelists, poets and essayists in the state have participated with students.
 
The workshop was stopped for several years due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it has returned in full force. Co-organizer Becky Faber told a full crowd on the library’s fourth floor that she was thrilled to see everyone there. She asked them to continue filling their reservoirs of writing knowledge for the rest of their lives.
 
“Once that love of language and writing is a part of you, it doesn’t stop,” Faber said. “This is not a one-stop experience today.”
 
Faber said more than 1,500 students have taken part in the workshop since its inception. The 2024 class began the day with breakfast before listening to presentations from all six writers in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors. They read works about playing pianos of happiness, experiencing the migration of Sandhill cranes and reliving memories of their favorite childhood movies.
 
This year’s leadership team included Walton, a published poet who received the 2017 Nebraska Arts Council Artistic Achievement Award; Twyla Hansen, who served as Nebraska State Poet from 2013-19; Sandra Mathews-Benham, a Nebraska Wesleyan University professor who has published five books; Mary Hickman, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop who is a published essayist and NWU assistant professor; Lucy Adkins, a widely-published poet and author who has also written folk songs; and Nick Salestrom, a Southeast Community College instructor who earned the 2023 Nebraska Community College Association Outstanding Faculty Member Award.
 
Students tapped into that professional knowledge when they started writing. Each author shared the strategies they use for creating pieces of literature. They then watched as new works unfolded in front of their eyes. Students discussed their poems and stories in their small sections before returning to the entire 62-person group. Many then read their pieces aloud to everyone.
 
Danielson said the partnerships between students and professionals are beneficial for everybody.
 
“Creating something out of nothing is hard work, and our students get a glimpse into how seasoned writers push forward to make a piece better and better,” Danielson said. “Along the way, while working with students, the authors always end up invigorated and impressed by the work emerging from these young writers.”
 
Faber said it was exciting to watch students build their confidence through the Writers Write Workshop. She said the large number of graduates confirmed that the power of the pen is alive and well in Lincoln.
 
“I take that as a huge accomplishment,” Faber said. “This is obviously a successful program.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on April 03, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Austin, Aviation and Technical Education

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars, like North Star High School sophomore Austin, to choose their journeys. 

His love for mechanics and working with his hands has helped him soar with the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program. 

Read more about Austin’s Aviation and Technical Education experience in this Q&A as he is one of our featured Focus Program Scholars. 

Name: Austin

Home High School: North Star High School 

Grade: 10

Focus Program: Aviation and Technical Education at North Star  

Why did you choose the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program?

I like working with tools and my hands and these classes were available at my school. My teachers were able to give me guidance towards the aviation focus program to pursue my goals to be a professional aviation technician. 

What do you like most about the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program?

Getting to go to the hangar and work on my projects. Also, that I can be creative and learn more about engines and exploring my creative arts and also having fun while doing it. 

What makes the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program different?

Moving around, using tools, getting trusted with projects and certain tasks that I can use to my knowledge and fix everyday appliances. 

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program?  

By working well with my teacher and peers to learn industry-standard ways to do maintenance on outdoor power equipment. 

How has attending the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program empowered you as a student?

This has given me an opportunity to get high school credits while working with brand new aviation tools to help proceed with my goal of being an aviation technician, and later on down the road working towards college credits.  

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program?

I have been very lucky to have Amanda Woodward (program director) who has been persistent in guiding me on my adventure in the Aviation Focus Program to push me to work hard toward excellence and preparing me for everyday life. 

How has being a part of an LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience? 

I will be able to do the Duncan internship and have opportunities to go on to Duncan Aviation and be a professional technician and add to my high school career also with SkillsUSA.

How has the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program prepared you for the future?

This has given me a chance to meet lots of people from Duncan Aviation, and got me in SkillsUSA, where I get lots of opportunities to network to make the best plan for my future.

Why are focus programs like the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program important to high school students?

The Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program can create the next generation of aviation students and will teach them how to succeed the right way by achieving knowledge about aviation and small engines to prepare them to be our future aviation job workers.  

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program? 

How to slow down and focus on what I'm working on. I've learned a lot about how to do the things I thought were correct, and performing the correct demonstration on how to do certain tasks in the shop. I also have gained patience while working and learning to fix mechanical problems which takes time, effort and patience. 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program at North Star High School by visiting its website at https://aviation.lps.org/.

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on April 01, 2024

LPS students secure state awards for stellar artwork

Lincoln Public Schools students turned their artistic dreams into prize-winning reality at the 2024 Scholastic Art Awards of Nebraska contest.
 
More than three dozen LPS teenagers earned awards in the annual program, which features all types of artistic mediums. High school students from Arts and Humanities Focus Program, Lincoln High, East, North Star, Northwest and Southwest captured honors this year.

Lorinda Rice, visual art curriculum specialist at LPS, said she was happy to have a large number of students receive applause for their abilities.

“Scholastic has been compared to going to state in a sport and winning the championship,” Rice said. “It is always a good feeling to see LPS students being recognized for their creative and artistic talents. Gold and Silver Keys are a moment when our students are on the podium of excellence in the region.”
 
The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers (AYAW) oversees the national contest each year. The program's first round takes place in various regions worldwide. Participants had to be in grades 7-12 and live in the United States, Canada or U.S. territories or on U.S. military bases.
 
Students from across the state submitted entries to Nebraska Art Region judges this winter. Judges could present artists with Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards and American Visions Award nominations. They evaluated each entry without knowing any personal details about the young artists like their name or hometown.
 
There were no predefined contest themes for students to follow. This allowed their creative energy to come alive in categories such as photography, comic art, digital art, ceramics and glass, sculpture, drawing and illustration, media photography, portfolio, painting and mixed media.
 
Judges considered the AYAW’s core values of originality, skills and “emergence of a personal voice or vision” when they looked at each piece of art. They also considered elements that showcased talent and diversity of artistic media, viewpoints and backgrounds during the selection process.
 
Lincoln High sophomore Gabriella Johnson was one of a select few Nebraska students to be nominated for the American Visions Award. Nebraska Art Region judges could select up to five nominees for the award. Johnson entered a sculpture entitled “fatigue” in the contest. Judges gave her high marks for her artistic abilities with the sculpture.
 
AYAW leaders said all Gold Key artworks will automatically advance to national judging. AYAW will ask creative professionals who are based in New York City to review Gold Key winners from across the country. They will select recipients of national awards based on the same three criteria as regionals: skills, originality and emergence of a personal voice or vision.
 
Johnson and other students who earned American Visions Award nominations also advanced to national judging. AYAW leaders will announce national award recipients on June 14.

Rice said being recognized with state awards is a major achievement for all of the LPS recipients. She said it has been a key milestone in the lives of many current artists and professionals.

“Recognition by Scholastic goes back more than 100 years,” Rice said. “It is important for our students’ success in college applications and a demonstration of creative thinking and perseverance to a goal. Many talented students who have been recognized by Scholastic in high school have gone on to become some of the leaders in the fields of cinema, illustration, fashion and the fine arts communities.”
 
Omaha Public Schools is exhibiting artwork from Nebraska students who earned regional awards. Their artwork will be on display through April 19. Many LPS students also took part in a ceremony honoring regional winners this spring.

Click here to see artwork from all of this year’s LPS recipients.

Gold Key Recipients

Arts and Humanities Focus Program
Ethan Dudney – Comic Art – “Roaches vs Rats” – Freshman
Selah Pultz – Photography – “Ghost Gus” – Sophomore
 
East High School
Nicholas Li – Media Photography – “What Dreams Are Made Of” – Junior
Nicholas Li – Media Photography – “Burning Memories” – Junior
Nicholas Li – Media Painting – “Unwilling Lawyers” – Junior
Cheryl Zeng – Drawing and Illustration – “One Word Resolution” – Junior
 
Lincoln High
Gabriella Johnson – Sculpture – “fatigue” – Freshman (Gabriella also earned an American Visions Award nomination for her work)
Lane Hansen – Photography – “Flying Lights” – Freshman
 
North Star High School
Genesis Pompa-Ramirez – Photography – “Double Exposure Self Portrait” – Senior
Genesis Pompa-Ramirez – Photography – “Immigration: Bound” – Senior
Genesis Pompa-Ramirez – Photography – “Immigration: Missing Family” – Senior
Chase Strohmyer – Photography – “I Have the Power” – Junior
Chase Strohmyer – Photography – “Oreo Splash” – Junior
 
Southwest High School
Lily Huynh – Digital Art – “Mess of Death” – Sophomore
Lily Huynh – Digital Art – “Red String” – Sophomore
Tasa Nguyen – Digital Art – “Irremediable” – Junior

Silver Key Recipients

Arts and Humanities Focus Program
Adilynn Sonthana-Barak – Sculpture – “Fusion Ramen” – Senior
Milo Hintz – Digital Art – “Charged Spaces 1” – Senior
Anara McClure – Mixed Media – “Sea Nettle” – Senior
Natalia Velarde – Sculpture – “Achievement” – Sophomore
 
East High School
Elaine Yu – Painting – “Grandparent’s Village” – Junior
 
Lincoln High
Aurora Schroeder – Sculpture – “Fernando Pessoa” – Freshman
Hannah Chism – Ceramics and Glass – “ScareCrowCat” – Sophomore
Lane Hansen – Photography – “Departure” – Freshman
Lane Hansen – Photography – “Nature’s Reflection” – Freshman

North Star High School
Emma Covert – Photography – “Morning Rain” – Junior
Ryanna De La Cruz – Photography – “Looking Glass” – Senior
Genesis Pompa-Ramirez – Photography – “My Passions” – Senior
Chase Strohmyer – Photography – “Time Slice” – Junior
 
Southwest High School
Valerie Thulin – Photography – “Feelings” – Junior
Kyrie Wagner – Photography – “Cat Eye” – Junior

Honorable Mention Recipients

Arts and Humanities Focus Program
Anara McClure – Ceramics and Glass – “Do All Fairies Have Wings?” – Senior
Natalia Velarde – Sculpture – “Sorrow” – Sophomore
 
East High School
Elaine Yu – Painting – “Thinking With My Heart” – Junior
 
Lincoln High
Ramzi Abrahim – Portfolio – “Purpose” – Senior
Eli Larson – Portfolio – “Expressive Play” – Senior
Jaelynn Kelly – Ceramics and Glass – “Penguin” – Sophomore
 
North Star High School
Emma Covert – Photography – “Gold Fleur” – Junior
Chase Strohmyer – Photography – “Red/White I-80” – Junior
 
Northwest High School
Hajar Musawi – Drawing and Illustration – “If the Stars Align: The Story of the Large, Blank Canvas” – Senior
 
Southwest High School
Em Carel – Digital Art – “WET Cat” – Sophomore
Ava Pearson – Digital Art – “Magic of Destruction” – Senior
Ava Pearson – Drawing and Illustration – “What Dreams Are Made Of” – Senior

Posted on April 01, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Autumn Zenon-counselor at Lincoln High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Autumn Zenon, counselor at Lincoln High School.

“Autumn, who goes by Z to most, has made a huge impact in her new role as a school counselor. She is at total ease with students and families. She operates with a high level of care and empathy, but doesn't mince words with students and holds them to high expectations. If a student is in crisis or simply needs that quick check-in to recalibrate, many seek her out. One of the greatest things about working with her is that she takes her role seriously, but also recognizes the need to laugh and find joy in all the little things that happen throughout the day. Autumn has been making her mark at Lincoln High for a few years in her previous roles, but this year as a counselor, her impact is seen and felt in so many other ways by many more students and families.” Joshua Lupher, Lincoln High School associate principal.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a first-year counselor at LHS. I also coach the girls basketball team as well. 

How long have you worked for LPS?
In my role as a counselor, this is my first year. I held the attendance interventionist job for five years previously before transitioning into the counseling role.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Inspiration and aspiration: Seeing successful individuals from marginalized or underrepresented groups can inspire others to pursue their goals and dreams. It demonstrates that barriers can be overcome and success is achievable regardless of background.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Fostering positive relationships with students and witnessing their growth, maturity and ability to overcome obstacles is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an educator. Working with great colleagues has been an enriching and fulfilling experience.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
No, I'm from Dallas, Texas, originally. I graduated from Arlington Bowie High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I never for a second thought that I'd be a counselor. My plan was to coach at the collegiate level and that started with me being a graduate assistant coach. I received my first master’s degree from Southwest Baptist University in 2018, I was offered a high school JV coaching job at LHS and the rest is history. I started going to class in June of 2020 to work towards my second master’s degree in school counseling.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The LHS community in particular would be the inclusive environment that we foster for all individuals to feel a part of.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
My junior college basketball coach, Kelly Newton, instilled mental toughness and a willingness to prepare relentlessly and go for whatever it is that you want in life.

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

Posted on March 28, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Brett Krajewski-Math Teacher at Schoo Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Brett Krajewski, math teacher at Schoo Middle School.

“Mr. K is an easy-going, kind-hearted dude. Students regularly comment on his class and teaching style being enjoyable. Math can be a challenge for many, and Mr. K is always happy to help. Students are able to relate to Mr. K because he is our first staff member that attended Schoo Middle School. He knows what it feels like to be a student in our building!”—Schoo Middle School Social Studies Teacher Jake Bogus.

How long have you worked for LPS?
Three years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I have very fond memories of my childhood, and that is probably because of the caring adults around me who were looking out for me. I am hoping that I can help provide similar experiences for kids. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I love my day-to-day interactions with students. Every day is something new with eighth graders. They give me so much hope, optimism and entertainment, of course.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended Campbell Elementary School, Schoo Middle School and North Star High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended UNL and started as a biochemistry major. Two years in, I changed to math education. After graduating in 4.5 years, I taught ski school in Winter Park, Colo., for a season. Then, I came back to Lincoln to start my math teaching career at Schoo.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The people.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
My cross country and track coach gave me a book called "Coach K's Little Blue Book" and I still display it in my classroom for inspiration.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
My favorite teacher was Mr. Bock. He was my world history teacher at North Star. He was the most engaging teacher I've ever had and the best story-teller I've ever met. 

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

Posted on March 28, 2024

Students mark 75th LPS music festival with scores of successful notes

Lincoln Public Schools students made the words staccato, crescendo and countermelody come to life at a special celebration of music in March.
 
Sixth-grade students from across the school district took part in the 75th annual All-City Music Festival. The weeklong event allows young orchestra and band musicians to rehearse and play songs together with students from other LPS buildings each year. LPS high school students also mentor sixth graders.
 
The happiness for Solomon and Grace was on a mountaintop level as they practiced scales before their rehearsal at Southeast High School. Both said they were excited to meet students from other schools throughout the day. Dozens of musicians from Lux, Mickle and Pound middle schools came together to practice pieces for a public concert that night.
 
“I like that there are a lot of people here,” Solomon said. “It’s fun to play music with other people who like it too.”
 
“You get to hear what everyone else is doing with music,” Grace said. “It’s cool to hear what they’re doing, because it might be something you want to do too.”
 
Grace plays cello in Lux’s orchestra and Solomon plays trumpet in Pound’s band. Both said they have enjoyed learning about their instruments over the past several years.
 
“I like it,” Solomon said. “I like the higher tones of the brass instruments, so trumpet is fun to play.”
 
“It sounds really cool, and I like how many tones you can make with it,” Grace said. “It’s fun.”
 
Musicians from Dawes, Goodrich and Schoo practiced two days earlier at Northwest High School, and students from Moore and Scott played their notes at Southwest. Students from Culler, Irving, Lefler and Park wrapped up the week of activities with their rehearsals and concerts.
 
The All-City Music Festival takes place each year during Music in Our Schools Month. The nationwide celebration highlights the vital roles that instrumental and vocal music classes play in school districts. LPS includes music courses, events and presentations in its curriculum at all grade levels.
 
LPS Music Supervisor Amy Holloman said the festival has many benefits.
 
“Students and staff alike look forward to this annual event,” Holloman said. “With the tradition carrying on for 75 years, members of the community and families have the connection of a shared experience through performing. Bringing students together from multiple schools allows them to participate in one of the largest ensembles they will experience, to provide an extended learning opportunity beyond what is typically experienced in the classroom and create a larger sense of community.”
 
Thousands of LPS students have taken part in the All-City Music Festival over the past 75 years. In addition to providing younger musicians with a chance to learn from each other, the event also helps high school students. Band and orchestra players who once looked up to older mentors when they were sixth graders are now able to serve in their own leadership spots.
 
Pound music teachers Ian Wright and Amy Gammel began the afternoon rehearsal by walking students through the first run-throughs of their songs. Wright guided orchestra members and Gammel gave directions to band students. Music teachers from both Lux and Mickle assisted them as they worked on songs such as “Bach Country Fiddle” and “Do-Si-Do.”
 
“It is great to see so many people,” Wright told students at the beginning of practice. “Look at this great group. This is fantastic.”
 
Grace and Solomon were members of ensembles that filled one full half of Southeast’s gym. Holloman said those numbers were the source of many good lessons for students. She said changing the size and makeup of the groups flexed their musical and social skills.
 
“Students must also adjust their personal playing based on the size of their section to maintain balance as a whole,” Holloman said. “For example, at one of our sites we had 29 percussionists. While in their own building, these students may be one of three to four members of their section, and they need to play out to be heard.
 
“When combining with so many other percussionists, the students may need to play at half the dynamic level since there are physically more players in the section. Students must experience the change in balance of instrumentation to learn the skills needed to analyze and adjust for a successful performance.”
 
The larger numbers also meant all groups could create a rich range of sounds. Smiling students at Southeast plucked their stringed instruments in one section of a song, and band musicians relied on different instruments to take center stage throughout their concert.
 
Holloman felt the festival provided a firm foundation for everyone’s future musical careers. She said students like Grace and Solomon would be able to play successful notes for many years to come.
 
“As students continue in their music programs, their prospects for honors groups and participation in the larger music community increases,” Holloman said. “Our sixth-grade festival is the first time our students experience this large sense of community and challenge their skill set to adjust within such a large ensemble.”

Click here to learn more about the positive impact of music in the LPS curriculum. A list of upcoming performances at all grade levels is available on the district music calendar.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 27, 2024

LPS students place at 2024 NSAA State Speech Championships

Fifty-one students from five LPS high schools traveled to Kearney on Wednesday, March 20, for the 2024 NSAA Class A State Speech Championships. Several students earned medals by placing in the top six for their events, and four of the teams placed in the top ten for overall team sweepstakes. 

A list of LPS state speech medalists can be found below.

Lincoln Southwest

Team Sweepstakes - Fifth place

Brooklyn Bruggeman & Jack Anderson - State Runners-up, Duo Interpretation

Brooklyn Shoemaker & Mason Farmer - Fourth place, Duo Interpretation

Claire Timperley - Third place, Informative Speaking

Maya Stevenson - Fourth place, Informative Speaking

Mason Farmer - Fourth place, Oral Interpretation of Poetry

Brooklyn Bruggeman - Fourth place, Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose

Lincoln East

Team Sweepstakes - State Champions

Claire Rooney & Jack Welstead - Third place, Duo Interpretation

Korben Ockander & Abena Bonsu - Fifth place, Duo Interpretation

Jack Welstead - Sixth place, Entertainment Speaking

Isabella Razdan - State Champion, Extemporaneous Speaking

Leo Goldberg - State Runner-up, Extemporaneous Speaking

Gavin Foust, Luke Nash, Annabeth Schubert, Amelia Schupbach and Sophia Wang - State Runners-up, Oral Interpretation of Drama

Ellie Hiser, Alex Jurrens, Vesta Anderson, Evan Volkmer and Harper Schupbach - Third place, Oral Interpretation of Drama

Max Apel - State Runner-up, Oral Interpretation of Humorous Prose

Claire Rooney - State Champion, Oral Interpretation of Poetry

Abena Bonsu - Third place, Oral Interpretation of Poetry

Max Apel - State Runner-up, Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose

Nusrat Amin - Fifth place, Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose

Leo Goldberg - State Runner-up, Persuasive Speaking

Max Apel - State Champion, Program Oral Interpretation

Jack Welstead - Third place, Program Oral Interpretation

Lincoln Southeast

Team Sweepstakes - Third place

DaZayah Hartshorn-Harvey - State Champion, Entertainment Speaking

Lillias McKillip - State Champion, Informative Speaking

Olivia Nelson - State Runner-up, Informative Speaking

Lillias McKillip - Third place, Extemporaneous Speaking

Olivia Nelson - Third place, Oral Interpretation of Humorous Prose

Kalainey Nickel - Sixth place, Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose

Kalainey Nickel - Fourth place, Program Oral Interpretation

Lincoln North Star

Team Sweepstakes - Eighth place

Elijah Standeven - Fifth place, Oral Interpretation of Humorous Prose

Mabruka Mumade - Fifth place, Persuasive Speaking

Posted on March 22, 2024

Irving interweaves families’ stories through “One Book, One Family” club

Irving Middle School is connecting its students and families one book at a time. 

The school’s “One Book, One Family” book club meets monthly in the evening allowing the Aardvarks to build bonds inside and outside the classroom through literature. Irving parent and co-president of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Nichole Palmer and her eighth-grade daughter Edie have been involved for three years. 

“I love meeting the other families,” Palmer said. “I love that Edie and I are able to have a connection of sharing this book and reading it, and we do discuss it at home as well as discussing it here in the group. I just think it's a great way to stay connected with my student.” 

Irving librarian Jenn Cejda helps lead the club. It's been a longstanding Irving tradition, but she’s been organizing it since she joined the school in 2011. Each month, Cejda picks a new title for the families to dive into, which equals six different books a year.  

The club is open to all Irving families from grades 6 to 8. Cejda believes that this inclusion is essential to the positive experience, which helps students make friends throughout the school. 

“I feel like it's just bringing us closer together and we're making more friendships,”  Edie said. 

So far this year, the club has covered topics such as sustainability, body image, book censorship and the Holocaust. Cejda said she strives to choose books that would create good discussion and encourage exploration of various genres.

“It helps me understand more of what I do like to read and what I don’t like to read,” Irving seventh-grade student Koen said. 

He and his mom Lori Von Scheliha participate in the club. The family got involved when the oldest child attended Irving. Koen and Lori said the experience helped bring them together in a new way. 

“It has allowed me to spend some one-on-one time and share with them being big readers,” Von Scheliha said. 

“Parents don't always get the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities with their students,” Cejda said. “This club gives parents and students the opportunity to participate together by reading the same book. This leads to a sharing of thoughts, opinions and conversations because they are having the same experience through literature.” 

Cejda also tries to bring the books to life with unique presentations. Some past examples include her inviting fencers to discuss the world of fencing and a speaker from a local Indigenous group to share Native American heritage. Participants mentioned how much they appreciate the diversity of books that they read during the club, widening their literary tastes and understanding of different topics. 

“Another thing that I love about Mrs. Cejda and this club in general is it's very inclusive,” Palmer said. “She wants us to read books that people can see themselves in the book, and I think that's pretty awesome.” 

“It doesn’t seem like any topic is off limits,” Von Scheliha said. “It’s like just a safe environment now to share ideas and encourages kids to be challenged in their thinking, but feel safe to share their own ideas.” 

Community is one of the biggest aspects of Irving’s “One Book, One Family” club. Cejda aims to create a family atmosphere with each gathering by providing dinner. Irving Principal Rachael Kluck-Spann said she believes these relationships forged through the club are key to the school’s culture. 

“These connections to school are pivotal because the more adults students have in their lives to provide guidance, support and care equates to a caring school community,” Kluck-Spann said.

“I really hope that both students and parents gain a new love of reading for pleasure by having this time to explore different types of literature,” Cejda said. “I hope they gain a greater understanding of each other as they listen to discussions and diversity of opinions offered. Mostly, I just want to give them time together.” 

Irving provides the books for the families through donations from the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. The families are welcome to keep the novels or donate them to the school’s library.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 22, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Tom Walker-Assistant Custodial Supervisor at Kooser Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Tom Walker, assistant custodial supervisor at Kooser Elementary School.

“Tom, or Mr. Tom as the Kooser students call him, is hard working, dedicated, loyal and positive. All of the 900+ students adore Mr. Tom and enjoy bringing him encouraging notes and crafts. No matter what is thrown at Tom during his day, he always graciously says ‘okay’ and ‘no problem.’ Things done behind the scenes are sometimes taken for granted, but it is very well known that Mr. Tom is behind them during the day at Kooser Elementary.”- Stacey Vollbrecht, registrar at Kooser Elementary School. 

How long have you worked for LPS?
Ten years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
The encouragement of people I knew who were employed at LPS who thought I would be a good fit and would also have opportunities for advancement.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite thing is being around young kids and being able to make them smile and hopefully having an overall positive influence on people.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended Saratoga Elementary School from kindergarten to fourth grade, then Arnold Elementary School, Goodrich Middle School and Lincoln High School, graduating in 1980.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After graduating high school, I worked for 30 years as a pressman at Nebraska Litho and Jacob North Printing.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
My favorite books as a child were any and all of the Peanuts paperback collection. Snoopy is my favorite character.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The progressiveness and the diversity of the community.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
The teachers I remember fondly are the entire staff of teachers whose rooms I was responsible for cleaning when I first got to Kooser. As I got to know them, they made me feel like an important part of the school community and became like an extended family.

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

Posted on March 22, 2024

Schoo students secure national recognition for literary magazine

Schoo Middle School students have used their writing talents to create literature as refreshing as a cool glass of lemonade.
 
Students earned national recognition for the 2023 edition of the “Philography” literary magazine. The school publication, entitled “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade,” features 81 pages of poetry, non-fiction and fiction writing and two artwork pieces.
 
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) honored Schoo students this winter through the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) contest. They earned a Distinguished Award for their work. Student editors Maarib, Zoryana, Abiyo, Ren, Amalia, Madi, Maya, Shelby and Marianna oversaw the project as eighth graders.

 
Abiyo said all of the student editors were proud of what the team accomplished at Schoo. Abiyo is a freshman at Northwest High School this year and is enjoying success in both academics and activities.
 
“Working on the literary magazine at Schoo was a lot of fun,” Abiyo said. “I learned a lot about how to edit others’ work and help organize a literary magazine, which is something I never did until last school year.”
 
Eighth-grade English teacher Amanda Petersen said she was thrilled when REALM judges unveiled the national awards. Petersen has worked at Schoo for seven years and submitted the Philography edition to the contest. She and former Schoo teacher Mackenzie Santos were co-advisors of the magazine, but the student team edited and arranged all of the content.
 
“I was really pleased because we had never used student editors before, so to see students fully earn some recognition is really exciting,” Petersen said. “It was great to see that even though teachers were a little less hands-on, it was still able to do pretty well.”

 
Philography began in 2022 when Lincoln Public Schools included more creative writing in the middle school English curriculum. Former Schoo teacher Maggie Deschaine Wiehn, who now leads Northwest’s English department, created a literary magazine unit for students. She and Petersen did all of the editing for the inaugural magazine, which earned an Excellent Award in that year’s REALM contest.
 
Petersen and Santos began the 2023 magazine journey by teaching their classes how to identify and create poetry, non-fiction and fiction plots. Students made suggestions for the overall magazine theme before voting for the “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade” plan. They spent several class periods coming up with ideas for their individual projects before completing their submissions.
 
“My really big push is that I want every student to have a voice and express themselves, so we publish pretty much everything the students submit,” Petersen said. “Even if there are students who are like, ‘I don’t really want to submit,’ we ask them to do so, so they can get the feeling of what it’s like to see your work in a magazine. They can feel like it has purpose beyond just getting a grade.”

 
The 2023 Philography pieces tackled a wide variety of subjects. Some explored upbeat topics such as summer plans and creating artwork, but others focused on serious issues such as broken relationships, anxiety, acceptance and loneliness. Many students also incorporated the lemons-to-lemonade theme in their submissions.
 
“They’re stuck in a really big moment of transition in their life, and that is just heavy,” Petersen said. “The fact that they have exhausted feelings and emotions about it in one way or another is not surprising.”
 
Petersen and Santos asked Maarib, Zoryana, Abiyo, Ren, Amalia, Madi, Maya, Shelby and Marianna if they would be willing to be student editors. The nine Skyhawks stayed after school for several days reviewing every submission from their classmates.
 
“Our student editors did a fantastic job,” Petersen said. “There were quite a few of them and they all had to work together, they’re all from different classes and they’re not necessarily friends, so they did a really nice job coming together and being collaborative. Watching them piece it together and decide which pieces go where was very impressive.”
 
Abiyo said being a member of the student editor team was a rewarding experience.
 
“I learned a lot about the people who sent pieces to be in the magazine,” Abiyo said. “When I worked with the other student editors I wasn’t close with them at first, but with more meetings I started to learn more about people I thought I didn’t have anything in common with. It was cool to work together on the magazine.”

REALM judges used a scoring rubric to evaluate magazines from across the United States. They reviewed submissions from middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities.

 
North Star High School captured a Superior Award in the REALM contest. Student editors Aubrie and Gabby and faculty editor Katherine Hill guided the 2023 “Istoria” publication. Omaha Marian High School was the only other Nebraska award recipient.
 
Schoo students will learn the theme for the 2024 magazine at the start of the fourth quarter. They will vote on options for the cover-page illustration before submitting their pieces. Petersen said she is confident they will match the refreshing quality of the lemons-to-lemonade content.
 
“We’ll see what our students have this year when we start writing,” Petersen said. “I’m sure it will be something good.”

Click here to read more of the students' award-winning literary works. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 20, 2024

LPS empowers student civic engagement with voter registration drives

Dozens of Northwest High School students exercised their civic rights during the school’s first-ever student voter registration in early March.

A handful of Falcons helped their peers sign up to vote or walked them through how to change their previous registration. Any student turning 18 before the General Election on Nov. 5 could register.

Northwest junior Brigitte was one of the students who stopped by the booth and was surprised by the ease of the process. 

“It's really easy,” she said. “So, if you think it's like a difficult, long, tedious process, it's not. I thought it was. It really was not – it took me like less than two minutes.”

The Lancaster County Commissioner helps deputize each Lincoln Public Schools high school student who volunteers to help with their school’s voter registration drives. The deputized students not only assist with the registration process but also give them updated information about Nebraska and Lancaster elections, including the state’s new Voter ID law. 

Northwest seniors Alex and Logan were eager to volunteer their time to help mobilize the next generation of voters. 

“It's awesome seeing kids coming up to the booth excited,” Alex said. “I mean, a lot of kids not knowing that they'll even be able to vote, and just seeing them happy and smiling as they get to know they're making a change in this country is so good to see.” 

“It’s like a very rare opportunity to be able to do this,” Logan said. “So I'm taking advantage of it while we have the chance to. I feel like it's really important.” 

LPS has hosted student voter registration drives each spring for more than two decades. This year, seven high schools and the Bryan Community Focus Program organized them to get students signed up for the upcoming elections. LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist  Jaci Kellison said the timing intentionally encourages more young voters to participate. 

“The upcoming local elections help add momentum to voter registration drives because students know that they will have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in just a couple months, which will in turn increase the likelihood that they will continue to exercise their right to vote over time,” Kellison said. 

“Everyone has a point in life when they begin to realize how policy decisions directly affect their lives, and many of those policy decisions that have accumulated over the last few decades have certainly affected recent generations in unprecedented ways,” Northwest social studies teacher Edgar Torres said.  “We have already seen young people vote in record numbers during the last two election cycles!”

The educator also led the organization of  Northwest’s student voter registration event. He and Kellison said these events are a great curriculum tie to what LPS seniors are learning about the U.S. government in the classroom. 

“These drives, as well as any other hands-on experiences, are important because it helps students realize that the things we talk about in class are not some made-up fantasy,” Torres said. “These drives help them feel like they have a vital role to play within our democracy. They feel official!”

The future young voters are making the connections as well. 

“If they want to see a change in how politics is run, that they are the change,” Brigitte said. “Our opinions matter because we are going to be the new adults. So, for them to know they can make a change.”  

About 40 students registered at Northwest during its drive. Educators encouraged eligible student voters to sign up online if they can’t make it to the booth during the school day. Last year, more than 700 LPS high school students registered to vote. 

 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 19, 2024

Intramurals help LPS students coin success stories over past 40 years

Smiles were the currency of choice at Southeast High School during a recent celebration of the Lincoln Public Schools middle school intramurals program.
 
Dozens of LPS middle school students marked the 40th anniversary of valuable activities such as speech, debate and creative drama. They listened to former and current LPS students and teachers testify about the importance of intramurals in their lives. They then exchanged storylines, debate arguments and poetry presentations in classrooms.
 
Moore Middle School seventh-grade student Leah and Lux Middle School eighth-grade student Cora said they were happy to be in intramurals. Both said they would encourage other students to join in future years.
 
“It’s a lot of fun and there’s no harm learning about something like this,” Leah said.
 
“I think it’s really cool to be able to get a preview of these intramurals before you enter an actual team in high school,” Cora said. “It’s definitely why I joined.”
 
LPS alum Rhett Bothwell is a speech instructor with the program. Bothwell attended classes at Pershing Elementary School and Mickle Middle School before graduating from East High School in 2021. He said watching current students coin their success stories was rewarding.
 
“You can see exactly when you watch them what happens when they put their all into it, because they do, and that’s something a lot of teachers benefit from,” Bothwell said. “They get more of these kids’ all, because they know what it means to put their all in.”
 
Former Lincoln High teacher and theater director John Heineman and Ruth Kay, a former teacher at both Irving and Lefler middle schools, felt intramurals would benefit many seventh- and eighth-grade students. They approached Lincoln Board of Education members with a proposal for speech and debate activities on May 24, 1983. Board members enthusiastically green-lighted the request for the upcoming school year.
 
Intramurals initially took place after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the fall. In 1987, the school district moved the program to Saturday mornings of January and February and it has remained in that time slot ever since. Board members approved adding creative drama activities for sixth-grade students in 2003.
 
Sara Danielson, curriculum specialist for secondary English and language arts at LPS, said the eight-week program is open each year to all students enrolled at a LPS middle school. Some participate in solo speech categories such as informative, entertainment and humorous prose, and others take part in group activities.
 
Students from different schools work together to write skits and participate in speech and debate sessions. Family members watch them showcase their hard work during a public performance day.
 
Southeast High School paraeducator Michelle Stewart has been involved with intramurals for many years as both a facilitator and instructor. She felt the activities have paid a vast sum of educational dividends.
 
Smith said composure has been one of the most noticeable benefits she has seen. Students learn how to handle unexpected moments in all of their activities successfully. This teaches them how to turn life’s curveballs into home runs as adults.
 
“When something doesn’t go as planned, they can still swing with it and carry on without anyone noticing,” Stewart said.
 
Stewart said the middle school intramurals program is structured to help students collect different sets of skills. Sixth-grade participants learn about improvisation, teamwork, poise and public speaking through creative drama. Older students build more organized presentations with their formal speeches, and they improve their analytical abilities in their debate sessions. All of them gain friendships, confidence and critical thinking skills.
 
Cora and Leah said that has been true for them in debate this year. Ten students examined the topic of “Preschool should be mandatory for all children.” They didn’t know before the debate which side they would be assigned to present, which meant they might have to overcome personal preferences during the event.
 
Cora said that stretched their persuasive abilities and helped them grow.
 
“It’s one of those things that they encouraged us about too, kind of before,” Cora said. “That ability to argue something you don’t believe in.”
 
Bothwell said his time in intramurals opened many new doors in his life. He relied on his speech experiences in middle school to become a state qualifier on East’s speech and one-act play teams.
 
“If I hadn’t done that I would not have even attempted to go into speech. I was totally dead set on going into theater, and theater alone,” Bothwell said. “And then I didn’t make it into my first audition at theater, and speech was right there, and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I should try it out.’ As soon as I tried out speech, the next year I was in every play and from then on, every play, every musical.”
 
Bothwell said he believed intramurals would continue to provide a large amount of educational income for every LPS participant.
 
“This is a great program,” Bothwell said. “I’m glad I’ve been a part of it for as long as I have, including when I was a student performing.”

Learn more about the Middle School Drama, Speech, Debate Intramurals Program on our website at https://home.lps.org/english/intramural-drama-speech-and-debate/.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 15, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Megan Euler-Seventh Grade Science Teacher at Culler Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Megan Euler, seventh grade science teacher at Culler Middle School.

“Megan is a highly dedicated professional who knows how to motivate her students to strive for excellence. Megan is compassionate and has the desire and ability to learn new skills. She is well-versed in meeting the needs for all students in her classroom, and she continues to improve her knowledge of diverse learners in order to better engage her students in the process of education.” - Mary Herrington, science teacher at Culler Middle School. 

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a seventh grade science teacher at Culler Middle School. This is my 16th year as a teacher and 11th year at Culler. I coach girls volleyball, girls basketball and boys basketball at Culler. Additionally, two years ago I became the Multi-tiered systems of support for behavior (MTSS-B) liaison for my school. This has let me be a part of creating positive behavior celebrations for our students and helping teachers and staff create systems to hold students and themselves accountable using a restorative mindset and skillset.

How long have you worked for LPS?
Sixteen years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
My mother taught in LPS for 42 years. I remember how much she cared about and invested in those thousands of students. I wanted to make the same impact and share my love of learning and experiences in life.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The individual relationships and individual progress both emotional and intellectual.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
Rousseau Elementary School, Irving Middle School and Southeast High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and got a degree in construction management engineering. I worked in the construction industry for a few years after college. After leaving the construction industry, I wanted to become a teacher. When I enrolled in the master’s program at UNL, I was offered a research position with the construction management engineering program. Through that position I was able to earn a master's of engineering and a master's of education as well as getting my teaching certificate. During that time I helped with research through the Department of Transportation and Farmland Foods. I also was able to be the instructor of record for multiple semesters of undergrad and graduate-level courses in the Construction Management Engineering Department.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
I am an avid reader, so picking one book is impossible. I challenge myself to read outside my favorite genre to experience the world in as many lenses as possible.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The diversity.  

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mrs. Capps was my math teacher at Rousseau. She made math interesting and challenging at the same time. The classroom environment was welcoming and comfortable. I will never forget her African grey parrot singing, "I've got the whole world in my hand..." and teaching us his math facts.

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

Posted on March 15, 2024

Southeast woodworking project turns old plastics into new picnic table

Southeast High School students are proving that plastic forks, knives and spoons don’t have to see their lifespans end once families use them at picnic sites.
 
Members of Aaron Svik’s skilled and technical sciences (STS) class are creating a picnic table from plastic-generated recycled lumber. Omaha-based First Star Recycling donated lumber made from hard-to-recycle plastics to Lincoln Public Schools this semester. Southeast is the first LPS site to use the material through the Project School Board initiative.
 
Sam is a senior in Svik’s woodworking class and has taken a leading role in the venture. He has finished many construction projects at both home and school with natural lumber, but this is his first time moving recycled wood under a table saw. He was enthusiastic about having a chance to work with the material at school.
 
“I just think it’s a good idea to reuse the plastic,” Sam said. “We waste a lot of it, so it’s nice to have another use for it.”
 
Svik said he was intrigued when LPS Sustainability Coordinator Brittney Wees told him about the possibility of using recycled lumber. Svik provided project specifications to First Star Recycling earlier this school year, and he picked up all of the donated lumber and blueprints in mid-February. He said it has been a good learning experience for his students.
 
“It works just like regular lumber, so there was really no difference there other than there’s a few times we had to remind ourselves that we’re not quickly able to just get more, so we had to double check: measure twice, cut once,” Svik said.
 
Svik’s construction knowledge has played a key role in the project. He has taught STS classes at Southeast for 26 years and has helped students build wooden picnic tables for Prescott Elementary School and a local outdoor business. He has also used similar recycled products before on personal projects.
 
Wees was thrilled when Svik said he was on board with the project. The final location for the picnic table is still to be determined, but Wees said it is highly likely it will be placed at one of the LPS elementary schools.
 
“Manufactured materials like this are not something new, so there’s a lot of examples out there,” Wees said. “It’s really something that’s been vetted as stable and sturdy that’s safe to use for something like a picnic table.”
 
The project came about after Wees and other LPS sustainability team members began a pilot program with special orange recycling bags. Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy helped LPS purchase the bags through a waste reduction and recycling grant.
 
People can place hard-to-recycle materials such as granola bar wrappers, Styrofoam cups, plastic film and plastic cutlery in the orange bags. First Star Recycling can turn all of those items into a material that looks like large strands of carpet or insulation. Those can then be merged into bigger products such as lumber.
 
Wees said the emergence of new recycling technology has been energizing. She displayed a plastic spoon, fork and knife in Southeast’s woodshop as she talked about the environmental advantages of the new lumber.
 
“These are all types of materials that previously would have had to end up in our landfill, and now they have a place to be recycled and turned into something new,” Wees said.
 
Wees said using recycled lumber reduces the number of trees that are harvested. There is also long-term value for building recycled picnic tables in Nebraska. Unlike natural wood, lumber made from recycled plastics will not rot or splinter.
 
“The wooden ones will break down eventually, but this is something that won’t rot,” Wees said. “It’s really exciting from that standpoint.”
 
Sam said he began the project with the same mindset as working with natural lumber. He took measurements and used a table saw to cut boards into either angles or straight lines. He then drilled holes in the pieces and installed bolts to connect them together.
 
“It’s not too different,” Sam said. “It’s basically the same stuff. It’s maybe just a little heavier.”
 
Wees said the picnic table project symbolizes how the district is teaching environmental skills to students. She was happy to see the Knights combine their STS talents with sustainability goals.
 
“Students obviously in these types of classes are gaining real skills, whether they’re going to go on to use them in a career or just in their personal life,” Wees said. “Having this opportunity for them to get their hands on this recycled plastic lumber is just one more way they can start seeing, ‘This is a viable product for me to use, I can be purchasing something that is better for the environment, I can be mindful of how I’m impacting my natural resources.’”
 
Wees said the LPS Operations Department has asked her about potentially building sheds and cabinetry with recycled lumber. She said STS students at other district schools would also have chances to create future projects.
 
“Really, the whole district is excited to start working with this locally-manufactured material,” Wees said.
 
That includes Sam, who is happy to know many generations will enjoy meals on his picnic table.
 
“I think it will be pretty cool to have this be around,” Sam said.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 14, 2024

LPS students chart their course through Rock the Trades Career Fair

Gabby, Julio, Faythe and Natalie are using skilled trade compasses to point their futures in a positive direction at North Star High School.
 
The four Navigators joined more than 180 students in North Star’s new aviation hangar for the Rock the Trades Career Fair. Representatives from 26 businesses, community colleges and trade organizations spoke with potential future employees during the event.
 
Gabby, a junior, said it has been fun to watch Rock the Trades grow since its inception three years ago. The first fair included 80 students and ten organizations. The 2024 event featured a wide array of professions such as agriculture, aviation and automotive technology. It was co-sponsored by North Star’s counseling center and the Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program.
 
“This is really nice because you can experience so much all in one spot,” Gabby said. “If you have questions, everybody is more than happy to answer them, and there are a ton of good careers for people to choose from. It’s pretty awesome.”
 
While Gabby was speaking with a representative from one of the organizations, Natalie was working with her fellow SkillsUSA members in another section of the hangar. SkillsUSA students helped businesses set up their booths prior to the fair and answered questions from their classmates. The sophomore said the ability to speak face-to-face with career professionals was a major drawing point.
 
“This gives you a chance to learn about everything that’s out there,” Natalie said. “It’s really cool to meet people who are in their fields and hear what it’s like to work at their jobs. Talking with them makes a big difference. It really helps prepare you for your future.”
 
Allison Brown met students from both North Star and Northeast High School as they entered the fair. This was the first year that Rockets were invited to join the fair. Brown, who serves as secretary of North Star’s counseling center, said educators saw the need for Rock the Trades several years ago. They wanted to ensure students who were not on a four-year-college track received the same type of opportunities.
 
“We have robust college fairs, but there wasn’t an equivalent for students who did not want to choose that path,” Brown said. “Rock the Trades has been purposefully curated to best serve a population of students who are interested in getting to work quickly after high school graduation. Our mission is to connect every student with a pathway to a rewarding, financially-stable career.”
 
Skilled and technical sciences teacher Amanda Woodward and lead counselor Sherri Svoboda have been two of the driving forces behind the event. Both have been passionate about helping students who are looking to head into trade schools, apprenticeships or on-the-job careers. They were thrilled with the large attendance this year.
 
“There are more options than kids realize,” Woodward said. “There’s automotive trades, construction trades, aviation, electrician, the list goes on and on. There are thousands of different options for them, and so many of them are available right here in Lincoln. I think this gives them a chance to realize how many opportunities there are.”
 
“Not every student is planning to go to a four-year college after they graduate,” Svoboda said. “We want to show them that there are other routes to go. There are a lot of high-paying, in-demand jobs that are available to them, and these are good jobs that can become lifelong careers.”
 
Julio is charting one of those courses. The senior is planning to attend a local flight school next year to become a commercial flight mechanic. He is currently participating in an aviation internship and has learned many aspects of the trade.
 
“It takes a lot of technology and mechanical systems to be able to have a plane work,” Julio said. “It’s really interesting to see everything that goes into it. This is something I definitely want to do for a career.”
 
Many organizations provided hands-on activities and short presentations. For example, students who visited one booth could operate an excavator simulator near the hangar’s main door. Students at other tables examined tools, worked with circuit boards and looked over detailed brochures and pamphlets.
 
Faythe, a junior, said she was impressed with all of the positive conversations she was overhearing at the fair.
 
“It’s so much fun to see other students figure out what they might want to do for a career,” Faythe said. “You can see it in their faces when they’re talking with someone and you hear how excited they are about what they can do. The fair really helps a lot of people.”
 
Gabby, a future aviation mechanic, said Rock the Trades has been one of the many activities she has enjoyed at North Star. She felt the academic avenues at Lincoln Public Schools have pointed her future in a positive direction.
 
“These skills are helpful for just about anything,” Gabby said. “I want to be able to fix my own car. I want to be able to change the oil by myself. I’ve really liked it here at school, because I’m learning the type of problem-solving skills that I’m going to need in life.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 11, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Anya, International Baccalaureate (IB)

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars, like Lincoln High School senior Anya, to choose their journeys. Anya learned about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Lincoln High when her family moved to Lincoln in 2019. Believing it would be a great stepping stone for college, she joined the program allowing her to explore her interests like music and math more in-depth. 

Read more about Anya’s IB experience in this Q&A as she is one of March’s featured Focus Program Scholars. 

Name: Anya

Home High School: Lincoln High School

Grade: 12

Focus Program: International Baccalaureate (IB) at Lincoln High 

Why did you choose the IB Focus Program?

I chose the IB Program because I wanted a challenging education with college preparation. 

What do you like most about the IB Focus Program?

What I liked most about the IB Program was the challenging, unique and interesting material, along with the skill-building and the helpful staff. We learn about real-world and current local and global situations.

What makes the IB Focus Program different?

The material, the smaller  – but not completely cut-off  –  community, and the emphasis on writing essays distinguish the IB Program.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the IB Program?

The IB courses dive deep into many different subject areas.  

I play the piano, so I joined the IB music class, which taught me about music all over the globe along with how to compose and analyze music effectively. There are other art classes such as IB art and IB theater. 

I also love mathematics, so I took the IB high-level math course, which allowed me to view math in another lens beyond just memorizing formulas. There are three IB math classes to choose from, along with multiple science courses. 

How has attending the IB Focus Program empowered you as a student?

The IB Program empowered me as a student by making me more confident in my academic and social ability by improving problem-solving skills, showing me what college life and organization may feel like, learning to improve my time management, articulating my thoughts, understanding epistemological thought and learning to write powerful essays. 

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at the IB Program?

My relationships with other students are fulfilling. There are students who are willing to help and/or collaborate with material.  

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?

Everyone’s high school experience and goals are different. I wanted to learn about real-world ideas and problems, practice higher-level thinking and have a social community. The IB Program allowed me to meet these goals, as they are strongly encouraged. 

How has the IB Program prepared you for the future?

The IB Program prepared me for the future by showing me what college may look like. As difficult as the program was at times, I’m grateful that I overcame those challenges and acquired some skills now instead of my freshman year of college. That way when challenges appear in college, I am far more prepared. 

While the IB Program is very useful for college preparation, if a student decides that they don’t want to go to college after high school, they will be able to think in creative ways and have structure in their time.

Why are focus programs like the IB Focus Program important to high school students?

You can’t get these programs everywhere. It’s another opportunity for teenagers to improve their education and make them strong candidates for college. 

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the IB Focus Program? 

Some of the greatest things I’ve learned in the IB Program are learning to understand and synthesize cause and effect, absolutely broadening my perspective of the world that many grow up with, the causes of events in early human history and synthesizing and hypothesizing my own ideas. The IB history courses are very comprehensive. I wasn’t really a “history person” until I took pre-IB and IB history courses. 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Lincoln High by visiting its website at https://home.lps.org/ib/.

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on March 08, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Mindy Robinson-Bus Driver for Prescott Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Mindy Robinson, bus driver for Prescott Elementary School’s Early Childhood Education Program.

“Mindy has been a phenomenal bus driver for our preschool students at Prescott. She goes above and beyond in the duties of her job. She makes all students and parents feel welcome and safe on the bus. She understands child development and the individual needs of our students. She expresses so much care for the kids. She has great communication skills between our staff and families. She addresses children and families by name. She has created an organized system to get students into the seats quickly and safely.” - Prescott Early Childhood Education Team

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
My main role is to transport children safely to and from home and school.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I have worked for LPS off and on since 2017.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I love my job and hope to make a difference in the children's lives. I want them to want to come to school every day knowing there is someone there for them.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part would be as we get ready to turn the corner on Harwood the kids will yell "School, School, School!" Most rewarding is when you have a student who is nonverbal start talking, and you get to witness that or when you get a child who is crying for whatever reason to laugh at one of your really bad jokes, that is rewarding.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended schools all over the USA.

What path did you take after completing your formal education? 
I went to cosmetology school in Council Bluffs at EQ School of Hair Design.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
My mom told me the book I loved was called “So Big.” It was about a little girl and her baby doll.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the history. There is so much to learn still!

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I had great teachers, but one stands out by far! Mr. Hughs was my math teacher. I never got the concept of algebra, and he went beyond any other teacher to help me pass my tests!

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

Posted on March 07, 2024

Ladd showcases important role of school social workers at LPS

Allen Ladd’s academic background may not be in structural engineering, but he is helping students at Lincoln Public Schools build bridges to positive futures.
 
Ladd is using his talent and experience to support many students at Bryan Community Focus Program. He has spent more than a decade in the social work profession, and he has been the site’s school social worker for the past four years. He said it was an honor to help students and families walk on successful academic, social and emotional pathways.
 
“I love everything about being a school social worker,” Ladd said. “It’s my passion. Having an opportunity to make a difference with kids and their families is really rewarding.”

 
Ladd and other LPS social workers are being recognized for their efforts during National School Social Work Week. The annual event is taking place March 3-9 across the country.
 
Bryan Principal Denise Craig said Ladd is a valuable member of the focus program’s team. She said his ability to make strong connections with everyone around him has led to many good outcomes at school.
 
“He’s awesome,” Craig said. “He contributes to a positive culture here with his work with staff and students. He builds relationships with kids even if he doesn’t work with them on a regular basis, which is really neat. He’s a supportive person for all of us.”
 
Craig said Ladd’s dedication to his profession has made a profound impact on many people. He has passed on his knowledge about mental health, social trauma and crisis intervention to his co-workers. That has helped Bryan teachers form their own durable bridges with students and families.
 
“I really appreciate how much of a positive presence he is at school,” Craig said. “He’s provided a lot of good information to people.”

 
Ladd moved to Lincoln with his family when he was ten years old and went to Elliott Elementary School and Dawes Middle School. He graduated from North Star High School in 2004 before earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Wayne State College. He later secured a master’s degree in social work from The Catholic University of America.
 
Ladd came to LPS with a wealth of social work knowledge. He helped families in areas such as foster care, housing services, homelessness outreach, teen parenting and restorative practices prior to joining Bryan’s staff.
 
Bryan Community Focus Program helps students meet requirements for their LPS high school diploma. Approximately 170 students are currently enrolled in classes. They apply to the focus program each year and take a wide variety of general and elective courses.
 
Ladd said he wants to take a personalized approach to his job. Some students may be facing economic hardships at home, while others may be needing to work on behavior management skills in the classroom. Family dynamics, health issues and educational needs are all factors Ladd considers during his meetings and conversations.
 
“It’s important to make sure we have the proper support systems in place for each student,” Ladd said. “That means getting to know the students and the families and coming up with solutions together. That’s a really critical part of the job.”

 
School social workers like Ladd offer many services to LPS students, teachers, families and community members. They are trained mental health professionals who help people with social, emotional, academic and safety needs.
 
School social workers support students in a variety of ways. They arrange counseling sessions, provide crisis intervention and help them learn social interaction skills such as conflict resolution. They develop alternative academic programs for students who have had attendance concerns, and they participate in special education assessment meetings.
 
Ladd provides Bryan teachers with important information that can explain why a student may be acting a certain way in class. He develops in-service training programs, assists teachers with behavior situations and offers direct support to staff.
 
School social workers like Ladd support families through group and individual counseling sessions. They help families find and access important school and community resources for special needs, mental health and social services. They help strengthen communication ties between families and schools, and they advocate for community programs to help parents and guardians.
 
School social workers also identify and report child abuse and neglect, consult with district personnel about legal issues and meet with social and mental health agencies.
 
Ladd said communication skills are imperative for school social workers. He said learning about other people’s stories is one of the primary ingredients in any recipe for success.
 
“The biggest thing is being that bridge between the community and school,” Ladd said. “When people can talk to each other, then positive things can happen.”

To learn more about LPS Social Workers, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/socialworkers.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 07, 2024

LPS students reap benefits of school breakfast program

Lincoln Public Schools employees like Tekela Bedford are ensuring breakfast is the most important meal of the day for local students.
 
Bedford is one of many LPS staff members who are providing nutritious meals for children every morning. She is in her second year managing Everett Elementary School’s kitchen and builds positive relationships with students in the breakfast line. She said it was fulfilling to help students get off to a good start academically, socially and emotionally at school.
 
“It’s amazing to see them each day,” Bedford said. “I always tell them that the first meal of the day is huge because it gets you moving. Food fuels your brain, and if you eat breakfast you’ll be able to do better in class.”
 
LPS Director of Nutrition Services Andrew Ashelford said scenes like the ones at Everett are playing out at every district school. LPS employees are serving an average of 9,000 breakfast meals each morning this year. That is a significant increase from the 2022-23 school year, which had a daily average of 8,300 breakfasts.
 
“It’s pretty awesome to see that number rise like that,” Ashelford said. “It means a lot of students are taking advantage of getting a good meal at the start of the day.”
 
LPS Nutrition Services employees are highlighting the benefits of breakfast March 4-8 during National School Breakfast Week. The district is celebrating the week by serving the top five breakfast entrees based on individual product sales.
 
Students will have mini maple waffles on March 4 and mini strawberry bagels, pancake sausage on a stick and honey buns the next three days. The most-popular product from this year – chocolate chip oatmeal bars – will be served on March 8.
 
Ashelford said National School Breakfast Week is a good time to emphasize the importance of the meal for everyone in grades K-12. All LPS sites offer breakfast every school day.
 
“There’s a lot of evidence out there about how much breakfast benefits students,” Ashelford said. “It’s pretty compelling stuff. It really shows that having breakfast makes a big difference for students.”
 
A 2013 report from the National Library of Medicine showed “suggestive evidence” that school breakfast programs have a positive effect on children’s academic performance. The report said students who regularly eat breakfast have 20-60 percent more vitamins such as iron, vitamin D, folate, riboflavin and niacin than those who do not have breakfast.
 
The report listed multiple studies that found students who ate breakfast displayed increased memory, attention span and on-task behavior. There was also more class participation in both elementary and middle schools from students who had school breakfast.
 
A separate study from the No Kid Hungry Center yielded similar results. It found that students who ate school breakfast had higher scores on standardized math tests and better attendance rates.
 
Bedford said it has been exciting to watch those positive impacts play out at Everett this fall and winter. The school is averaging 300 students in the breakfast line each morning. That has risen from an average of 250 last year. Each meal includes milk, fruits and grains and options of warm and cold entrees.
 
“It’s gone up a lot from last year,” Bedford said. “The word’s definitely getting out about breakfast.”
 
Bedford and fellow food service workers Luisa Talavera and Ann Middagh were in Everett’s kitchen one morning as students filed in. They picked up a carton of milk before choosing either cereal or a breakfast pizza bagel. They also took containers of juicy pear slices before heading to the cafeteria.
 
Bedford asked students how their morning was going, gave encouraging words to them and provided a full menu of compliments. She hoped those breakfast conversations would boost their confidence throughout the day.
 
“I love them,” Bedford said. “I know them all. I want to make sure they always start the day with someone smiling at them.”
 
LPS began implementing breakfast service in the early 1990s. Ashelford said those morning meal efforts have been a vital component in the fight against food insecurity.
 
United States Department of Agriculture officials define food insecurity as lacking consistent and reliable access to enough food to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Statistics from Food Bank of Lincoln show that nearly 50,000 people in southeast Nebraska are currently food insecure. That total includes nearly 15,000 children.
 
“Our breakfast program is really important when you talk about food insecurity,” Ashelford said. “There are a lot of families who benefit from this service.”
 
LPS families can use the MealViewer tool to see current information about their local school’s breakfast each day. The online tool is available through the What’s 4 Lunch quick link on the nutrition services menu page.
 
Ashelford said he hopes to see breakfast participation continue to grow in future weeks, months and years at LPS.
 
“We want to continue to spread the message about breakfast,” Ashelford said. “We have a good, nutritious program at LPS, and we want as many people as possible to be aware of that.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 04, 2024

Culler students celebrate hopeful, welcoming attitudes at assembly

Culler Middle School students showcased how their campus is truly a global institution during a special ceremony celebrating diversity.
 
More than 700 students and staff members filled Culler’s auditorium for the inaugural Hope and Welcome Celebration. They paid tribute to the rich multicultural heritage that is present at the school. Current Culler students represent 36 countries and speak more than three dozen languages.
 
Eighth-grade students Jackson and Smara each gave speeches as part of the event. They joined seventh-grade student Jourdynn on stage in front of their friends and classmates. They said they were proud of the confidence they had gained by overcoming their public speaking worries.
 
“It was scary at first, but I felt a lot better when everyone started clapping,” Jackson said. “It was a good feeling to know they had liked what I said.”
 
“It was nice to be up there,” Smara said. “I was a little nervous, but I knew it would be fine. It was fun to be able to share my story with others.”
 
Tom Kolbe said he was happy to watch the composure the Honors Cadre students displayed. Kolbe, who serves as Culler’s building coordinator, organized the event as a way to highlight the school’s diversity. He saw Smara and Jackson in a post-ceremony meeting and told them he was pleased with their courage and poise.
 
“Both of you did a really great job,” he said. “That was well done.”
 
The new City of Lincoln flag played a key role in the assembly. Students saw the teal-green, deep-blue and warm-gold colors of the flag hanging above the stage. The colors represent Lincoln’s large number of parks, Nebraska’s valuable groundwater aquifers and the bright future for local residents.
 
Kolbe matched the ceremony’s name with a beacon featured in the flag’s center. The beacon is meant to signify how people in Lincoln have welcomed new residents with open arms. It also conveys the hope and optimism people from all over the world have found in the city.
 
Culler Principal Michaela Hahn told the audience the city flag will be the newest addition to the main brick-lined hallway outside the auditorium. More than 80 international flags are prominently featured in the space.
 
Students used the global symbols for one of the day’s highlights. More than 30 Cougars walked on stage with paper flags of their home countries. The audience applauded as English Language Learners (ELL) teacher Amanda Bandy read the names of each student and nation.
 
Bandy said before the ceremony that many students from Afghanistan and Ukraine have joined the Culler family. Countries from Central and South America have also become a larger part of the school’s international fabric.
 
“It’s really neat to see the diversity we have here,” Bandy said. “I think our students benefit a lot from it.”
 
Culler is part of a worldwide mosaic of learners in the district. LPS students and families represent more than 150 countries and speak more than 100 languages. Many bilingual liaisons and ELL staff members provide support for them each day.
 
Keynote speaker T.J. McDowell told the audience he was impressed with the accepting actions of the Culler community. He encouraged students to continue having inclusive attitudes all of their lives.
 
“Embrace that, because that is a skill that will serve you well,” McDowell said.
 
McDowell grew up in Lincoln and attended Culler from 1985-87. The Lincoln High graduate has served as chief of staff for Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird since May 2023. He is an active community volunteer and has also worked at LPS, Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
McDowell told students that making good choices was a critical factor in their future success. He said some of his former Culler classmates had enjoyed prosperous lives because they had made positive decisions with their friendships, relationships and careers. Others had opted to take less-successful pathways after middle school and had encountered difficult circumstances.
 
“The difference is choices,” McDowell said.
 
Jourdynn, Jackson and Smara reflected on how diversity and choices have shaped their lives. Jourdynn shared her positive experiences at different tourist spots in Lincoln. She also said she had gained a great deal academically and socially from attending Culler.
 
“Culler’s diversity helps me learn more about everybody’s unique culture,” Jourdynn said.
 
Jackson spoke about how people in Lincoln are overcoming obstacles such as racism. Smara told classmates she felt isolated when she and her family first moved here eight years ago, but she is now happy and has a sense of belonging.
 
Jackson said the hopeful and welcoming environment he has experienced at Culler has given him a confident outlook on his future.
 
“The diversity here is something that really makes a big difference,” Jackson said. “I feel included.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 01, 2024

Community honors Robinson during special school dedication ceremony

The seeds of kindness, love, support and optimism that Ada Robinson planted in her teaching career recently bore encouraging fruit for the entire community.
 
Hundreds of people remembered Robinson during a dedication ceremony at her namesake building. Area residents and Lincoln Board of Education members joined Robinson Elementary School students, teachers and administrators at the 30-minute event.
 
A.J. Perez said she was happy to learn more about Robinson at the ceremony. The fifth-grade student joined many of her classmates for a special vocal performance. Music teacher Krista Couton led 32 choir members as they delivered three songs for the crowd.
 
“Even though I never got to meet her, she sounded amazing. She sounded like she would have been a great teacher,” Perez said. “She was a great teacher. And even though I never got to meet her, I can just imagine how amazing she was.”
 
Robinson taught for 37 years at Clinton Elementary School and became a beloved figure in the community. She inspired students with her thoughtful and caring approach to her classroom duties.
 
Robinson Principal Jeff Vercellino said the school has adopted the motto “Rooted in Relationships” as the foundation for every decision and action. He said that was a direct reflection of the way Robinson approached her educational career.
 
“What I learned from my few meetings and interactions with Mrs. Robinson was she was all about relationships,” Vercellino said. “Mrs. Robinson knew that no true learning could take place in a school without children feeling loved, valued, supported, challenged and cared about.”
 
Lincoln voters approved the construction of an elementary school as part of the 2020 bond referendum. A district committee chose to recognize Robinson’s many contributions by naming the new school after her.
 
District officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in May 2021, and staff toured the building for the first time in early August 2022. Classes for students in preschool through fifth grade began later that month.
 
Robinson attended the groundbreaking and shared warm embraces with many of her former students and colleagues. She passed away in November 2023 at the age of 84.
 
Tami Robinson Soper said her mother was passionate about helping every student. She said Robinson’s personal integrity and enthusiasm for education made a difference in the lives of many people. Her funeral service was standing-room-only due to the large number of well-wishers.
 
“I know that my mom is here looking down, smiling and really excited because there were students here and teachers that she’s worked with and administrators and her family all in one place,” Robinson Soper said. “Children singing, she would have gotten up with the choir, she would’ve loved that. So just, it’s a beautiful day, we’re really grateful.
 
“Like, I cannot literally think of another way to honor her than to have a building filled with laughing children all the time, laughing, learning, playing. It was everything to her.”
 
LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman and Lincoln Board of Education President Lanny Boswell said they were happy to see the school blossom in its first 18 months. They believed current staff members would continue to follow the positive example set by Robinson.
 
“She started children down their educational path, setting them up for the ultimate success,” Gausman said. “And that is what an elementary school does for our children, because this is where they will learn to read their first words, add their first numbers. This is where they will begin their journey in public education, where all means all.”
 
“Your continued dedication, passion and selfless commitment to our students are what make this school truly special,” Boswell said. “Bricks and mortar may be called a school, but you are the heart and soul. I have no doubt that under your guidance, our students will thrive and excel.”
 
Perez said she has enjoyed learning about everything from music to math at Robinson. The 85,000-square-foot facility is located in the growing Waterford Estates subdivision on the eastern edge of Lincoln.
 
“I love the music room,” Perez said. “It just has a good vibe to it, I think. You know, it’s really nice and all the rooms here are really nice, well-organized and comforting and it’s a great school. I love how it turned out.”
 
Perez said her positive experience is due to more than just the building’s architecture. She has noticed the kind environment found in the hallways and classrooms. Staff members have set a goal of having each student be greeted by at least three adults at the start of each day.
 
Vercellino said everyone at school would like to plant the same positive educational seeds that Robinson did throughout her life.
 
“While I am a bit biased, I speak with 100-percent conviction when I say that we have assembled the best staff here at Ada Robinson Elementary, one that Mrs. Robinson would be proud of,” Vercellino said. “Our staff leads with relationships. They are collaborative and driven to be their very best, so they can give our Robinson Raptors what they deserve each and every day: our very best.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on March 01, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Sierra Rogers-School Nurse at Randolph Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Sierra Rogers, school nurse at Randolph Elementary School.

“Sierra is in her first year as a school nurse. You would not believe this when you observe her work with students at Randolph. Sierra does an incredible job advocating for her students with very complex and complicated concerns. She sees the whole student and implements her care in this manner. Sierra is always taking the extra step with her students to help them succeed.” - LPS Director of Health Services Wendy Rau.

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am the school nurse at Randolph Elementary School. I have the pleasure of caring for around 450 students.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my first year as a school nurse for LPS.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
My nursing background consists of women's health and labor and delivery. After I had my daughter, I was looking for a job that would allow me more time with my family, but also allow me to build strong relationships with my patients, and in this case, my students. I had several friends start as nurses for LPS, and they have said nothing but positive things and encouraged me to apply. I am so happy I did!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part about my job is the relationships that I am getting to build with students. I enjoy learning about the students, their families and what makes them who they are. I love educating them on their health and helping them learn ways to better care for themselves. I am very passionate about advocating for my students, and it has been so rewarding to be able to advocate for them and assist them in getting medical help and care that they need.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
My family moved around when I was younger, and we landed in Shelby, Neb. I attended school in Columbus for most of my middle school and all of my high school years.

What path did you take after completing your formal education? 
I attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney for my pre-nursing requirements. After that, I applied to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Kearney and completed nursing school where I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love living in a community that is big, but feels so small. Lincoln does a great job hosting events and getting the community out and about. The people of Lincoln are friendly and fun and I enjoy being a part of a positive community.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Jean Kamrath was my school nurse while I was in high school. She had such a large impact on my life and is a big reason why I became a nurse. Mrs. Kamrath went above and beyond for her students. She was a positive and encouraging light in the school system. She was a trusted adult that most felt comfortable confiding in. She cared for me and the students at Columbus Public High School on such a deep level. My senior year I was her student aide. My plan after high school was to go to college and become a nurse. She always encouraged me to become a nurse and told me that I would make a wonderful nurse, specifically, a school nurse. I enjoyed the time I spent in her office assisting her. I am thankful she invested so much time and love into me. Everyday I aspire to be like her and provide amazing care to each student I encounter.

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

Posted on March 01, 2024

Constructing positive relationships through storytime at Rousseau

Lincoln Public Schools seniors Catrice, Ali, Wid and Jesus drew a blueprint full of friendship-building activities during an educational visit to Rousseau Elementary School.
 
The LPS Equity Cadre members designed lessons for preschool and third-grade classrooms. They led a storytime session for preschoolers and passed out morale-boosting notes to third-grade students.
 
Catrice said she was happy to help others during the morning. The Southeast High School student is planning to study either education or business administration at Nebraska Wesleyan University next year. She said these events were important for everyone involved.
 
“It was really awesome,” Catrice said. “The kids did such a good job of listening and being involved in everything we were saying, and it was fun to talk to them afterwards. I had such a good time. It was fun to get a chance to spread a positive message and have a really good experience with them.”

 
Rousseau Principal Monica Jochum said the Equity Cadre leaders made a positive impression during their 90-minute visit. She felt there were many benefits to having younger and older students working together.
 
The four role models taught skills such as kindness, sharing, patience, vocabulary development and fluent reading. In return, they gained confidence in their leadership, organization and teamwork abilities while at Rousseau.
 
“I love seeing the impact on our younger scholars,” Jochum said. “The high schoolers really inspired them today.”
 
The Equity Cadre is a student-led group focusing on issues impacting diversity and equity within the district. Members raise awareness about these topics through numerous school and community events.

 
The group listed several goals for the 2023-24 academic year to Lincoln Board of Education last June. One objective is to provide “innovative and transformative learning experiences” at LPS. Students also want to model “the pillars of equity, civility, justice and kindness.”
 
Stephanie Emry teaches preschool at Rousseau and has been in the education profession for 25 years. She felt Catrice, Wid, Ali and Jesus accomplished those goals during their visit.
 
“The high school kids did a great job today, and it was nice for our students to get to meet them,” Emry said. “They look up to them for sure. They think it’s pretty special that these big kids have come here to see them, so I know they enjoyed every bit of the time here today.”
 
The first cadre-led storytime took place in the 2021-22 academic year and included four Equity Cadre members. Peter Ferguson, coordinator of culture, inclusion and scholar development at LPS, said the number of high school volunteers has grown to more than a dozen this year. That has allowed reading events to happen at LPS preschools, city libraries and other civic organizations.
 
Preschoolers began the morning by asking their role models several questions, including their favorite cars (Catrice’s was a convertible) and instruments (piano, drums, guitar and vocal cords were the answers). They then sang “Hello, Friends” before Jesus read “The Year We Learned to Fly” and Ali read “Change Sings.”

 
The Equity Cadre introduced the class to notable historical figures such as Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, an African American cardiologist who performed the world’s first successful open-heart surgery in 1893. They sang an ice cream song before playing games and activities together for 30 minutes.
 
Emry said NWU-bound Catrice and her teammates gave her class worthy lessons. Ali (secondary education), Wid (political science) and Jesus (advertising/public relations) are all planning to continue their education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
“We try to connect the kids who are in school here to students who are in high school or people in the community,” Emry said. “It’s really important to do that. We try to tie it all together so they can see where in life they can go.”

 
The students then met with Grant Aden’s third-grade class. They handed out notecards that contained encouraging phrases to them.
 
“Sometimes you have a bad day, and you need something to fill your bucket,” Catrice told the class. “We’re hoping this is something that can help do that.”
 
The recent visit was Catrice’s second time working with younger students. She said it gave her a firm foundation for her potential teaching future.
 
“To be able to interact with these kids while I’m in high school is such a great opportunity,” Catrice said. “You get to see what it’s like to work with them in a really cool setting, and you can see what it would be like to do this as a career. I’m glad I was able to do this.”
 
Students will visit other LPS sites throughout March for storytime events. Jochum said it was important for them to realize the significance of their friendship-building blueprint.
 
“I want them to know how much of an impact they’re making on everyone at school,” Jochum said. “It’s the ripple effect, right? One small ripple can start a whole wave, and that’s especially true when you’re talking about doing good things. They showed a lot of kindness to everyone here today, and that’s something that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Our scholars are going to remember this.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 28, 2024

New welding lab helps Southeast students forge their futures

Southeast High School students are gaining valuable experience and sparking excitement this semester in a new welding and machining lab.
 
Dozens of Knights are fueling their future careers through an expanded skilled and technical sciences (STS) curriculum. The state-of-the-art lab features 12 welding stations, six mills, six lathes and multiple other precision machining items. The tools and equipment are allowing STS classes to flourish on campus.
 
Southeast sophomores Dayshaun and Reese said they have enjoyed learning about the welding craft. The lab has helped them explore the career pathway for the first time.
 
“I’ve never welded before, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Dayshaun said. “I thought it would be really interesting to do. I’ve learned a lot from the class.”

 
“When I first heard about it, I thought it would be something awesome to do,” Reese said. “I like the trades because they’re hands-on and interactive. Having the lab here has been a good opportunity to learn more about welding and everything it offers for the future.”
 
Erik Sutterfield teaches a full portfolio of STS classes at Southeast. He said it was exciting to watch students forge new options for their futures. This semester marks the first time the school has offered welding courses.
 
“We’re off to a great start,” Sutterfield said. “The kids have been very engaged with the welding projects and they’re having fun. This is an awesome space, so it’s been great to see what the students are doing with it.”
 
The lab is lifting off at the same time as National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, which takes place every February. The CTE umbrella at Southeast includes STS courses like welding, precision machining, construction, architecture, woodworking and computer-aided design.
 
Dayshaun and Reese have both jumped into their new adventures with enthusiasm. Dayshaun is making a metal sculpture that will be a vase of roses. He began working on the project in early February and has enjoyed seeing the different pieces come together.
 
Reese said she has been happy exploring the technical parts of welding. One of the lessons she and her classmates have learned is how to form a lap welding joint. These are created when two pieces of metal are placed in an overlapping pattern on top of each other.
 
“You have to glue two pieces of metal together, and if you don’t do it correctly, then it won’t look very good and won’t stay together very well,” Reese said. “You need a lot of precision to do that, and that’s something I really like.”

 
Classroom C130 had formerly been a computer lab and storage room, but Southeast leaders felt they could use it to meet the rising labor demand for welding and machining trades. To meet this demand, they also wanted to ensure that the lab was equipped with industry-standard equipment. 
 
A September 2023 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said 42,600 people will become welders, cutters, solderers and brazers each year over the next decade. Machinists and tool and die makers also have optimistic career outlooks. The BLS is projecting approximately 38,200 annual openings in both fields through 2032.

 
The first machines and tools began arriving at Southeast this past summer and fall, and items such as tables, workbenches and drill bits are continuing to flow in. Students began using the welding stations in January and will likely be able to operate mills and lathes by late March.
 
Sutterfield said it is rewarding to know all of the hard work setting up the lab will help many people. He currently has two full classes for welding and there is a waiting list of additional Knights who want to enroll.
 
“There’s a lot of opportunity and room for growth,” Sutterfield said. “I anticipate that we’re going to have three or four full classes for different levels of welding, and we’re going to have several classes for students to learn about our precision machines too. Our goal is to have this space full of students all day long. I’m very confident that we’re going to meet that goal.”

 
Sutterfield said students who learn welding and machining may be inspired to try other STS classes. This can help them strengthen their career possibilities by becoming well-rounded in many skilled trades.
 
The lab is also allowing Southeast to expand its SkillsUSA chapter. SkillsUSA is a national CTE organization that includes more than 380,000 students and teachers. There are dozens of state and national contests in fields ranging from architectural drafting to medical terminology. Sutterfield is leading Southeast’s chapter this year.
 
Dayshaun is one of nine Knights in the group. He has already learned many career-readiness skills such as problem solving, communication and project innovation.
 
“I heard about SkillsUSA from a school announcement, and I thought I would try it out,” Dayshaun said. “It’s been really good. I never really knew much about it before, but they do a lot of things with different trades, and you can get scholarships for doing well in contests. I’m happy I joined.”
 
Sutterfield said he is thrilled to see how the lab is sparking excitement among Southeast students.
 
“All of the trades are looking for employees, so for students to get that type of experience here in high school is great,” Sutterfield said. “You can live a really good life by doing trades. I think they’re seeing that firsthand in these classes.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 28, 2024

February Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month: Charles Mizerski

Every month, we will recognize a substitute teacher who is making sure the learning doesn't stop at Lincoln Public Schools. For February, we are celebrating Charles "Chuck" Mizerski.

LPS Human Resources surprised Mizerski with the Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month award while he was subbing at Goodrich Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 22. He was chosen for working the most days in special education as a sub this year. Mizerski is a retired P.E. teacher who just happened to pick up a sub position in special education and fell in love. He now primarily subs in special education. 

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher at LPS, learn more here.

Posted on February 23, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Jens Lehman-Music Teacher at Pound Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Jens Lehman, music teacher at Pound Middle School. 

“In the short time that I've worked with Mr. Lehman, I've observed an exceptional commitment to not only teaching vocal skills, general music theory and proper technique of vocal instruction to his students, but also a genuine connection to his students. He has a great sense of humor, is creative in his interactions, incorporates fun and engaging activities and strives to include ALL students no matter their ability, prior knowledge of music and participation in class. Even with the occasional behavioral issues, he is able to address the issue quickly, hold the student accountable and determine appropriate solutions to move forward in a positive manner. I have been nothing but impressed with Mr. Lehman as Pound's vocal teacher!” - Pound Middle Accompanist Vicki Harris. 

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I teach vocal music at Pound Middle School. That includes sixth grade vocal music, seventh grade vocal/exploring music, and eighth grade choir during the school day. I also direct extracurricular performing groups, morning choir and guitar ensemble. I also co-sponsor Ukulele/Guitar Club!

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 11th year in the classroom for LPS.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Music changed my life. My goal in entering the field was to help students be successful through music!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The best part of teaching is helping students find their opportunity to be successful. Helping them to achieve excellence, being good at something and making a positive impact on their school community is rewarding in ways that you can't capture in words.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I actually attended Pound as a student. It's neat to have returned there and work in the music department that meant so much to me as a student. I also attended Calvert Elementary School and Lincoln Southeast High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended Doane University for undergrad, and I'm now working on completing my school counseling certification from Doane as well.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln shows up for our kids.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mr. Schulz, Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Noonan. I would not be the teacher I am today without them. They saw potential in me and gave me an opportunity to make an impact.

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

Posted on February 22, 2024

Heart Safe School training builds lifesaving knowledge at LPS

No one knows if Fredstrom Elementary School staff members will need to use the site’s automated external defibrillator (AED) in the future.
 
A recent training session ensured they will have the expertise to save someone’s life if that emergency ever arises.
 
Fredstrom became one of the latest Lincoln Public Schools sites certified in Project ADAM’s Heart Safe School Program. Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) is a nationwide campaign to increase accessibility to AED devices.
 
LPS Health Services Coordinator Megan Lytle and Fredstrom Principal Cheryl Richter supervised the training session. They watched as Priscilla Petsch, a longtime school nurse at Fredstrom, and Kenny Cope, a physical education teacher with 34 years of experience, practiced using the device.
 
Lytle and Petsch both said these types of training exercises are critical for the health and safety of everyone who steps on campus.
 
“On a scale of one to ten, I’d say it’s an 11,” Lytle said. “What we’ve learned is that anything can happen at any time, and response is critical to making sure that there’s a positive outcome. I think we’ve learned that whether it’s kids or adults, no one is immune from having something like this happen.”
 
“Those instincts kick in, and that’s the hope, that as we get more and more people certified in this, that it becomes an instinct, so it’s not something where you’re just going to freeze up,” Petsch said. “Anytime you have more awareness and more training it’s a good thing.”

 
The Heart Safe School Program ensures staff members are trained in how to use both CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED techniques. It also confirms schools have an emergency plan to respond to a person having a heart attack and have well-maintained AEDs on campus.
 
First responders use an AED medical device to help people who are experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. The machine analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and determines the severity of the heart attack. If necessary, it can deliver an electric shock to help the heart re-establish a healthy beat.
 
Fredstrom’s drill featured a plastic doll that symbolized a person having a heart attack. Petsch responded first and immediately began CPR techniques. Cope came from his office in the gym and grabbed an AED hanging in the hallway. He and Petsch used the device to save the pretend patient’s life.
 
Richter said she was pleased with the way everyone in the building reacted during the training.

“I thought it went really well,” Richter said. “We know that we’re able to support our kids by doing drills like this. Everyone knows their job and they know exactly what they need to do.”
 
LPS has partnered with Children’s Nebraska for the local Heart Safe School Program. The partnership enhances the district’s already-established cardiac plan, which includes annual emergency drills and AEDs in every building.
 
The program includes the Heart Safe School Checklist. Building leaders use the tool to ensure all staff members know where AEDs are located in their school or focus program. They also review AED performance readiness on a monthly basis.
 
At least five to ten people in each school are on a designated Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT members often include administrators, custodians, office staff, school nurses and physical education teachers. Lytle said LPS has 15 school nurses who are certified CPR instructors, which allows certification classes to be held anytime in the district.
 
Cope said having CERT members practice together builds teamwork that will be vital in an emergency.
 
“It’s very important,” Cope said. “We have the health and safety of our kids at the top of our minds all of the time, so being able to practice in a group like this is a big deal.”
 
Kooser Elementary School became the first LPS building to receive the Heart Safe School designation in May 2023. Since then, 41 other sites have earned the label.
 
The importance of having AED training sessions became crystal clear last year. During the Spring 2023 semester, a fourth-grade student at Kooser experienced a sudden cardiac arrest during class. A school nurse had practiced the emergency protocols and knew how to respond. She immediately assisted the girl and helped save her life with CPR and an AED.
 
Lytle, who is a Kooser parent, said the incident showed how preparation can make a lifesaving difference. It also highlighted how many staff members have learned CPR and AED skills. They will be able to use that knowledge if an emergency happens on a playground or in a classroom, cafeteria, gym or hallway.
 
“When I saw the response of the staff there, and really seeing that all over the district, a lot of staff are really willing to be part of our CERT teams, it makes you feel good,” Lytle said. “We know things can happen at any time, but we know everyone is putting in a lot of work to practice and be certified and designated. It makes you feel good knowing that people care a lot about our kids.”

LPS plans to have all schools and focus programs to be designated as Heart Safe Schools by the end of April 2024.
  
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 21, 2024

From stems to STEM: Foundation grants help students explore the world

Todd Francis enjoyed exploring all types of science questions in Lincoln when he attended Southeast High School in the 1980s.
 
His legacy is living on through a grant program that has been a springboard for many future scientists.
 
The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and the LPS Science Focus Program (SFP) have announced recipients of the 2024 Todd Francis Creative Research Grants. SFP students make up the majority of applicants each year, but students from any middle or high school are eligible to submit proposals. The awards have supported more than 200 students in grades 6-12 since 1991.
 
SFP students Henry Cline and Spencer Krenk said they were grateful to be chosen this year. They each received awards for their project entitled “How Urbanization Affects Biodiversity in Plant Populations.”

The two juniors are mapping the biodiversity of plants found in Holmes Lake Park, Irvingdale Park and Peterson Park. They are comparing those results to Nine-Mile Prairie, which features 230 acres of pristine tallgrass prairie northwest of Lincoln.
 
“We were very glad, because it was a very expensive project,” Cline said.

 
The students are using the Francis grants awarded by the Foundation to access DNA sequencing technology. The DNA of each plant provides identifying information, much like a bar code pinpoints a specific product in a store. Cline and Krenk will study the “bar codes' of each urbanized plant and see if there are any positive or negative differences with the Nine-Mile Prairie plants. They will then present their findings to city and state officials.
 
“It was a relief to get the grants,” Krenk said. “If we hadn’t have gotten the money, we would have had to switch to a different project, which at that point, we had already collected our samples and done a lot of background research, and that would have been kind of a nightmare. So it was definitely a lot of relief.”
 
The Foundation Operations Coordinator Cassidy Mayer said the awards have been instrumental in helping students achieve their dreams. Chuck and Barb Francis established the grant program to ensure their son’s passion for science would continue at LPS. The Foundation works with the Francis family and LPS science specialists to provide up to $2,500 each year.
 
“Witnessing the impact of scholarships like these and their impact on students reminds me of how powerful education is and how important it is for us to continue advocating for students,” Mayer said. “These scholarships not only help alleviate financial burdens but also serve as validation for students who may face challenges along their academic journey. These scholarships aren’t only about financial assistance – they empower individuals to realize their fullest potential.”
 
Emily Seifferlein teaches a variety of science courses at the SFP. She said former and current students have gained a great deal from becoming grant recipients.
 
“It really varies the types of projects that students can pursue,” Seifferlein said. “The additional funding gives them the opportunity to buy equipment or supplies that might have been out of range before.”
 
SFP senior Hyrum Moody had a similar amount of thankfulness after receiving a Francis award last year. He bought a sky quality meter for “Chasing the Fading Night: Mapping Light Pollution and Skyglow in Lincoln, Nebraska.” He said the grant has already paid major dividends for his future.
 
“Not too long from now I’ll be fortunate to go to Denver to present the project at a national conference, and the only way I was able to have that opportunity was because of the grant,” Moody said. “If I hadn’t received the grant, I wouldn’t have been able to buy that equipment, and the project wouldn’t have worked out.”

 
Scientists use the term “skyglow” to illustrate how light pollution affects the brightness of the night sky in a city. Moody used the sky quality meter to measure skyglow in many parts of Lincoln. He discovered that skyglow levels remained high even when he approached the edges of the city limits.
 
Moody won a state medal in the 2023 Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences State Science Fair for his project. He will share his research at the National Science Teaching Association’s National Conference on Science Education March 20-23.
 
Moody said the Francis grants provide a positive lesson to future scientists, entrepreneurs and researchers across LPS.
 
“In the future I know that sometimes I’ll need money for research, and it’s not always easy to get,” Moody said. “I really appreciate getting this grant in high school, because it’s taught me a lot about the importance of grants for science.”

The Francis Creative Research Grants are one of many scholarships available through the Foundation for LPS. You can visit the website at https://www.foundationforlps.org/ for more information about applying or donating to the list of awards.

To learn more about the Science Focus Program or apply for the 2024-2025 school year, visit https://science.lps.org/.

2024 Todd Francis Creative Research Grants Recipients
* Henry Cline and Spencer Krenk (Science Focus Program): “How Urbanization Affects Biodiversity in Plant Populations”
* Cadence Carlson (Southeast High School): “Evolving Yeast to Metabolize Alternative Carbon Sources”
* Lily Ardinger Stibal (Science Focus Program): “Analysis of Stream Health Five Years After Removal From Impaired Waters List: Judging Physical, Biological and Chemical Primers”

2023 Todd Francis Creative Research Grants Recipients
* Elin Larsen (Science Focus Program): “Testing Soil Samples For DNA Traces Left By a Decomposing Pig Carcass”
* Hyrum Moody (Science Focus Program): “Mapping Light Pollution In and Around Lincoln, Nebraska”
* Iris Bumgarner (Southeast High School): “What Conditions of Wetland Ecosystems During the Winter Season In Lancaster County, Nebraska, Make Them Susceptible to Takeover By Invasive Plant Species?”
* Devadarshan Pushkaran (Southeast High School): “What Materials Are Best Suited For Transporting Sensitive Medical Supplies Via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles?”

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 20, 2024

Arts and Humanities brings new life to recycled materials for community art exhibit

Dozens of Arts and Humanities Focus Program students get to express their creativity in a unique way. More than 30 young artists have their works on display at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s International Quilt Museum in connection with its Feed Sacks exhibit. 

The Arts and Humanities students built on the museum exhibit’s idea of reusing and repurposing to transform recycled materials into new creative works. Lincoln High senior Maron created a small coin purse out of scraps of flower-adorned fabric and leftover buttons. 

“With the art that I usually do, I really like doing collage,” Maron said. “So, it was really neat collaging actual fabrics together and also sewing them together to make a repurposed piece. It’s not something I’ve actually done before, like I haven’t collaged fabric before. It made me very happy that I got to repurpose that and then show it off at a whole entire gallery.” 

For weeks, the students studied other contemporary artists who curated works with reused items to draw inspiration as they made their own pieces. The project allowed the artists to stretch their strengths by exploring different mediums like jewelry and printmaking. 

Senior Anara revamped a 1940 parachute and designed a cloth jellyfish for the collection through this process. 

“I learned printmaking which is really fun and exciting. I also bettered my sewing skills, which I’ve barely sewed in my life before and my jellyfish is basically sown, so I learned a lot about sewing,” she said. 

“Students used the creative research cycle to ideate how they could create a piece that was personal to them but also responded to the materials they were using,” Arts and Humanities teacher Maggie Elsener said. 

The Arts and Humanities Focus Program is one of Lincoln Public Schools’ oldest focus programs. The experiential learning opportunity allows LPS high school students to explore their artistic and humanitarian interests. The program’s educators believe community partnerships with entities like the International Quilt Museum help emphasize the mission of the focus program. 

“It really makes me feel connected with my community at Arts and I'm happy that I was involved with it,” Maron said.

“We really do want students to think about their place in the world, but also how do they connect to the world at large,” Elsener said.

The Arts and Humanities exhibit at the International Quilt Museum opened at the beginning of February and will be on display through May.

If you’re interested in the Arts and Humanities Focus Program or want to apply for the 2024-2025 school year, visit https://arts.lps.org/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 16, 2024

Lux student leaps to top of pack in LPS Spelling Bee

“Meridian” will be a word Bella remembers for a very long time.
 
Bella spelled victory with the eight-letter word at the 2024 Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee. She finished first out of 22 contestants in grades 6-8 at the 36th annual bee, which took place in Culler Middle School’s auditorium.
 
Bella, a sixth-grade student at Lux Middle School, said she was happy to be crowned champion in front of students, parents and community members.
 
“At first I was really nervous, but now I’m proud of myself,” Bella said.
 
Sara Danielson, an English Language Arts curriculum specialist for grades 7-12 at LPS, said she has enjoyed watching and leading spelling bees for many years. Danielson oversaw the 2024 bee and smiled as students wrestled with words such as “aptitude,” “unscathed” and “cholesterol.”
 
“I think today is such a great event because it reminds us how much words matter,” Danielson said. “It reminds us to engage in the study of those things that we’re immersed in every day, and I think it’s a great way for students to show what they know in a really interesting way. It’s a showcase of their reading, their knowledge and their commitment to understanding more of the world around them.”
 
The E.W. Scripps Company, which runs the Scripps National Spelling Bee each year, provided LPS with an entire package of bee materials. Danielson said the package includes a set of rules and a word list with definitions, origins and sentence usage. Cyndy Maddux and Jack Bisbee read the words to students in the order they appeared on the Scripps list.
 
All 22 spellers took part in a practice round before the contest began. They received words such as “engulf,” “trifle,” “regiment” and “hexagonal” in the first round, and the second round contained puzzles such as “subsequent,” “siege,” “tempura” and “indemnity.”
 
Bella joined Chris, a seventh grader at Scott Middle School, and Eli, a sixth-grade student at Irving Middle School, as the lone remaining contestants after round three. Bella was the third and final speller in the next round, and she claimed first place after listing “meridian” correctly.
 
Chris earned second place after winning a run-off with Eli. He collected a silver medal for spelling “legato” in front of the audience.
 
Bella said she realized she could win as she walked to the microphone during the fourth round. She took extra time to go over her word before successfully completing it.
 
“I was like, ‘I really hope I spell the next one right,’” she said with a smile.
 
Bella said she practiced over winter break by taking online quizzes and studying long lists of words. She said patience on stage was something that paid off for her.
 
“I would say, ‘Don’t rush it and take your time,’ because even if you know the word, you could mess up if you say it really fast,” Bella said.
 
Bella and Chris both spelled words that are used in school settings. One of the most common definitions of meridian is “a representation of such a circle or half circle numbered for longitude on a map or globe.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines legato as a musical term that is “in a manner that is smooth and connected.”
 
Bella became the fifth Lux student in the past seven years to win the spelling bee. Former Pound Middle School student Heather Farris won the first LPS Oral Spelling Bee as an eighth grader in 1989.
 
Danielson said she was pleased to see the high level of interest in this year’s bee. She was optimistic that even more students would choose to be spellers in the future.
 
“We had more spellers this year than last year, which is great,” Danielson said. “We’re always looking to continue to grow the program. We’d love to see more and more every year come out and engage in this word work on stage.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 16, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Christina Day-Attendance Secretary at Irving Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Christina Day, attendance secretary at Irving Middle School. 

“Christina is a wonderful attendance secretary at Irving. She is methodical and pays attention to detail, has wonderful communication skills and graciously welcomes students to school every day. Our executive secretary is currently on maternity leave, and Christina is also taking on these additional job responsibilities. And, she has done so with a smile and positivity! She is an amazing human and Irving Aardvark!” - Irving Middle School Principal Rachael Kluck-Spann

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
In my role, I record student absences and contact home as necessary. I am also responsible for daily announcements and bulletin boards.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my fourth year working for LPS. I started out as the secured entrance monitor, and the following year, I got the attendance secretary job!

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
My previous employer closed, so I was looking for a change. My son was at Irving, and they had an opening. It has been a great fit!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working at Irving is the staff! 100%. We have an amazing team here, and I am so happy to be part of it! It's rewarding getting to know and building relationships with the kids!

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended parochial schools up until my senior year when I transferred and graduated from Lincoln Southeast.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I graduated from Doane University with a bachelor’s degree in human relations. I am hoping to continue my education and career with a special education endorsement.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln offers a lot of community engagement events and festivals throughout the year. They are always a lot of fun and educational.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
“Christina Katerina and the Box.” It was my cousin’s book, and she passed it on to me. It's about a girl who turns a big box into all sorts of imaginary things for play.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I was fortunate to have great teachers through school! The one that sticks out the most is Mrs. Thompson! She was a fantastic teacher and volleyball coach. She was my trusted adult at school, and I loved her classes.

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

Posted on February 16, 2024

LPS seeking top candidates like Cruz at Educator Interview Fair

Ody Cruz’s decision to come to the 2023 Lincoln Public Schools Educator Interview Fair has been exponentially beneficial for both her and the district.
 
Cruz has helped many Schoo Middle School students multiply their math talents this year. She has taught skills such as algebra and geometry to dozens of seventh- and eighth-grade Skyhawks. She said her time at last year’s inaugural fair confirmed her previous upbeat views of the district.
 
“I had always heard great things about LPS,” Cruz said. “I got my master’s through UNL, so I got to meet a lot of LPS teachers through that, and they always had good things to say. I was also very attracted by the math department. I just wanted to go to the educator fair because I wanted to see what LPS felt like, and I had a really positive experience.”
 
Erik Witt is human resources supervisor of secondary personnel services and director of recruitment at LPS. He felt the fair is an important piece of the LPS hiring puzzle. It provides everyone with a place to make good first impressions.
 
“We have a lot of applicants each year, so it’s nice to have an in-person interview,” Witt said. “We’re able to learn more about their foundational beliefs as an educator, and they’re able to meet us and learn more about what LPS has to offer. It really worked out well last year. We were able to hire a lot of great people because of the fair.”
 
This year’s Educator Interview Fair will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 20, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Steve Joel District Leadership Center – the LPS district office. The school district is seeking certified candidates including teachers, school counselors, social workers, nurses, school psychologists and speech-language pathologists. 
 
Schoo Principal Ryan Escamilla said he was glad Cruz chose to attend last year’s fair. He said her knowledge and expertise have made her a strong classroom leader, and her warm personality has helped her form bright connections inside the building.
 
“Odalys has made an immediate impact at Schoo in both her passion for teaching and her high expectations set for herself and her students,” Escamilla said. “Odalys immediately fit into Schoo’s established school culture by arriving each day with the full expectation that she is going to make an impact on her students in their academic and social lives.”
 
Cruz excelled in multiple academic and extracurricular activities at Schuyler Central High School, and she was a Dean’s List student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She taught junior high math outside Lincoln for five years and became respected for her abilities. She received the 2020 Nebraska Association of Teachers of Mathematics (NATM) Rookie of the Year Award for her efforts.
 
Cruz began working on her master’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the pandemic, and she became interested in the job opportunities available at LPS. She said her visit to the fair made a major impression on her. She knew at that point that she would accept a job offer at LPS.
 
“The recruiting director greeted me by name, which I thought was really cool, and then I had a really great interview with one of the middle school principals,” Cruz said. “He answered a lot of my questions and he seemed really happy to be there.”
 
Witt said he had many similar experiences with top-notch candidates like Cruz at the 2023 fair. The interview list included veteran educators from other school districts, student-teachers looking for their first job and out-of-state residents interested in moving to Nebraska. Zoom interviews are an option for candidates living far away from Lincoln.
 
“We had people with a wide range of life experiences last year, which was exciting,” Witt said. “It was fun to meet them and learn all of their stories. They were all high-quality people.”
 
Cruz said it has been rewarding to work with Schoo students, parents and staff members. She was the only seventh-grade math teacher in her former district, but she is part of a four-person team in grades 7-8 at Schoo. She enjoys leading math classes because of the valuable life lessons contained in them.
 
“I like that there is no right way to do it,” Cruz said. “It’s like an art and a science. Kids come in and they might have negative experiences with math, and my goal is to try to give them a positive experience. I like that it’s all about solving problems, and it teaches kids to persevere. I always liked math as a kid, so I like teaching it too.”
 
Cruz encouraged people to explore LPS job options during this year’s fair. She said they would have an exponential number of positive experiences waiting for them.
 
“I would say that if you are looking for a progressive district, or a district that is always trying new things or a district that is organized, then come to LPS and see if it’s the right fit for you,” Cruz said.

Interested candidates for the upcoming Educator Interview Fair must apply by Sunday, Feb. 18, to reserve an interview slot. For more information, click here.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 14, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Amalia, Science

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars, like Northwest High School first-year student Amalia, to choose their journeys. 

Ever since she was younger, she felt a connection to nature and animals. She also always had a natural curiosity and passion for exploration. 

Coming to Lincoln from a smaller town, Amalia is now finding a new community of learners and connecting her interests through the Science Focus Program at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The Science Focus Program is the school district’s first and oldest focus program with more than two decades of being in existence! 

Read more about Amalia’s Science experience in this Q&A as she is February’s featured Focus Program Scholar. 

Name: Amalia

Home High School: Northwest High School

Grade: 9

Focus Program: Science 

Why did you choose the Science Focus Program?

I have always loved science, especially botany and biology. Although I like art, I knew the Science Focus Program (SFP) was going to suit me better.

What do you like most about the Science Focus Program?

I love the close-knit community. It all sounds very cheesy but it truly is one of the best parts.

What makes the Science Focus Program different?

I really enjoy the independence in one's own learning. If you work hard, you will succeed.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the Science Focus Program? 

The research class really allows you to research whatever you want (within reason). 

How has attending the Science Focus Program empowered you as a student?

It really allowed me to open up a lot more socially and I believe it is very much preparing me for a higher level of education.

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at the Science Focus Program?

I have met people that I would consider my closest friends at SFP. The teachers and staff are amazing. They never fail to put a smile on my face.

How has the Science Focus Program prepared you for the future?

My teachers strive to give not only me information that will help me in college but also life skills that I will and do need.

Why are focus programs like the Science Focus Program important to high school students?

It allows for students to gain more experiences and opportunities, to research and involve their interests when it comes to their learning. 

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the Science Focus Program? 

Nobody knows everything, even teachers. Everyone is able to collaborate with each other in order to expand on each other's learning.

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Science Focus Program by visiting its website at https://science.lps.org/.

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on February 09, 2024

Mickle students learn life lessons during visit with UNL athletes

Six University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletes provided encouraging messages to Mickle Middle School students during a recent special visit.
 
Students from Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and physical education classes learned a host of life lessons in the hour-long presentation. UNL soccer players Abbey Schwarz and Marissa Popoola, football players Mikai Gbayor and Jahmal Banks, basketball player Callin Hake and gymnast Sam Phillips spoke to approximately 75 students in grades 6-8.
 
Eighth graders Malaya, Makayla and Carmen are all members of Mickle’s AVID program. They felt they had gained a lot from listening to and meeting all six Huskers.
 
“I really liked hearing from all of the athletes on how they kept going with things,” Malaya said. “They were really focused on reaching their goals, which was awesome to hear.”
 
“It was nice to hear how they never gave up and were able to overcome their challenges,” Makayla said. “That really made an impact on me.”
 
Liz Sundberg felt the Huskers gave thoughtful answers during the morning. Sundberg teaches health, physical education and AVID classes at Mickle. The educator also coaches soccer at Southeast High School. She was glad to see her students have rewarding conversations with their role models.
 
“All of them have experienced setbacks and adversity in their lives, and for them to share that and show the students how they overcame all of that is super important,” Sundberg said. “They didn’t let those setbacks define them or keep them from getting to where they are today.”
 
Carmen said it was encouraging to hear from people with all types of life stories. Schwarz graduated from a smaller school in Omaha, Phillips went to a large high school in Los Angeles and Banks came to UNL after earning a diploma from Wake Forest University. Hake is double-majoring in marketing and management, Popoola took AVID classes while growing up in Kansas and Gbayor will graduate this year with a criminal justice degree.
 
“I liked hearing different perspectives,” Carmen said.
 
AVID is a set of elective courses for Lincoln Public Schools students in grades 6-12. The classes are designed to help them develop the confidence and academic skills needed for current and future success. Many students will become the first members of their family to attend college.
 
Mickle’s AVID curriculum largely focuses on the five skill areas of writing, reading, inquiry, collaboration and organization. Sundberg helps students learn how they can create positive outcomes in their lives with each of those talents. She also encourages them to take advanced-level courses in a variety of subjects each year.
 
Malaya said she was happy to hear the Huskers reinforce the importance of those lessons. All of them spoke about developing healthy practices like time management, discipline and perseverance. They have structured their daily schedules to be successful in their academic, athletic and social pursuits.
 
“We’ve learned a lot about things like taking good notes in our classes, so it was nice to hear them talk about that too,” Malaya said. “They showed us how that has helped them.”
 
Phillips told Mickle students it was important to build a solid foundation in those areas now. He said that would set them up for success in all of their current and future endeavors.
 
“Middle school is all about learning those life skills, and high school is about applying them,” Phillips said.
 
Students also learned about the value of determination and self-confidence. Popoola broke her ankle as a sophomore at UNL and tore the meniscus in her knee 18 months later. She genuinely thought about quitting soccer but decided to keep going after speaking with family and friends. She also elected to spend time volunteering while she was injured, which allowed her to positively influence others.
 
“That really pushed me beyond sports,” Popoola said. “It really shaped me into who I am without soccer, because there will be a day when I can’t play soccer anymore.”
 
Schwarz shared how one of her high school teachers told her she should quit soccer to focus on another sport, and Hake spoke about how her nine years in dance school had helped her become more poised under pressure. Gbayor, Popoola, Banks and Phillips also said they had been able to overcome naysayers in their lives.
 
“I had a lot of people who doubted me,” Gbayor said. “The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to just ignore them. It’s not easy, but just block them out and believe in yourself.”
 
“I think it’s really important to know what you want and who you are, and not to sacrifice those things just because of something someone else might want,” Schwarz said. “The most important thing is to believe in what you can do.”
 
Sundberg said she was grateful to the Huskers for giving up their time to encourage everyone at Mickle. She said students had gained many positive memories from the experience.
 
“It really speaks to the type of character these student-athletes have,” Sundberg said. “For them to want to help our students is awesome. Even if you’re not into sports, there are a ton of things that you can learn from hearing their stories. This is really good for our students.”

If you want to know more about the AVID program or nominate a student, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/curriculum/avid/.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 08, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Judy Wasserman-Behavior Interventionist at Fredstrom Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Judy Wasserman, behavior interventionist at Fredstrom Elementary School.

“Judy has an uncanny way of connecting with students in their hardest moments. She goes out of her way to create resources for students, connect with parents and support teachers. I had several students with various needs who utilized the student support room run by Judy. She would always take time to check in with me to be sure we had the same expectations for the students we shared. We would set goals together for the student and then Judy would work with me and the student to make their time in class the most successful that it could be while scaffolding the supports that were listed on their IEP. She was a blessing to work with at Fredstrom!” - Amanda Christensen, first grade teacher at Norwood Park Elementary.

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
In my role, I assist students who access the Student Support Center. I collaborate with staff on programming and implementation to help students be successful in the classroom. I also help with maintaining data.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I started in 2009 as a substitute paraeducator. In 2010, I was hired as a secured entrance monitor. In 2011, I became a special education paraeducator and moved to a behavior interventionist in 2023.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I initially applied to be a paraeducator, so I could work similar hours to when my children were in school. I was a stay-at-home mom who loved spending time with children. Initially, my plan was to work until my children were no longer in elementary. I immediately realized I loved helping students. The first student I was partnered with inspired me to continue to help others. I was also fortunate to have an amazing cadre that helped me see how important the paraeducator role could be in a child's life. My children are now in college, and I still love working with the students. I continue to learn every day from the incredible staff that I work with as well as all of the students I see every day.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my job is connecting with students and helping them be their very best. I love seeing students smile because they’ve had a great day or helping a student work through frustration. It’s rewarding to find ways to motivate a student or have a student excited to come to share something with me. A student's smile, hug, or high-five keeps me going. I try hard to be an adult who brightens a student’s day and someone they can count on regardless of the situation.   

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up in Orleans, which is a small town in southwest Nebraska. 

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I worked in management for a large insurance company before having children. I then chose to stay at home with my two children before starting my career with LPS.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
My favorite childhood series was “Little House on the Prairie.” As an adult, a book that inspired me in my current position was “Carly's Voice.”

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
My shoutout is for all the amazing staff that I've worked with at Fredstrom Elementary.  

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

Posted on February 08, 2024

Ochoa makes positive move from para to Huntington counselor

Monique Ochoa’s bright spirit has given hundreds of Huntington Elementary School students rays of hope over the past two years.
 
Ochoa is helping turn cloudy situations into sunny outcomes in her work as Huntington’s school counselor. She was a para-educator in Lincoln Public Schools for several years before switching into a counseling role. She said it was fulfilling to support students with their academic, emotional and social needs each day.

 
“The innocence of children at the elementary level is just phenomenal,” Ochoa said. “I feel like I hear about the things going on in these kids’ lives, and knowing I can be a safe person and be a safe space for them every day at school is just the most rewarding part about my career. It’s something new every single day, that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
 
Huntington Principal Kristi Schirmer said Ochoa has made a major difference for many students in her time at the school. She and other LPS counselors are being recognized for their efforts during National School Counseling Week. LPS employs 134 counselors at district and building levels.
 
“Monique has a passion for serving the students and families at Huntington,” Schirmer said. “She works to help students learn key social and emotional skills that will help them not only while learning and growing while at school, but will also serve them well in the future.”

 
Ochoa began her Nebraska experience in third grade when her family moved from California to North Platte. She graduated from North Platte High School and became a first-generation college student when she enrolled at Southeast Community College (SCC). She spent her first two years at SCC before earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
Ochoa knew from a young age that she wanted to work in a school system, but she was unsure if she wanted to become a classroom teacher. She started a job as a para-educator at Riley Elementary School in 2018 and moved to Hartley Elementary School 18 months later. Those experiences convinced her that becoming a counselor was the right career move.
 
“When I became a para, I was like, ‘Yeah, I love being in the schools.’ That was solidified for me,” Ochoa said. “I think the mental health aspect of being able to help students, especially in the times we’re having, is so important for the growth of students. That’s when I realized that being a counselor is something I want to do.”

 
Ochoa achieved her dream by earning a master’s degree in school counseling from Doane University. She began helping Huntington students with a wide variety of needs in the Fall 2022 semester.
 
Many students in grades PK-5 come to Ochoa’s office each week to learn about coping skills. Emotional management, self-control and being respectful are three issues that frequently come up on Mondays and Tuesdays. Ochoa spends much of her time on Wednesdays leading social emotional learning (SEL) classes, and she oversees social skills small groups on Thursdays and Fridays.
 
The American School Counselor Association and Nebraska Department of Education have both promoted the benefits of SEL and social skills classes. Ochoa helps students learn about self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. She tailors her lessons to each grade level to ensure they are getting the best-possible help.

 
Ochoa said it has been encouraging working with Huntington teachers and staff members. She said they have boosted her morale by sharing success stories with her.
 
“I had a teacher tell me a little bit ago that a student had repeated what I said in a social skills group about being respectful,” Ochoa said. “I like knowing that the things that I say are resonating with students and they’re remembering the things I’m saying, and that they’re using it throughout their class setting to let other people know.”
 
Ochoa has also enjoyed positive talks with students outside her office. Schirmer said she has watched many of these uplifting moments take place before the morning’s opening bell.
 
“She is one of the first faces children see as they arrive at school each day,” Schirmer said. “Monique greets each child with a smile as they walk into the cafeteria to eat their breakfast. During these first few minutes, Monique makes sure each student is ready for school, and if they need to talk, Monique is there to help ease students into their school day.”
 
Ochoa said her biggest goal is to continue providing rays of hope to everyone at Huntington.
 
“Just moving forward and continuing to have the confidence in the work I’m doing and knowing that I’m making a difference, even if it might not feel like that all of the time,” Ochoa said. “I just want to try to continue to grow my relationships with the students, and make sure that they see me as somebody that when they have something going on in their personal lives, they can continue to come to me for that.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 07, 2024

Governor impressed with TCA students during campus visit

One of Nebraska’s most prominent politicians heard the hum of precision machines and hammering of nails fill the air at The Career Academy on Jan. 30.
 
Lincoln Public Schools students displayed their career and technical expertise to Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen. He watched career and technical education (CTE) students sharpen their skills in welding, precision machining, construction and health sciences classrooms. He joined representatives from LPS and Southeast Community College (SCC) on the 60-minute tour.
 
Pillen said he was impressed by the work happening on campus. LPS and SCC formed TCA as an academic partnership in 2015 for public, parochial and homeschool students. More than 700 high school juniors and seniors come to 8800 O St. for a wide variety of classes.
 
“This is so important to the future of our state,” Pillen told a group in the commons area. “There’s endless pathways with all of the programs here. It’s just incredible.”

 
TCA seniors Isabel and Sapphire guided Pillen during each stop of the tour. The Honor Roll students said they were thrilled to help shine a state-level spotlight on TCA’s community. They said their time at the facility had made a huge difference in their lives.
 
“The students here are not only wonderful people, but they’re good students,” Isabel said. “This is a great place to be.”
 
“We want to broadcast it to as many students as possible,” Sapphire said. “Everything is possible when you come here.”
 
TCA Director Joshua Jones said Isabel and Sapphire were prime examples of the positive stories being written each day in the building.
 
“They were just spectacular,” Jones said. “Isabel and Sapphire did such a great job today. It just speaks to the quality level of students that we have here. To me it’s awe-inspiring to see what all of these students do every day at TCA.”
 
Health sciences students Taytum, Naomi, Erika and Adreyona gave Pillen additional insight into the bright futures available through TCA programs. All four seniors have already earned their certified nursing assistant (CNA) degrees and are planning to become medical professionals. They smiled as Pillen praised their efforts.
 
“Connecting with every patient you work with is really important,” Pillen said. “That will go so far into helping people, and sometimes we forget that. I can see that all of you are going to do great things with your lives.”

 
Jones, Isabel and Sapphire provided Pillen with a wealth of information about TCA’s curriculum. Each pathway features a combination of entry-level college courses, field trips to local businesses and multiple hands-on learning activities.
 
Students visit many Lincoln-area companies each semester to learn how their trades are being implemented there. They speak with professionals about their daily experiences and the benefits of working in their specific jobs. Prospective internships and apprenticeships at local businesses are also available.
 
Jones said it was critical to provide real-world experiences for TCA students. For example, Sapphire and others in the welding pathway collect basic metal fabrication skills in their classrooms. They learn techniques such as plasma cutting, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding and metal inert gas (MIG) welding. Graduates can then transfer these skills to jobs in Scottsbluff, South Sioux City and everywhere in between.
 
“We’re training these kids to be global citizens,” Jones said.
 
Sapphire said she was happy to get a head start in her chosen field at TCA. She is planning to study welding and automotive technology at Southeast Community College.
 
She will enter a job sector that has an optimistic future. A September 2023 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics said 42,600 people will become welders, cutters, solderers and brazers each year over the next decade. The median wage in May 2022 was $47,540, but Sapphire said it could be as high as $77 an hour for highly-technical tasks.
 
“I’d say it’s given me a start in life that four years ago I didn’t think was possible,” Sapphire said.

 
Isabel is planning to major in government and politics at Hope College in Holland, Mich. She said her time at TCA has inspired her to become an advocate for CTE workers in her career.
 
“Being here has put the narrative in my mind of where I want to go,” Isabel said.
 
In addition to offering dual-credit opportunities for students, Pillen learned TCA is also removing economic barriers. All TCA students receive free transportation to and from campus and free textbooks and classroom materials. They also earn LPS credits at no cost. Students receive a 50-percent discount on regular SCC tuition prices for dual-credit programs.
 
Jones said everyone at TCA valued the governor’s willingness to discover more about the people and programs inside the building.
 
“It’s extremely important when people who are in positions of influence see the value of what we’re doing here,” Jones said. “It was awesome to see how much he cared about the things he saw today and that he took the time to come visit us. I thanked him several times today for coming, because it’s really exciting that he wanted to be here and talk with our students.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on February 05, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Hailey Greene-Second Grade Teacher at McPhee Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Hailey Greene, second grade teacher at McPhee Elementary School.

“Hailey’s passion for her scholars' success shines every day. She works countless hours to be prepared for a year full of learning with her scholars. Hailey also is the leader of our school's Community Building Team, meaning she not only cares for her scholars, but also her colleagues. When walking through the hallway of McPhee, you can always count on a positive and upbeat attitude from Miss Greene. Overall, all scholars who have a chance to work with Miss Greene will be scholars who make a difference in the world today.” - kindergarten teacher Amanda Sherrill at McPhee Elementary School

How long have you worked for LPS?
I am currently in my fourth year with LPS. I started my career teaching first grade at Belmont Elementary School, then moved to McPhee Elementary School where I teach second grade and absolutely love it!

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Ever since I was little, I always knew I wanted to become a teacher. I remember playing school with my cousins and wanting to be the teacher, so I could be the one to help everybody. I love working with kids and watching their faces light up with joy when they finally accomplish a skill they have been working so hard on! As a person of color, I try to foster diversity and acceptance within my classroom. I have always strived to do everything I can to show my students that they are loved, appreciated and free to be their true authentic selves. I want to make sure I have built a classroom culture of compassion, respect and support. My goal has always been for my students to leave my room knowing that they are capable of anything they set their minds to!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working for LPS has been the amazing relationships I have built with my students and their families. I also have the most amazing and supportive colleagues within my building. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to watch my students learn, grow and begin to discover who they are as young scholars!

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
Yes! I attended Calvert Elementary School, Pound Middle School and Lincoln Southeast High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln where I graduated with my bachelor's degree in elementary and special education with a minor in child, youth, and family studies.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln has a variety of things to do with family and friends! I can always find a great restaurant to go to and catch a movie or some live theater. Of course, I'm a Husker fan and enjoy cheering on the team in a variety of sports.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I enjoyed reading the "Junie B. Jones" series when I was in elementary school. The books were always so fun and made me laugh!

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life?
I have had a lot of great teachers throughout my years at Lincoln Public Schools, so it’s hard to choose just one.

My fifth grade teacher, Karen McWilliams, was a dynamic teacher! She had unique ways of presenting topics that made me want to learn about them. She excelled in student engagement and building relationships that helped make learning seem effortless.

In high school, I had the opportunity to play basketball for coach Heather Leader and the Southeast Knights. It was obvious that she believed in me as an athlete and found ways to motivate me to achieve my best!

Hillary Dodson (former EL teacher at Clinton Elementary School) and Kathy Simpson (kindergarten teacher at Belmont Elementary School) were fabulous cooperating teachers that I had as I went through the teaching program at UNL. Both of these educators taught me so many things about classroom management and student engagement. The passion and drive they had further inspired me to continue to grow and be that same caliber of teacher.

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

Posted on February 02, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Tucker, Arts and Humanities

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars to choose their journeys like Lincoln High School senior Tucker. 

Tucker is deeply into art and loves experimenting with it. He lets his creative mind shine through videography and graphic design. 

The young artist was able to incorporate passion for creativity and design into his school day by attending one of LPS’ oldest focus programs – Arts and Humanities.

Read more about Tucker’s Arts and Humanities experience in this Q&A as he is October’s featured Focus Program Scholar. 

Name: Tucker
Home High School: Lincoln High School
Grade: 12
Focus Program: Arts and Humanities 

Why did you choose Arts and Humanities?
I chose Arts and Humanities because it was a smaller school where I could get more experience in art and in the community. Coming into it I really liked the energy it had, and I felt like I could be myself here. 

What do you like most about Arts and Humanities?
The opportunities for greater artistic exploration, the unique classes, the community and the unique traditions that only exist here really define the experience of being here.

What makes Arts and Humanities different?
There’s an energy here that can’t be replicated. Coming in and participating and being around the students and teachers, you can feel the creative energy in the building. That energy can be attributed to the interest of the students and the community that we’ve built here.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at Arts and Humanities?
I get to experiment with a lot of new things. If I want to try something new there are resources to do so, and teachers to support your ideas and provide insight and advice to further explore your ideas. 

How has attending Arts and Humanities empowered you as a student?
I know my creative processes much more, which lets me more accurately understand my work both in and out of school. There are also a lot of experiences that I’ve had here that have changed me as a person and let me know myself more.

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at Arts and Humanities?
Everyone knows everyone. There's only about 90 people in the school and so you’re bound to interact with everybody at one point. I also know my teachers a lot more than I would at a normal high school, and so that really lends itself to the community that we have here.

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?
It’s definitely a lot more fun. I’ve done a lot of things that I couldn’t have imagined coming in, like interacting with professional artists and filmmakers, getting involved in the community, and leading long-term projects. It’s really enriching to have experiences like that.

How has Arts and Humanities prepared you for the future?
I have a completely different mindset than I did when I first came here due in part to the way that Arts and Humanities teaches its subjects. I also have a lot more experience in different creative fields, and meeting professional creators that give great advice on how to succeed in not just creative fields, but in the future in general.

Why are Focus Programs like Arts and Humanities important to high school students?
They’re very important for students who want to engage with their interests in a community that will support them. They’re important for people who thrive in smaller communities where they can know their teachers and peers well and get inspiration from them. 

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending Arts and Humanities? 
The greatest thing I’ve learned is the understanding of my creative processes – something that I will take with me going forward in life. Also, an understanding of the humanities mind frame, that way of thinking about the world, I know will stick with me for a very long time.

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about Arts and Humanities at https://arts.lps.org/. 

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on February 01, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Miles, Bay High

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars to choose their journeys like Southeast High School senior Miles. 

Miles is a talented musician who was introduced to music at an early age. He plays seven different instruments and he’s in four different bands.

The young musician was able to incorporate his love for music into his school day by attending one of LPS’ newest focus programs – Bay High.

Read more about Miles’ Bay High experience in this Q&A as he’s September’s featured Focus Scholar. 

Name: Miles

Home High School: Southeast High School

Grade: 12

Focus Program: Bay High

Why did you choose Bay High?

I chose Bay High because it offered some unique and different music pathways that my home high school did not offer. It piqued my interest, and I was hooked. I was also interested in coding and photography, so it pretty much offered everything I wanted to do, all in the same building.

What do you like most about Bay High?

I definitely like the collective diversity of people from all areas of Lincoln, and the world. We have people from Asia, Brazil and many places within the U.S. Everyone has their own story that is unique and unlike most people. Everyone at Bay High is family.

What makes Bay High different?

The relationships that students have with the teachers and mentors. It feels like we are all on the same level, and it's never a dull moment. It really does feel like a big family, and we all respect and help each other build ourselves up. If there is ever a misunderstanding, all we have to do is talk it through, and the problem is solved. We are all on the same page.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at Bay High?

I really get to dig into live sound, and music production. One of my main passions is playing live on stage, and here at The Bay (Bay High), I am able to put on my own shows, without having to do as much work as most would think. 

I also set up and run sound and lights for shows that I'm not performing in, and I love it just as much. I also get to build my own instruments, which is pretty much unheard of for a high school student.

How has attending Bay High empowered you as a student?

I definitely feel like I can do anything I put my mind to here at The Bay (Bay High). Last year, I had never thought of building an instrument, let alone a guitar. When they introduced the passion project, I almost instantly knew that I could build a guitar, and they would support me. So that’s just what I did. Now, I'm going to build a guitar pedal, which is a bit more practical for live use. If I had been at LSE (Southeast) all year, I would have never gotten this opportunity during school.

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?

I feel like this has been the best part of my high school experience. When I joined The Bay (Bay High), there was a creative spark in my mind and I really invested myself into music. I was able to form my own band called MMA (Miles, Mason and Asher) and we are definitely on the come up within the Lincoln music scene, and I give a lot of props to The Bay for fueling this fire we have started.

How has Bay High prepared you for the future?

It definitely doesn't feel like high school, but it feels like a workspace. Everyone here works great with each other, and everyone knows everybody by name. I know this has shaped how my future looks because if I were stuck at a desk all day, I would not be as extroverted. I really like talking to people more than I used to because I now realize that everyone has their own story.

Why are focus programs like Bay High important to high school students?

It builds important relationships between people you thought you would never be friends with. It also gives a sort of break from the regular lecturing that a teacher might give, and puts more students in a room to learn what they are actually interested in. It's all about networking as well as furthering your education.

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending Bay High? 

Treat everyone with respect. You never know what someone is going through, and you never know how cool someone may be until you get to know them. It's like the old saying, never judge a book by its cover. Everyone here has an open book with the next chapter waiting to be written.

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 
 

Explore LPS Focus Programs at our next Open House on Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m. at Southwest High School. 

Learn more about Bay High at https://bayhigh.lps.org/  or more LPS Focus Programs at home.lps.org/focus.

Posted on February 01, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Sapphire, The Career Academy

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars to choose their journeys like Southwest High School senior Sapphire. 

Sapphire likes using her hands and creating something new. One of her favorite childhood movies, The Iron Giant, sparked an interest in welding after seeing one of its characters transform scraps of metal. 

Now, Sapphire explores that interest and transforms her own metal scraps into pieces of art daily by attending the Welding and Precision Machining pathways at The Career Academy (TCA). 

Read more about Sapphire’s TCA experience in this Q&A as she is November’s featured Focus Program Scholar. 

Name: Sapphire

Home High School: Southwest High School

Grade: 12

Focus Program: The Career Academy (Welding and Precision Machining pathways)

Why did you choose The Career Academy?

I registered into the welding pathway initially because of my freshman year welding and manufacturing instructor, Mr. Jochum. My second year, I added the first and second year of machining to attend TCA full-time. 

What do you like most about The Career Academy?

I love that we are able to take what we need from our academics. Within the more hands-on classes, we are able to work on personal projects alongside school assignments in order to expand our skills to our individual needs. 

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at The Career Academy?

With the vast amount of opportunities in and out of TCA, businesses send speakers out and allow us to visit their businesses quite often. Job fairs allow us to explore different careers at once and let our names be known to different companies. 

How has attending The Career Academy empowered you as a student?

The habits of success that are taught are more than just taught, they are ingrained into our memory and behavior, thus allowing us to grow as students or rather as individuals. 

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at The Career Academy?

My teachers, instructors and peers have become like family. Instructors and teachers are always happy to help if a student is in need or if we need someone to talk to. Students have each other's backs and form lasting friendships.

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?

Attending TCA has enhanced my high school experience by offering me opportunities and experiences to learn things (like welding and machining) that I would not have had at Southwest.  

How has The Career Academy prepared you for the future?

TCA not only focuses on skills like welding and machining, but all of the students learn important life lessons such as accountability, self-advocacy and professionalism that impact myself and others regardless of what we do after high school. 

Why are focus programs like The Career Academy important to high school students?

The importance of these programs is the fact that they are important to the individual – focusing on what an individual student wants to pursue or has a passion for. 

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending The Career Academy? 

One of the greatest lessons I have learned at TCA is that I am capable of much more than I ever thought possible at a young age, and that not only can I learn these skills, but I can also help others learn them as well.  

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about The Career Academy at https://home.lps.org/tca/.

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on February 01, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Charlotte, Bryan College of Health Sciences

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars to choose their journeys like Northwest High School junior Charlotte.  

Charlotte’s interest in the health field sparked in eighth grade. Her inspiration comes from her father who is an emergency room doctor and her biggest hero. 

Charlotte is now taking the initial steps to follow her father’s path and explore medical careers by participating in one of the school district’s newest focus programs – Bryan College of Health Sciences at Northwest.  

Read more about Charlotte’s Bryan College of Health Sciences experience in this Q&A as she is December’s featured Focus Program Scholar. 

Name: Charlotte 

Home High School: Northwest High School

Grade: 11

Focus Program: Bryan College of Health Sciences at Northwest

Why did you choose the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program?

My dad is an ER doctor. Growing up, he was my biggest hero because I knew that he did something that made a difference and helped people and I wanted to be just like him. So, I joined the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program to learn to help people in my own way. 

What do you like most about the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program?

I really like how the teachers really care. All of our instructors want us to succeed and it shows in how they teach and everything they do for us in the classroom. 

What makes the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program special?

This probably sounds corny and generic, but the program wouldn’t be the same without the people in it – students and teachers.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program?

Everything that you learn is a stepping stone to whatever career you want to go into, so everything that you learn can be tailored to your interests, and you can apply all the things you learn to the things you’re passionate about. 

How has attending the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program empowered you as a student?

To be honest, I love feeling smart because I’m taking a college-level course in high school. I feel very educated.

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program?

I have a good friendship with the other students in the program. We all help each other out and share our resources so we all do good in the classes. There’s a sense of togetherness for sure.

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?

I feel like I’m better prepared for the future. The whole point of high school is to get you ready for college and whatever comes after. Being a part of the Bryan Health Sciences Focus Program has really helped me feel confident in getting a jump-start on my career. I just feel more confident as a student overall. 

How has the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program prepared you for the future?

The Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program has helped me open pathways to jobs, colleges and many more opportunities. I feel like I have options for my future. Bryan has made me look forward to having a job in the health industry and it’s opened up doors for me to do so. 

Why are focus programs like the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program important to high school students?

These kinds of programs are important to high school students because they help get them jobs they otherwise wouldn’t even dream of having. They put opportunities in front of us and without those opportunities some of us wouldn’t even know about options like “CNA” or “EMT.”

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program? 

The greatest thing I’ve learned, of course, is how to care for other people. But my favorite thing that I’ve learned is how to intubate someone. It’s so cool. 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Northwest by visiting its website at https://healthsciences.lps.org/. 

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on February 01, 2024

Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Tessa, Early College and Career STEM

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers almost a dozen focus programs for our scholars to choose their journeys like Northeast High School first-year student Tessa.  

She has expressed that she has always had a love for nature and animals. Her family’s strong interest in science also influenced her to follow the path of learning about natural sciences. 

Tessa is taking the first steps in exploring the field at the Early College and Career STEM Program at Northeast. It is more commonly known as FEWSS (Food, Energy, Water and Societal Systems). FEWSS is one of the school district’s newest embedded high school focus programs thanks to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Read more about Tessa’s Early College and Career STEM experience in this Q&A as she is January’s featured Focus Program Scholar. 

Name: Tessa 

Home High School: Northeast High School

Grade: 9

Focus Program: Early College and Career STEM at Northeast 

Why did you choose the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

I have always really loved nature and the environment. So, the thought of being able to learn more about our world and how to protect it was intriguing to me. 

What do you like most about the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

I really like how in the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program the UNL staff and students that we meet, even though we are only high schoolers, they are still excited to engage with us. It makes me feel like some of those big problems like climate change, like I can do something to help out with it.    

What makes the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

The thing that makes the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program is definitely the people in it. You can tell that they're really passionate about agriculture and sciences – whatever it is that they are doing they put their heart in it.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

There are a lot of field trips to UNL, where you meet staff and students that you can ask about your interests. Also, I know that if you ask our coordinator Bailey Feit about your interests, she is very good at looking for opportunities for students to learn about their interests. 

How has attending the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program empowered you as a student?

I feel really passionate about climate change –  a problem that will take many people working together to solve. I often lost hope in trying to fix it. Through FEWSS and our activities, I realized that even the little I could do would help in the end.

What are your relationships with other students and staff like at the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program?

Once again, everyone in the focus program is really nice and dedicated. The focus program also puts some of the kids who are all into the same sort of things together, so there is a lot of bonding. 

How has being a part of a LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience?

You know being a freshman and coming into high school is a big adjustment, and having those two or three cohort classes to look forward to has really helped me find some stability.

How has the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program prepared you for the future?

The Early College and Career STEM program helped you get used to being in a college. This made me feel a lot more confident about going out in the world. 

Why are focus programs like the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program important to high school students?

I think that the focus programs really help kids explore their interests, and find something to enjoy in the craziness of high school. It also helps kids find other kids who are interested in the same things as them. The LPS focus programs just add so much to the community.  

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the Early College and Career STEM Focus Program? 

Even if you don’t see yourself as a science or an agriculture person, you can still really have a lot of fun learning about it and finding a career in it. When we think of agriculture and science we think of farming and lab coats but really there is so much more. 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the Early College and Career STEM program at Northeast by visiting its website at https://eccsp.lps.org/. 

Don’t forget to also explore LPS Focus Programs by looking at upcoming events at home.lps.org/focus. 

Posted on January 31, 2024

Zeman students enjoy reading adventures in refurbished library

Zeman Elementary School’s library has always been a place where students can map out grand literary adventures word by word with their books.
 
They can now trek on their reading trails in a room full of exciting updates.
 
Zeman’s library has been transformed this school year with a variety of design improvements. Students can now relax on couches, chairs and ottomans when turning pages of their stories, and new tables provide meeting spots for group lessons and activities. Shelves have also become more inviting with new books for students of all ages.

Fourth-grade students Gabe and Jack said they were happy with the changes. Both said the soft-seated couches and chairs have made headlines in Zeman’s hallways. 
 
“It’s really nice and comfortable in here now,” Gabe said. “It’s been fun. I really like reading in here.”
 
“There are a lot of good seats,” Jack said. “Our library is great.”
 
Sherri Day joined Zeman’s staff this summer as school librarian. She and Lincoln Public Schools Director of Library Services Chris Haeffner both felt students would benefit from having the space be more attractive. Both said the renovations have provided a burst of energy to the room’s reading environment.
 
“It’s been amazing,” Day said. “When I came here in the summer I thought it needed some cheering up, because the library should be a happy place for kids. It should be a place where they want to come and where they’re excited to be at.”
 
“The bones of the old library didn’t change,” Haeffner said. “We simply leveraged the space and added new furniture to create a more kid-friendly and inviting place to learn, collaborate or get lost in a book.”
 
Zeman Principal Rik Devney said staff members are proud of how the final product turned out. District employees spent many hours working on the semester-long renovations. The school also used $4,000 from a recent book fair fundraiser to add dozens of titles to the shelves.
 
“The amount of collective work that has been put into this is pretty remarkable,” Devney said.
 
Haeffner said part of the district department’s annual budget is specifically set aside for updating library spaces like Zeman’s. Devney worked with the library services team to ensure they could make all of the purchases at once instead of in smaller increments. The new furniture and fixtures cost approximately $20,000.
 
Another major part of the project took place on the shelves. Day and Haeffner led a team that removed damaged and outdated books from the library this summer. They inserted newer items into prominent places for students to enjoy.
 
“This makes a huge difference in the overall quality of the collection and the ease in which kids can find attractive books,” Haeffner said. “It also allows us to consolidate and re-arrange shelves to better fit the flow of the library.”
 
Fourth-grade classmates Charlie and Jeremy said they have enjoyed the larger selection of books. Jeremy said he likes to read chapter novels and books on arts and crafts, while Charlie said chapter books are his favorite ones.
 
Students expressed joy about the updates during a mid-morning library class. Day helped them learn about terms found in biographies such as the glossary, index and table of contents. They worked on laptop computers at larger tables before spending time in breakout sessions in smaller groups. They ended their 50 minutes by checking out new books to read at home.
 
Day has been teaching at LPS since 1993 and has been a librarian for the past five years. She leads a large number of library classes at Zeman each week. She felt the space could become home for a wide assortment of other school and community functions as well.
 
“I want this to be a place that gets a lot of use,” Day said. “It reflects the school so well, so I’d like to see it be a place where we have meetings and classes and all kinds of fun opportunities. I want this to be a place where people can gather.”
 
Day said she is extremely grateful for the support she has seen from both the school and community. She said Haeffner and Devney have been enthusiastic about helping with the project, and members of Zeman’s parent-teacher organization have given a large amount of encouragement. All of the partners cheered for her during each step of the project.
 
Day said everyone involved with the renovations could feel good about the outcome. They have mapped out a library where students can achieve academic success with a smile.
 
“I’m so proud of our library,” Day said. “I’m really happy. It’s so exciting to see how welcoming and inviting it is now.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on January 31, 2024

October Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month: Diane Spellman

Every month, we will recognize a substitute teacher who is making sure the learning doesn't stop at Lincoln Public Schools. In October, we are celebrating Diane Spellman.

Spellman received the Substitute Teacher of the Month award from Human Resources while subbing at Saratoga Elementary School on Wednesday, Oct. 25. She was one of the substitutes with the most days subbing in the first quarter with 44 days.

“I love working with all the students, especially the preschool learners,” Spellman said. “I enjoy the flexibility that being a substitute teacher allows as well as choosing from a variety of positions and schools to work in.”

She has been subbing in the district since 2001. 

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher at LPS, learn more here.

Posted on January 30, 2024

January Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month: Cambreea Perry

Every month, we will recognize a substitute teacher who is making sure the learning doesn't stop at Lincoln Public Schools. For January, we are celebrating Cambreea Perry. 

LPS Human Resources surprised Perry with the Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month award while she was subbing at Lux Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. She was chosen for working the most days as a sub this semester. 

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher at LPS, learn more here.

Posted on January 30, 2024

December Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month: Stephanie Dick

Every month, we will recognize a substitute teacher who is making sure the learning doesn't stop at Lincoln Public Schools. For December, we are celebrating Stephanie Dick. 

LPS Human Resources surprised Dick with the Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month award while she was subbing at Arnold Elementary School on Thursday, Dec. 21. 

“Stephanie subs frequently at Arnold. She excels at her role. She not only adeptly follows lesson plans but also brings a contagious enthusiasm that sparks curiosity among the young learners. Her ability to seamlessly integrate into the established routines of the classroom, coupled with a warm and approachable demeanor, fosters an environment where students feel both supported and engaged. She understands the importance of maintaining consistency while infusing their unique approach to make the learning experience memorable.” Arnold Elementary School Principal Jodi Frager said.

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher at LPS, learn more here.

Posted on January 30, 2024

November Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month: Jennifer Luke

Every month, we will recognize a substitute teacher who is making sure the learning doesn't stop at Lincoln Public Schools. For November, we are celebrating Jennifer Luke. 

Luke received the Subtastic Substitute Teacher of the Month award from Human Resources while subbing at Clinton Elementary School on Monday, Dec. 4. She is currently in a long-term assignment in first grade at Clinton.

If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher at LPS, learn more here.

Posted on January 30, 2024

Refugee students receive support through LPS mentoring program

North Star freshman Mahdi always breaks into a big smile when he and English teacher Bryan Barnacle talk about soccer together.
 
Those goal-scoring moments illustrate how important the high school’s refugee mentoring program has been to both of them.
 
Mahdi and Barnacle have built trust with each other this year through the STRIVE mentoring initiative. It’s an in-school meeting program that serves high school refugee students who have lived in the U.S. for less than five years. Mahdi, whose family moved to the United States from Afghanistan three years ago, said he has enjoyed talking with Barnacle about everything from video games to soccer goals.
 
“I think it’s been good,” Mahdi said. “I’ve had a lot of fun.”
 
STRIVE stands for “Success Through Responsibility, Initiative, Values and Education." Twenty North Star staff members are helping 25 refugee students in the program, which also has branches at Northeast and Lincoln High.

Barnacle said he has been blessed to meet students like Mahdi. He guided a Yazidi mentee for four years before being paired with Mahdi this past fall.
 
“I would just say there’s so much power to a story,” Barnacle said. “That’s what people like Mahdi bring to the community. There’s so much richness and life and talent.”
 
Barnacle then turned to Mahdi and smiled.
 
“You make this place better. That’s the truth. That’s why I’ve learned so much from you. Not everyone has the same story. You just have to sit down and ask.”
 
Bailey Morley has helped dozens of students like Mahdi in her four years with the program. She is an English learners (EL) teacher at North Star and leads the school’s STRIVE branch. She handles day-to-day tasks such as pairing mentors and mentees and organizing educational field trips.
 
Morley said the mentoring friendships have created meaningful moments for both students and adults.
 
“It’s been so good to see the ways the kids can connect with the teachers and to see how powerful that relationship can be,” Morley said. “Spending a few minutes every week with a student and taking the time to ask them how they’re doing and how their family is doing is something that means a lot to them.”
 
The MENTOR Nebraska organization implemented STRIVE at Lincoln Public Schools in 2018. The program utilizes school staff like teachers, counselors, social workers and administrators as mentors to help them easily connect during the school day. LPS has served 332 students through the program, which is being highlighted for National Mentoring Month. 

“A lot of those relationships have lasted even after the kids have graduated, and they’re still able to be connected. It’s really neat,” Morley said.
 
MENTOR Nebraska Executive Director Melissa Mayo said STRIVE is especially important in Lincoln, which has welcomed many new refugees in the past two decades. The Lincoln New Americans Task Force – a coalition of nearly 70 organizations and community members – said in 2019 that more than 30,000 people from 150 countries have made new homes here.
 
According to the nonprofit, the goals of STRIVE are to connect refugee youth with the support of a positive and caring adult, increase civic and social engagement of participants in their schools and communities and promote educational and vocational pathways after high school.

Mayo said she has been impressed with the way LPS has approached mentoring initiatives.
 
“Lincoln Public Schools is a true champion of mentoring, setting the gold standard when it comes to meaningful educational partnerships and reinforcing a holistic approach to ensure student success,” Mayo said. “The true mark of a healthy partnership is the ability to provide feedback and continuous input to meet the ever-evolving needs of students over the years. MENTOR Nebraska has appreciated the willingness of district and building leadership to bring new approaches and models of mentoring to their schools, so all young people have access to mentoring.”
 
In addition to weekly mentoring sessions, STRIVE participants go on field trips across eastern Nebraska. They travel to important cultural and educational spots to learn more about community and government topics.
 
North Star students explored greenhouses and animal science buildings at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus last year, and they picked up legislative knowledge during a tour of the state capitol building. Morley said they will visit Omaha’s new science center and other college campuses this spring.
 
Morley said one field trip in particular brought all mentors and mentees closer together. Many North Star students of Yazidi heritage were forced to flee Iraq with their families after ISIS attacked their homeland in 2014. They toured an exhibit at the University of Nebraska-Omaha last year that presented information about the conflict in Iraq.
 
“It’s a huge group of students that we have in the program, so that was really incredible,” Morley said. “The kids got to see pictures of areas where they had lived, and some of the kids even knew a person that did one of the artworks that was in the exhibit. It was really powerful.”
 
Morley said the program has grown with additional refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine. She continues to encourage teachers, administrators and staff members to become mentees.
 
Barnacle said the best part of STRIVE is being able to enjoy day-to-day conversations with students. He and Mahdi have spoken about the similar snowfall levels of the Afghan capital of Kabul and Barnacle’s hometown in Minnesota, different levels of the video game Fortnite and the skills of soccer players like Ronaldo.
 
“As you open yourself up to it, there’s so much good that happens,” Barnacle said. “Mahdi’s a great example of resilience. Every mentor and mentee situation that I can look at, the teachers are looking at the students and saying, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of resilience, there’s a lot of hope.’ It’s just a lot of great connections that come from this.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on January 26, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Jen Lesoing-Literacy Interventionist at Dawes Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Jen Lesoing, literacy interventionist at Dawes Middle School. 

“Jen joined the Dawes community this school year as our literacy interventionist, specifically working with the sixth grade humanities team. In the short time Jen has joined our team, we’ve seen her passion for reading and advocacy for students. We look forward to seeing our Dawes students increase their literacy skills under Jen's leadership.” - Dawes Middle School Associate Principal Nancy Salsman 

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
My job is to provide data-driven interventions to help students increase their reading and writing proficiency and to support other staff in doing the same.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I started my career with LPS in 1993. However, I took ten years off to stay home and raise my children, so I’ve been teaching for 20 years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I love learning. In fact, it’s my first strength on my CliftonStrengths profile. Teachers were my role models growing up, and I wanted to have a similar impact on students through teaching.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The staff at Dawes have been extremely welcoming and helpful. I’m enjoying building new relationships and learning the culture and systems of yet another middle school. My favorite part of teaching reading is building relationships with students and helping them view themselves as capable readers and writers.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up in Lincoln and attended Hartley Elementary School and Culler Middle School. I graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln upon graduation and earned a Bachelor of Science in secondary education. I’m certified to teach English, reading, writing and English language learners. I also hold a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln is a great place to raise a family. It’s a small city with the amenities of a much larger one. There is something for everyone to enjoy, no matter their age or interests.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
A book that had a lasting impression on me is “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell. I can still remember the big emotions I felt reading that book. It taught me about empathy. It also taught me that I can learn a lot about people from the way they treat animals.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Ms. Downey is an all-time favorite! She taught physical education at Culler Middle School. She related so well with middle school girls and always encouraged us to try new things and take opportunities that she didn’t always have as a young girl.

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

Posted on January 26, 2024

LPS students win blue-chip awards in state stock market contest

Lincoln Public Schools students padded their educational portfolios with top scores in a state stock market contest.
 
Local students took part in the Nebraska Stock Market Game during the fall semester. Two teams from Lincoln Northeast finished in the top ten spots of the high school division, and middle school groups from Moore, Park and Pound earned similar recognition for their efforts.
 
LPS Secondary Computer Science Coordinator Julie Hippen said she was thrilled with the results. The Nebraska Council on Economic Education (NCEE) sponsors the contest each year. A total of 353 high school teams and 93 middle school squads from all corners of Nebraska played the game this fall.
 
“This competition is a way for students to experience the concepts they are learning in their class,” Hippen said. “It is a huge accomplishment to have students place so well among their peers across the state!”
 
Lindsay Tillinghast leads the Nebraska Business Focus Program at Standing Bear High School and is director of the NCEE’s center in Lincoln. She said a large number of LPS students have benefited from the game. Teams of two to five players compete in one of three divisions: elementary (grades 4-5), junior high/middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12).
 
“The Nebraska Stock Market Game provides an opportunity for students to explore and practice investing in real time with low stakes,” Tillinghast said. “The goal of the Stock Market Game is for students to gain comfort with reading, researching and making securities purchases to better prepare students with investment decisions in the future. We want to equip teachers and students with the skills to be able to understand their investment choices and increase access for all students.”
 
Hippen said LPS high school students played the game this semester as part of their wealth building and financial management class. Middle school students in the ‘business 8’ course kept track of their stock portfolios in the contest.
 
Each team received $100,000 in a virtual cash account at the start of the 13-week game. Their goal was to grow their virtual treasury of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments as much as possible. They could monitor their portfolios on a daily basis and could trade stocks in real time.

Tillinghast said students incorporated their knowledge of subjects such as math, business, economics, language arts and social studies into the game. Players needed to keep track of daily events at local, state, national and international levels, as breaking news could impact the value of a stock. They also researched the history of various companies to see if they would be wise stock selections.

Hippen and Tillinghast said students also learned skills such as leadership, organization, negotiation and cooperation. They had to work together to make decisions and had to be responsible about checking their portfolios.

 
Two teams at Lincoln Northeast captured prominent honors in the high school division. Students in Jeff Fagler’s business class earned first place with a final portfolio amount of $117,653.60. Students in Shanda Dinneen’s business class collected eighth place with $114,113.70.
 
Five LPS teams finished in the top ten of the middle school division. Students in Ashley Huppert’s business class at Moore earned championship ($112,201.78) and runner-up ($111,007.08) honors.
 
Students in Laura Brouillette’s class at Park earned seventh ($107,307.18) and eighth ($106,768.38) places. Members of Dani Fusco’s class at Pound pocketed tenth place with $106,082.72.
 
The NCEE is sponsoring a similar game for the spring semester that will run through April 5. Elementary, middle and high school teams can begin playing at any time.
 
NCEE officials will honor students from 18 teams at a Banquet of Champions awards ceremony at the end of the spring semester. Members of the top three teams from each age division in both the fall and spring will be recognized. They will receive team trophies and individual medals and certificates for their work.
 
Fall 2023 Top Ten High School Division Teams
1) Lincoln Northeast - $117,653.60, 2) Seward - $116,221.50, 3) Nebraska City - $115,665.85, 4) Seward - $115,609.07, 5) Seward - $114,873.82, 6) Hastings - $114,473.49, 7) Seward - $114,349.52, 8) Lincoln Northeast - $114,113.70, 9) Plattsmouth - $114,079.25, 10) Plattsmouth - $113,736.85
 
Fall 2023 Top Ten Middle School Division Teams
1) Moore Middle School - $112,201.78, 2) Moore Middle School - $111,007.08, 3) Columbus - $110,108.73, 4) Central City - $109,429.47, 5) Columbus - $109,363.71, 6) Arlington - $108,385.28, 7) Park Middle School - $107,307.18, 8) Park Middle School - $106,768.38, 9) Columbus - $106,703.57, 10) Pound Middle School - $106,082.72

Posted on January 23, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Betsy Thomas-Library Instructional Leader in the Library Services Department

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Betsy Thomas, library instructional leader in the Library Services Department.

“Betsy works so hard! She is creative and helps write our library lessons for all K-5 schools. She thinks of creative ideas to keep students engaged in lessons such as breakout boxes and fun themes to make the library a place students want to be. She goes the extra mile to make sure everything looks sharp and ready for our staff. She is also kind, she is the first person I go to if I need help with something and she always has a positive attitude.” - Emily Jacobs, library instructional leader in the Library Services Department. 

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a library instructional leader in LPS. Our Library Services Department has the privilege of working with and supporting school librarians across the district. Our team gets to build library curriculum, lessons and resources that teach LPS students important lifelong skills such as information literacy, digital citizenship and researching skills. 

How long have you worked for LPS?
I am currently in my sixth year with LPS. In my first four years at LPS, I had the privilege of being the librarian at Kooser Elementary. These past two years I've served as a library instructional leader. 

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
A few years before applying to work in LPS I remember attending a NETA (Nebraska Educational Technology Association) session that was led by LPS' former Director of Library Services Mary Reiman and current Director of Library Services Dr. Chris Haeffner. I remember being in awe. The work they were doing was groundbreaking and inspiring. When I got the opportunity to move to Lincoln and work in LPS, I knew I would be working in one of the best library programs in the country. I am inspired daily by the work that our LPS librarians are doing to support student learning. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I have loved being a school librarian and an instructional library leader in LPS. As an elementary librarian, I got to work with the most amazing students. As a specialist, you get the unique opportunity to see them grow over the years. I loved getting to see students grow as readers and learners. 

As an instructional library leader, I get to see the amazing work being done across our district by our incredible school librarians. Even though I've taught for 20 years, I learn new things every day by working with and watching our talented team of librarians! 

Another rewarding part of my job is partnering with other department areas. We get to curate and create resources that support students and teachers and enrich other curriculum areas. 

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I graduated from Giltner Public Schools.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I graduated from Hastings College with a degree in secondary education with endorsements in world and American history. I worked in the Council Bluffs Community School District for eight years, five as a high school and middle school history teacher and three as an elementary librarian. During this time, I began working toward my K-12 library endorsement and my master’s in secondary education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). I worked in Elkhorn Public Schools where I served as an elementary librarian for seven years before starting at LPS.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love that the Lincoln community is so supportive of our schools and our teachers. I've worked with some of the best families in my years in LPS. The partnership between the community and our schools is what makes working in LPS so great.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
One of my favorite books as a child was “The Little Engine That Could.” I think that this book taught me the power of perseverance, determination and optimism. 

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I have had many teachers who have impacted my life. It is impossible to pick just one!

My junior high and high school social studies teacher, Mr. Kevin Carper, made history come alive! He made history hands-on, engaging and fun! He was my inspiration in pursuing my degree in history education.

Ann Dea (former Woodrow Wilson Middle School librarian in Council Bluffs Community Schools) showed me what a good librarianship looked like! I learned so much from co-teaching with her. She encouraged me to take chances and bring my social studies class into the library to learn research skills. I had never considered being a librarian until she encouraged me to go back to school and earn my master's and a K-12 library endorsement.

Becky Pasco (Former director of the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Library Science Education program) was an amazing mentor and professor. Dr. Pasco's passion for librarianship paved the way for everything I've done as a librarian.

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

Posted on January 19, 2024

Two LPS world language educators win state awards

Tammy Lamprecht and Danielle Fulcher have given Lincoln Public Schools students the keys to unlocking new languages with their world-class teaching talents.
 
The Nebraska International Languages Association (NILA) and Nebraska Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (NATSP) recognized both LPS leaders at the statewide NILA convention. Lamprecht received the NILA Outstanding World Language Teacher Award and Fulcher received the NATSP Spanish Teacher of the Year Award. Lamprecht teaches Japanese at Southwest High School and Fulcher leads Spanish classes at Northwest High School.
 
Tammy Lamprecht
 
Lamprecht has helped hundreds of people in her role as the district’s lone Japanese-language teacher. She has earned a large amount of goodwill from students, co-workers and area residents with her efforts.
 
Lamprecht said she was astonished when she heard her name called at the state convention.
 
“During the NILA conference when I received the award, I was utterly shocked because there are so many amazing teachers I work with every day who are also deserving, and it’s humbling to think that I was honored in this way,” Lamprecht said. “A feeling of gratitude washed over me because I know I didn’t get here on my own. Every day I get to teach the thing I love learning, and I get to work with so many great students.”

 
Sasha Van Zandt chairs Northwest’s world language department and is a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) liaison at Southwest. She said Lamprecht is beloved at LSW because of her positive and encouraging personality.
 
“I was able to see all of the student nominations that students submit throughout the year when they nominate their teachers for helping them succeed,” Van Zandt said. “In reading through all of the nominations, I can conclude that Tammy’s teaching approach is selfless and engaging, and the environment that she provides for students is welcoming and safe.”

 
Kelleen Rosebaugh said NILA Board of Directors members felt the same way. Rosebaugh served as NILA communications and program chair in 2023. She teaches German at both Southeast High School and Schoo Middle School.
 
“In reviewing Tammy’s recommendation, she had a long history of working towards goals in common with NILA and ACTFL (the national organization),” Rosebaugh said. “She works on building the proficiency of her students and supplying opportunities for them to build a community within the school as well as Nebraska and Japan.”

 
Lamprecht began studying Japanese in 1990. She was interested in the language because it was unique and different, and she wanted to see if she could learn each of the written characters. She was also fascinated with the mixture of traditional customs and technological advancements in Japanese culture.
 
Lamprecht attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and spent the 1994-95 academic year studying abroad at Kwansei Gakuin University. She returned to Japan after graduation and worked for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program in Nagano Prefecture for three years. She taught at Blair High School for two years before moving to Southwest in 2002.
 
Lamprecht runs a pen-pal program between American and Japanese students and places Japanese study-abroad students with American families. She organizes student trips to Japan and sponsors a Japanese club at Southwest. She also encourages LSW students to take part in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Language Fair each year.
 
Lamprecht’s influence is also being felt in lower grades. Rosebaugh said LPS middle schools are piloting an exploratory curriculum this year that features various world languages. She said her sixth-grade students have enjoyed taking Japanese lessons that Lamprecht created.

 
Lamprecht said it is fun to have LSW alumni visit her classroom each year to share their experiences living, working or studying in Japan. It is also rewarding to watch the self-esteem of her current students skyrocket each semester.
 
“One thing I really enjoy is seeing students grow in confidence as they realize they can read those ‘different-looking’ characters (hiragana, katakana and kanji) in the Japanese language, and they can understand and be understood when they take risks and use their Japanese skills,” Lamprecht said.
 
Danielle Fulcher
 
Amber Leinart teaches Spanish at Logan View Public Schools and served as NATSP president in 2023. She led a portion of this year’s NILA convention and began describing the winner of the Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year Award to everyone. Fulcher said she was stunned as she heard Leinart list many familiar facts.
 
“The people at the table with me knew about my nomination and they said it was funny seeing the realization appear on my face,” Fulcher said. “I am so honored and blessed to have such wonderful colleagues in world language departments and schools across the state, and I am so grateful for the nomination.”

 
Leinart and Chrystal Liu said they were happy to see Fulcher receive statewide attention. Liu joined Crete teacher Angie Wagoner and Elkhorn teacher Alicia Shoemaker as co-nominators for the award.
 
“In my role as the world language specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education, I have had the privilege of collaborating closely with Danielle on various projects,” Liu said. “She is an exceptional educator, characterized by her unwavering drive, creative prowess, organizational acumen and an unwavering passion for her craft. These qualities have not only endeared her to her students but have also made her a respected figure among her colleagues.”
 
“She is an amazing advocate for world language programs and serves on numerous committees to create programs and resources for all Nebraska educators,” Leinart said.

 
Fulcher grew up in Lincoln and is a LPS grad. The educator attended Morley Elementary School, Lux Middle School and East High School. She fell in love with the language after taking her first Spanish class with Sharon Shipp in sixth grade. She said the positive qualities of Shipp and other Spanish instructors made a big impact on her.
 
“She was an amazing teacher!” Fulcher said. “Her class was so different from the other classes I’ve had before and her Spanish class was so vibrant! I learned something new every day, and all of my Spanish teachers from middle school through college always made the class interesting and fun.”

 
Fulcher earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008, and she secured a degree in secondary education and teaching from the Universidad de Castilla y La Mancha in 2012. She taught at several school districts outside of Lincoln before starting at Northwest this past July.
 
Fulcher said it is fun to connect students with the Spanish language by creating custom-made lesson plans. She asks them about their favorite foods, subjects and hobbies during each class. She then incorporates those personal preferences into the curriculum to help them learn the material more fully.

Fulcher said she also enjoys helping students find new skills they can become successful at through her Spanish courses. She said watching them unlock smiles with their language keys is meaningful for her.

Fulcher connects teaching to her life’s purpose by relating it to the Japanese term “ikigai.” She mentioned the word describes four aspects: something you are good at, something the world needs, something you love and something you can be paid to do. She believes her profession touches all of those. 
 
“For me, teaching hits the bull’s-eye in all four areas. Since the first time I stepped into a classroom over ten years ago until today and beyond, despite the difficulties in the profession, there is nothing I would rather do with my life than teach.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on January 18, 2024

LPS students win state, will compete nationally with constitutional knowledge

Lincoln Public Schools students received positive verdicts for their knowledge of the United States Constitution at a statewide contest.
 
High school teams from East, North Star, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest took part in the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition Dec. 18. A team from East won the state title and Southwest students earned runner-up honors.
 
Both groups qualified for this spring’s national We the People contest. The national finals will be held April 13-15 in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Leesburg, Va.
 
LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Jaci Kellison said she was proud of the work local students did at this year’s state event, which took place at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Ryan Salem led two Southwest teams and Kevin Rippe (East), Dave Nebel (Southeast), Jace Ahlberg (North Star) and Danna Moore (Northwest) each coached one team.
 
All groups were filled with students from senior-level AP Government classes except for Northwest, which had a roster comprised of sophomores. Southeast, North Star, Northwest and Southwest’s second team earned honorable mention awards for their efforts. Northwest made the school’s first trip to state.
 
“The We the People program provides students with the opportunity to consider multiple perspectives about important constitutional issues,” Kellison said. “Students learn how to research, prepare a statement and engage in civil dialogue with peers. During the competition, students showcase their skills in front of many professionals in the field, including judges and attorneys.
 
“The knowledge, skills and experience they gain through engagement with the program empowers students to be informed and active members of their community.”
 
The 2023 results duplicated the strong performances of LPS teams in previous years. East students won 15 state titles from 2005-22 and Southeast squads claimed two championships in that timespan.
 
The Nebraska State Bar Foundation (NSBF) sponsors the annual event, which is based on a national program developed by the Center for Civic Education. NSBF representative Pam Carrier said she was impressed with how Nebraska students performed at state.
 
“Each year, I am gratified to see the competency and excellency of all the students participating in the We the People competition,” Carrier said. “All of the individuals who judge the hearings of each of the school teams comment on the high quality of their knowledge, critical thinking and presentation skills. I have judges who come back year after year because they see the value of the We the People program to each student who participates.”
 
Carrier said it was essential for students to learn about constitutional issues both for personal and public reasons.
 
“I cannot think of anything more important for democracy in America than having students who understand the history of the Constitution, its provisions, its interpretations, how it is applied and how it affects the country and their future,” Carrier said.
 
We the People students take part in a simulated hearing of Congress. They explain their knowledge of constitutional democracy to judges who act as U.S. representatives and senators. Volunteer judges have included Nebraska Supreme Court justices, college and university professors, high school teachers and current and retired attorneys.
 
Teams in the 2023 contest answered questions about six main themes. These included the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system, how the Founding Fathers created the Constitution, how the Constitution has been changed over the years, how the document has shaped American institutions and practices, what personal protections are in the Bill of Rights and what challenges the American constitutional democracy system might face in the future.
 
Students used many reference materials to prepare a four-minute opening statement about each theme. They were allowed to read from their notes during their initial presentations. They had to include text from the Constitution, illustrate real-world impacts of constitutional principles and reference key events or influential figures in American history.
 
Judges then asked teams relevant follow-up questions for six minutes to gauge their level of knowledge about each topic. Students could not use notes to respond to the follow-up questions.
 
Judges used a scoring rubric to rank teams. They evaluated both the prepared presentations and impromptu follow-up responses by students.
 
Students and coaches celebrated Rippe at this year’s event. Everyone in the room applauded after Carrier honored him on behalf of the NSBF. Rippe has led East teams at We the People contests for more than two decades. He is currently a grant coordinator for the Promises Project in the LPS Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.
 
Carrier felt the country’s future was bright because of what she has seen LPS students accomplish at We the People events.
 
“For all these students, they have a competency level on history and the Constitution that would rival many adults,” Carrier said. “I see the future of democracy in the ability of these students to ferret out the facts and develop their opinions.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on January 17, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Trent Baker-Community Outreach Specialist for Lincoln TeamMates Mentoring

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Trent Baker, community outreach specialist at Lincoln TeamMates Mentoring.

“Trent is the kindest person you'll ever meet. He truly cares for students and wants to help them to achieve their full potential. He has also made connections with almost everyone in the building and makes them all feel welcomed and comforted. He is doing GREAT work for LPS!” - Audrey Watson, match support specialist at Lincoln TeamMates Mentoring.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I'm a community outreach specialist for TeamMates Mentoring. I connect with people to get the word out about TeamMates. Whether it's one-on-one conversations or talking to large groups (businesses, non-profits, organizations), I get to educate people and inspire them to join the impacting dynamic of mentoring through TeamMates.

How long have you worked for LPS?
Just over a year.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I've always had a passion for mentoring. Getting to promote mentoring through an impacting/reputable organization like TeamMates was an incredible opportunity.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My coworkers, the TeamMates staff, are incredible people. They are positive, incredibly talented, and fun people. We're serious about mentoring for sure, but we share a lot of laughs, give each other a hard time and have a great time together.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I went to elementary school in Flagstaff, Arizona. I did middle and high school in Grand Island.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, for an undergraduate degree in biology and pre-communication disorders. I obtained a master's degree in speech-language pathology from UNL.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the diversity. I've met and am friends with people from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Mexico, El Salvador, Israel, Korea, Great Britain, Brazil, Canada, Sudan, Cameroon, etc. What a privilege to not just learn of but learn from so many great people.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
“To Kill a Mockingbird” was a life-changing book for me.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Shout out to Mr. Rex Barker, my high school band teacher, in Grand Island. (Go Vikings!) He was an incredible encourager, teacher and mentor! Thanks Mr. Barker for teaching me incredible things about music AND how to be a leader.

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

Posted on January 11, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Nancy Vanderharr-Food Service Manager at Mickle Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Nancy Vanderharr, food service manager at Mickle Middle School.

“In a role that often operates behind the scenes, Nancy is someone who has a ripple throughout the entire building whether she knows it or not. She has an immense impact on the students and staff in any building she serves. She is a beacon of positivity and radiates so much joy. She takes great pride in ensuring our students have adequate nutrition during the school day and that her colleagues/staff know how valued they are in keeping the ship afloat. What truly sets her aside from others is her ability to build meaningful relationships with all she comes in contact with.”— LPS Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Brittney Hodges-Bolkovac

How long have you worked for LPS?
14 years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Having previous school food service experience and enjoying the work, I applied and was hired as a manager trainee.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
The camaraderie with staff and students. The most rewarding for me are the kids when they come through the line and are so excited to eat with us, all the 'please and thank yous,” the notes that the students will send us about how much they enjoy eating lunch and how hard we work, and the students sharing stories with us.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
No. I attended school in a small rural town in Indiana.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After I graduated from high school, I enlisted in the Marine Corps and served four years at HMX-1 in Quantico, Va.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The small-town feel.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I love to read. As a child some of my favorite books were “The Little House on the Prairie” series and “The Boxcar Children” series. 

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Not a teacher for me, but to the people who have made me feel welcome in the LPS community!

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Wade Montgomery-Registrar at Early Childhood Special Education Department

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Wade Montgomery, registrar at the Early Childhood Special Education Department.

“Wade is always willing to help and serve others. His calm demeanor and ‘can do attitude’ is evident in his work with staff and families. He is a warm and welcoming team member when families begin their journey with LPS. He is a problem solver and always lends a helping hand to make things easier for others. He has a great sense of humor and can bring light to complex situations.” - LPS Director of Early Childhood Education Cara Lucas-Richt

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
As the early childhood special education registrar, I am responsible for enrolling students into our home-based program. In addition, I process referrals for 0-3 year olds for the Early Development Network at LPS. The Early Development Network (EDN) serves children from birth to age three and their families. A child is eligible for services if he or she is not developing typically, or has been diagnosed with a health condition that will affect his or her development.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I am coming up on six years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Today, many people lead busy, fast-paced lives. It is easy to become self-focused. My job at Early Childhood pushes me to focus outwardly and give energy to others, which can be invigorating and rewarding.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite thing about my job is the opportunity to work alongside my colleagues. They are always super motivated about helping the children of Lincoln, and they inspire me on a daily basis.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up near Crofton, Neb., and attended West Catholic Elementary and Middle School as well as Crofton Public High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended and graduated from Chadron State College where I studied business.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The small-town feel as well as having my family in close proximity. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
"Cosmos" by Carl Sagan.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I would like to give a shout out to a few coworkers I have worked with whom I admire and look up to. They really bring out the best in Lincoln Public Schools: Rachel King at North Star High School, Kathryn Hull at Dawes Middle School and Megan Lytle in Health Services. Thank you all for the amazing work you do!

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Ron Kellogg III-Community Builder at LPS Community Learning Centers

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Ron Kellogg III, Community Builder at LPS Community Learning Centers.

“Ron is a uniter in our department and with our partners. He is so positive and is always willing to lend a hand. He brings people together and makes everyone feel included. He has great ideas and isn’t afraid to try new things.” — CLC Director Nola Derby-Bennett

How long have you worked for LPS?
One year and three months.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Love for working with children, especially creating ways to continue learning in afterschool settings.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Being able to work closely with our wonderful Lincoln community, helping our amazing CLC schools foster genuine and engaging family and community engagement, creating opportunities for our students to grow in and out of the classroom and finally, providing the space for our communities to have strong neighborhoods, successful students and thriving families!

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I am from Omaha, Neb. I attended District 66, Sunset Hills Elementary School, Westside Middle School and Westside High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was a preferred walk-on for the football program. I worked for a financial institution for a little bit, and then I found my career starting at Dawes Middle School in their CLC program.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Our community takes action often and wants to provide opportunities to families and communities throughout Lincoln. We are a small community but mighty!

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Past—My middle school P.E. teacher, Barry Glanzer. Current teachers—Nate Miller (Moore Middle School) and Adam Schiltz (Standing Bear High School)
You're never too old to be inspired by someone!

Do you know an LPS staff member we should featurefor Staff Spotlight? Fill out this form to nominate them!

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Tayler Mashburn-Kindergarten Teacher at Huntington Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Tayler Mashburn, kindergarten teacher at Huntington Elementary School.

“Tayler is a champion for her students! She has high expectations for her students. She builds very strong relationships with them. Her students want nothing more than to learn from her and to exceed her expectations, and she wants nothing more than to help each individual learner to reach their fullest potential.” — Principal Kristi Schirmer, Huntington Elementary

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my fourth year with LPS and Huntington Elementary!

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Growing up, I played softball. I had coaches who inspired me to be the best I can be. In high school, I started giving softball lessons to girls in my community. This is where my love for teaching began. After college, I worked at a facility that allowed me to give lessons to girls in the Lincoln community. I have enjoyed teaching since I was 15 years old!

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part about working for LPS is building connections with people. I enjoy getting to know and learning from others. Building relationships with families is the most rewarding part of my job. I love watching students and families grow throughout their elementary years.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up in Aurora, Colo., and attended school in the Cherry Creek School District.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I earned both my bachelor’s and master's degrees from Doane University.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The people in Lincoln are so kind! Everywhere I go someone is always willing to talk to me.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
My favorite book series growing up was “Junie B. Jones”! The books made me laugh and want to keep reading.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Kati Robinson from Zeman Elementary School was my cooperating teacher while I was in college. She taught me a lot of things about teaching, but my favorite thing was how to build and keep relationships with students. She was the kindest teacher to her students.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Meagan Coleman-Recruiting Secretary for Human Resources

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Meagan Coleman, recruiting secretary for Human Resources at the Steve Joel District Leadership Office. 

“Meagan has been working with substitutes in LPS. However, she recently received a new position in HR to help with recruiting. Meagan was the first person I met in HR, and she was so kind and patient. She carries that kindness and patience to working with substitutes as well. She knows the importance of our LPS substitutes and wants to make them feel like a valued employee. Meagan never complains, does her work well and keeps the focus on how she supports students, staff and our community. Meagan makes HR a better place!” — Supervisor of Special Programs Personnel Jenny Fundus, Steve Joel District Leadership Center

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my third year.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Right after high school, I moved to Mexico and worked at an orphanage for children with disabilities. When I came back to the states, I started working as a para in a classroom for children experiencing autism and behavioral disabilities. It just feels good to my soul to be working for a school district that really values students. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I love how inclusive and accepting LPS is of all students and families. I have learned so much from working with students and staff from different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions. That has been the most rewarding part!

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I did not attend LPS. I was born and raised in southern California, but graduated from South Medford High School in southern Oregon. 

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I started my college education later in life. I attended Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon, and then SCC here in Lincoln. It is an ongoing process. 

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
It is so easy to find your place and your people in Lincoln. For being a decent-sized city, it still has a small town vibe. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
“Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson changed my life.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mr. Buck was my 12th-grade English teacher. He had a way of making us all feel like we could be or do anything! We all need someone who believes in us, no matter what. 

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Patrice Rabilal-Assistant Custodial Supervisor at Northwest High School

“Patrice is an inspiring presence and positive impact on our school. Her warm greetings, infectious dancing and unwavering support for our spirit squads and Northwest make her a deserving candidate. Patrice's dedication and desire to inspire our students and staff have greatly contributed to our school culture.” — Principal Cedric Cooper, Northwest High School 

How long have you worked for LPS?
Since March 2018. 

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I was working two jobs, and I loved them but I always had to come home and clean my house. Cleaning is a way for me to process and plan my day and life. One day, I was like, “I could get a part-time job cleaning.” I got a full-time position instead. I started to look into advancement in the custodial area because I enjoyed working with the students and had great pride in how my school was looking. I applied myself, earned and worked my way up until I had one passion—being an amazing asset to the custodial team.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Seeing the inner workings of a high school is complicated with a lot of moving pieces, people and programs. It's challenging and stressful at times, but it motivates me to push myself to properly process, plan and manage situations so that I can be more productive and supportive in Northwest’s success. The fact that the student scholars are the sole reason we all come to work every day and our collective focus on them brings us together because we share the same purpose.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I’m an NYC transplant. I went to school in Queens, N.Y.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I was a mail carrier for seven years and then 16 years as a local truck driver in N.Y.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
It’s really nice being a part of a community with a diverse background working together to mentor our future.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
“Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.” by Judy Bloom. It was so relatable for me. It just opened my eyes to the fact that girls are invincible. 

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mrs. Mensoff was my third-grade teacher, and she was a great inspiration in my love of reading.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Alison Gillam-Douglas-Kitchen Manager at Kahoa Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Alison Gillam-Douglas, Kitchen Manager at Kahoa Elementary School.

“Alison is a fantastic problem solver and provides excellent customer service. She takes pride in providing quality meals so students can excel in the classroom!” — LPS Director of Nutrition Services Andrew Ashelford

How long have you worked for LPS?
Five years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I wanted to work with students, but I didn't have a teaching degree. I did have an extensive history of working with food service and customer service that I thought this was the perfect position for me.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I think my favorite and the most rewarding part of the job is the students. I enjoy seeing and talking to them as they go through the line at lunch.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
Belmont Elementary School, Goodrich Middle School and Lincoln High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I actually have a degree in administrative assisting with a focus on tour and travel from Lincoln School of Commerce. My first job out of college was a customer service agent for Midwest Airlines.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I've always lived in Lincoln and consider it my home. I can get to any place in Lincoln without a hassle and always find someone I know when I'm out and about.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
"The Monster at the End of This Book" by Jon Stone.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I have had so many, but my kindergarten and first grade teacher, Ms. Berryman (now Bug) and Ms. McWilliams (now Burchfield).

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Cindy Martins-Computer Technician at Standing Bear High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Cindy Martins, computer technician at Standing Bear High School.

“Cindy came with us when we started Standing Bear. She was willing and is willing to do anything to help staff so that they can meet the needs of learners. There isn't any question that is too small or too big that Cindy can't figure out and help the staff. Her role is vital in the ongoing service to students and their families. Her willingness to do ‘whatever it takes’ is demonstrated daily.”— Standing Bear High School Principal Susan Cassata

How long have you worked for LPS?
I started with LPS in April 2006 as the special education secretary at East High School. In December of 2010, I became the high school computer technician for East High. I moved to Standing Bear High School as the high school computer technician in July 2022.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I have my degree in early childhood education and I have always loved being around children. I also like being part of the clerical team. I have the best of both worlds working for Lincoln Public Schools. I get to be with students and help them but also I get to help the staff and public. I have had amazing experiences at both East High and Standing Bear High School.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working at LPS is the students, staff and parents. I have met some really great people. I have worked on really great teams in both schools I have been at and have made a lot of lifelong friends. I love that I get to help people everyday and every day is different.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
Pershing Elementary, Mickle Middle School and Lincoln Northeast High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education? 
I went to Southeast Community and earned my associates degree in early childhood education. 

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln is a friendly city. It is a city that cares about its residents. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I loved reading all of the Judy Blume books. I think I checked them out from the library more than a few times a school year.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mrs. Fran Colon, she was my career ed teacher at Northeast. I remember sitting with her and talking about what I wanted to do after high school. She had great suggestions but mostly just listened and let me process.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Ralph Calafiore-Associate Principal at Lefler Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Ralph Calafiore, associate principal at Lefler Middle School. 

“Mr. Calafiore has made a big impact in the lives of students, staff and parents by his ability to build strong connections. Mr. Calafiore receives frequent visits from past students and adults who were touched by his compassion and support over the years. His emotional intelligence and relationship building are a huge asset in his ability to help others. Mr. C is always grateful for any opportunity he has to help people succeed.”— Lefler Middle School P.E. teacher Charlotte Ceballos.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I am in my 33rd year.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
When I was a sophomore in college, I was assigned to Bryan High School. That experience opened my eyes to the impact teachers can have on their students. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Educators can make impressions on the minds of our young children that last a lifetime. If you can recall your favorite teacher giving you advice that changed the course of your life, you probably know the impact a teacher can have. Molding future generations, assisting in building personal philosophies and helping us understand essential skills for our adult lives are just a few ways an educator can impact society. 

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up in Hartford, Conn.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I received my master’s degree in education administration from the University of Nebraska. My first job was at Lefler teaching seventh-grade social studies and ninth-grade civics. 

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The overall small-town feeling. When you meet someone new it seems like you always have a friend or acquaintance in common. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I absolutely loved “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mr. Martin! He was not only my ninth-grade math teacher, but he was also my football coach. He instilled a work ethic and always encouraged his students and his athletes to set goals and work hard to attain those goals. 

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Tommy Bender-English and Speech Teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Tommy Bender, English and speech teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School.

“We love coaching and working with Tommy. He has been an excellent mentor to us, modeling exactly what a coach and teacher should be—passionate, dedicated and thoughtful. He spends extensive hours in and outside of school working to help students be successful—as evident by his countless Google Sheets. He is passionate about helping students believe in themselves, whether it’s in an introductory speech class or competing for the first time at nationals. But his biggest impact is teaching students to be well-rounded, kind human beings. We know firsthand how difficult this job can be, but Tommy reminds us why we do it. Thank you so much, Tommy, for being a great role model and friend.”  - Katie Frankforter and Madison Hilbert, Southeast High School English teaching colleagues and speech coaches.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 22nd year at LPS and 30th year overall.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I've always seen LPS as the standard for education in Nebraska, and through coaching speech, I already knew a number of people who worked at LPS in various high schools. As a young teacher with a growing family with strong ties to Lincoln in 2002, I was thrilled with the opportunity to teach and coach at Lincoln Southeast.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
There are so many great things about teaching and coaching at Lincoln Southeast. I have great colleagues both at LSE and across LPS, which makes me feel like part of a team. I have had the opportunity to teach and coach so many wonderful students! I think the most rewarding aspect is being a part of watching someone gain the ability and confidence to do something new today that maybe they wouldn't have been able to do in the past. Those lightbulb moments happen on so many levels, from being able to give a speech in class to achieving a hard-earned goal on the speech team.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up and graduated in Crete, where I also started my teaching career.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After high school graduation at Crete, I joined the Navy Reserves and was trained as a mechanic in the Seabees. Then, I attended UNL, where I earned a teaching degree in English/Speech/Theatre. My master’s degree is from Doane College, and I also have a Certificate in Educational Technology from Northwest Missouri State.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I've always thought of Lincoln as a great-size community to live in as it's big enough to have a wide variety of experiences and things to do but small enough to still have a small-town feel.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
One of my favorite books has always been “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This book has meant different things to me at different times of my life; from learning empathy and learning to considering life from a different perspective, to understanding what loyalty and integrity is, to being a patient parent—it covers a lot of ground.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Mary Georgi was my high school speech coach, and was an amazing teacher and coach! She was patient and creative and was one of several great mentors I've had in my career. Here's hoping she sees this! Thanks Mary!

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Amy Hix-School Counselor at Wysong Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Amy Hix, School Counselor at Wysong Elementary School. 

“Amy is an outstanding school counselor. She truly pours her heart into everything she does on a daily basis. She is a collaborative staff member and supports staff, students and parents without hesitation. She has been a wonderful addition to our building this school year. I'm grateful for her expertise, support and passion.” - Wysong Elementary School Principal Stephanie Drake

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 14th year with LPS.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I attended LPS as a student and had many amazing teachers. I also was fortunate to student-teach with and observe many amazing educators within LPS.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I love my job! I enjoy building relationships with families, school staff and students. I have worked with and learned from so many amazing educators throughout LPS. The most rewarding part of my job is watching students make connections and become a part of our school communities.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I am a LPS graduate. I attended Eastridge Elementary School, Lux Middle School and East High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I have both a bachelor's degree and master's of special education from UNL. I also received my Master of Education in school counseling from Doane University.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Lincoln is full of lots of great people and it is easy to make connections!

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I love Lois Lowry. “Number the Stars” was my favorite!

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I have had a lot of great teachers and professors but learned a ton from Amy Peterson during my student teaching experience at Kahoa. She was absolutely fabulous!

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Ben Lytle-Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Ben Lytle, teacher of students with visual impairments.

“Ben is always positive, helpful and a team player. He continues to grow his own education and most importantly is very invested in his students and their success.” - LPS Braillist Mikayla Teet

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a teacher of students with visual impairments (TSVI), and a certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS). I do anything from braille instruction, assistive technology instruction and work in close collaboration with students, parents, staff and administration across the district. As an itinerant teacher, I travel frequently between schools and serve students from kindergarten through 21 years of age.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 13th year with the district.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
My younger brother and sister were by far the biggest inspiration to get into the teaching field. I truly enjoyed helping them with homework and watching them learn new things. As adults now, my brother and sister have gone on to do amazing things, and I owe them a great deal for all of the support and encouragement.  

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
In my current role I work with students in a one-on-one setting more often than not. For a lot of students we get the opportunity to continue working with them as they move up through the grades. One student in particular I have known since he was a kindergartener, and he just graduated this past year. I had the pleasure of working with him from fifth grade until he graduated. It was incredible to see the amount of growth he made, and all of the wonderful support he had from teachers and staff. Watching students learn, grow and move toward independence is so rewarding.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I am a product of LPS, born and raised here in Lincoln. I went to Fredstrom Elementary, Goodrich Middle School and Lincoln North Star High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I graduated from UNL with my bachelor's degree in elementary education K-6. I started as a vision paraeducator and that led me back to school to pursue my master's degree in special education with a specialization in visual impairments from UNL. I then went on to obtain my orientation and mobility certification from the University of Northern Colorado. Currently, I am back in school working on my Doctorate in Education in innovative learning technologies through UNL as well.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the positive impact that Lincoln has had for all of our students. We come together to support one another when times are tough, and celebrate all the many accomplishments that we make. Even though Lincoln continues to grow, the community feels strong, close and connected. All working toward making positive impacts that will last generations to come.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
One of my favorite childhood books is “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen. It is about a boy who gets lost in the wilderness and has to survive on his own for quite some time. One of my favorite words is perseverance, and that is a resounding message conveyed throughout the book. Perseverance is something that is very important to me, and I remind myself frequently how important it is to always try your best and never give up. I try my best to instill this within my teaching, and hopefully impart that same mindset with my own children.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I would love to give a shout out to Polly Bowhay. Now retired, she was my kindergarten teacher all the way back at Fredstrom Elementary. She hired me as a fifth-grade teacher at Belmont Elementary when I first started teaching. She was my boss when I was 5, and my boss when I first started my education career.  

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Christie Galati-Attendance Technician at Lincoln High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Christie Galati, attendance technician at Lincoln High School. 

“Christie goes above and beyond to connect to families and solve attendance issues. LHS is really lucky to have her, as her positivity, bubbly personality and reliability are a huge asset to our school community.” - Lincoln High School Secretary Kayla Kolts

How long have you worked for LPS?
This will be my third school year at Lincoln High School!

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Originally, I got my bachelor's degree and started my professional career path in advertising and public relations, which I absolutely loved. But deep down I had always known that I wanted to work with students. I took a risk and did a substitute teaching job at Lincoln High School in 2021, and then continued to work in the school that I had once walked the halls, while figuring out my next steps to expand my role of reaching more students meaningfully. I am thankful for my experiences in LPS as a student and want to make our community and school system stronger for future generations with the same support that I had when I needed it growing up. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working at Lincoln High is how welcoming everyone is. We are one giant family, and I think anyone who walks in the building can feel it. Growing up with parents who immigrated to the U.S., I love how diverse our student population is, and I am honored to work in a school that embraces that. I think the most rewarding part of my job is the relationships with students that are built—especially the ones that seem unexpected to begin with! I love when I run into a student that I've been working with, and they are proud to show me that they have been working hard on their attendance. It's awesome!

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I grew up going to Zeman, Roper, Park and then Lincoln High!

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After high school, I attended UNL and got my bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations with minors in psychology, business and Czech. I worked in social media marketing and graphic design for a while and even worked at Walt Disney World! I just got accepted to attend Doane University to get my master’s in school counseling, so I am very excited to work toward being a school counselor one day.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
Growing up with parents who immigrated from Vietnam, I love how we as a city are so welcoming to refugees from all over the world. I think our diversity makes us a lot stronger as a whole. And it gives a lot of fun restaurants to try!

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I love the book "Julie and Julia" because it inspires me to cook and travel more!

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Shout out to my former school counselors who were there for me when I needed them. Thank you Ms. Lisa Mischke and Ms. Virginia Saporta for your long-lasting impact in my life!

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Stephanie Galdamez-Spanish Teacher at Lincoln Northeast High School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Stephanie Galdamez, Spanish teacher at Lincoln Northeast High School. 

"Profe. Galdamez is a beam of sunshine and makes learning a new language exciting and interesting. She makes my day. When I walk in her classroom in all of its colorful and calming glory, I feel at home. She is the most kind teacher I have ever had." - Lincoln Northeast student Autumn Eubank

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
I teach Spanish 1, Spanish 2, and Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1.

How long have you worked for LPS?
Six years.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I love working with students, and I love teaching them another language so they can become better global citizens by communicating with people in Spanish.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I love laughing with students and creating inside jokes unique to our class. I taught at Park Middle School for five years, and this is my first year at Northeast, and every year the students challenge, impress and surprise me. 

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I went to Waverly High School.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I studied abroad in Costa Rica for a semester, went to UNL and I am now completing my master's degree at UNL in developmental and learning sciences. 

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love Lincoln. Every place has its pros and cons, but Lincoln is full of so much beauty, and it feels like family. It's never hard to find a connection to someone here. Not only does it feel like family, but I have a lot of family. My uncle Mr. Dimon teaches at East, my aunt Madame Dimon taught at Southeast, and my uncle Mr. Brehm is a principal at Calvert. It's a small city, and it isn't hard to get involved in the community here. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
My favorite book is “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie. I love reading her murder mystery books because she was so clever.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
Alicia Shoemaker is my mentor, and she was my high school Spanish teacher. She is so positive all the time, and she is so genuine. After I graduated high school, she allowed me to observe her class and do an informal practicum to figure out if teaching was for me. She gave me advice when I was studying abroad, and she has given me so much life advice, and I still look up to her. She attended my wedding, and she and I have had several conversations over coffee about teaching, best practices and mental health.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Aaron Flores-Fourth Grade Teacher at West Lincoln Elementary School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Aaron Flores, fourth grade teacher at West Lincoln Elementary School. 

“My most fond year I have so far of attending LPS is my second grade year with Mr. Flores. He made every day a new adventure, always made sure to communicate with his students, and he made the place feel like a home. He always puts his students before himself and is just a great human being.” - Graidys Hernandez, student at Schoo Middle School. 

How long have you worked for LPS?
I’m currently in my ninth year working for LPS and going on my 12th year of teaching in all.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
When I think of LPS, I think of professional teaching. I’ve always wanted to “go pro” in the profession. I remember having the most success with teachers who made learning fun and entertaining for me, so now it’s my turn to reciprocate that and try to make school a place that kids want to be. 

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of the profession is by far the connections and relationships that I’ve made with my students. I enjoy connecting with students on an individual level, learning about their lives and interests, and finding unique ways to show them that I truly care. When a former student goes out of their way to say “hi,” or asks how my family is or shoots me an email, that is incredibly rewarding. Even better is when they have all sorts of amazing updates about the things they are accomplishing in their own lives that they want to tell me about. When they want to stay connected with me and keep me in the loop, that is the reward of teaching.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended College View Academy here in Lincoln for most of my schooling but did attend Southwest High School for three years.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
My first teaching job was in McAllen, Texas, a city that is right on the border of Texas and Mexico. I taught second grade there for three years. I met my wife down there, who is also a teacher.  She ended up accepting a teaching job in Lincoln of all places, which brought me back to the Good Life. I subbed for a year and eventually found my way here to West Lincoln Elementary, and have been here ever since.     
What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I appreciate the support. In Lincoln, there are a plethora of wonderful and accepting families from all over the world. I’ve noticed that families, especially the ones I have worked with, are willing to open up and give us (teachers) their trust and support. Having supportive communities backing the work we do is a blessing. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
My favorite book as a young child was “The Monster at the End of This Book.” A classic picture book from the Sesame Street collection geared toward young readers, yet I think has many valuable lessons that are applicable to any age group. My favorite chapter book as a kid was “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.” This classic reminds the reader how powerful curiosity and knowledge can be.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I would like to shout out Mrs. Bushhousen, who I took several math courses from while attending Southwest High School. She empowered me with a genuine sense of confidence and helped me feel like I was truly understanding the content. Plus, she was funny and full of personality which I hadn’t seen in a teacher before. That was the first time I thought about exploring a career in education.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Abi Beatty-Counselor in Graduation Pathways

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Abi Beatty, school counselor in the Graduation Pathways program.

“Abi has the most welcoming personality. Her kindness knows no limits and her relationships with our students are a joy to watch. She can laugh with them and have fun, be serious when needed, and they always leave knowing she is rooting for them trying to reach their goal of getting their diploma. Abi is one of a kind and we're so lucky she's ours!” Karrie Mishler, executive secretary in Graduation Pathways.

Briefly describe your role at LPS.
My role is to work with students ages 17-21 who are working to complete their high school diploma. I spend my day coordinating with students, parents and high school staff to ensure student success. When I say I love the work I do, that is an understatement. It's a privilege to work with our impassioned, hardworking and inspiring students. I work hard to recognize the positives in every student, coach them through their academic progress, and I promote having a little fun along the way.

How long have you worked for LPS?
This is my 19th year with LPS.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
In most cases, education is a calling. I felt that calling as a young person and was lucky enough to have the support and resources I needed to manifest my wish to become an educator.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Broadly speaking, my favorite part of being a school counselor at Graduation Pathways is the people. You would be hard pressed to find a team of educators (and our registrar, Karrie) who work harder to help students be successful in and outside of the classroom. They lead with humanistic values and prioritize a team approach. They are my friends and my role models.

The aspect of my job I find most rewarding is partnering with our students. Our students have the motivation to better themselves, which in turn motivates me to assist as needed. Every day is different. Some days I'm helping students navigate challenges such as legal issues, basic needs such as housing and/or food, and even parenting. Our students are so gracious and thankful for the work that we do at Graduation Pathways. It is truly humbling.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
Yes! I attended Beattie, Irving and Southeast.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for my bachelor's degree, and University of Nebraska-Omaha for my masters. My first job was teaching fourth grade at Sheridan Elementary School.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
The diversity in cultures and the kindness of those who have been given to give back.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I'll never forget reading "Catcher in the Rye" in 11th grade.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I want to give a shout out to our staff at Graduation Pathways, Chris Schefdore, Karrie Mishler, Trudi Dohmeier, Rashida Vaziri, Marcus Schmidt, Shannon Wiig, David Peterson and Rachel Mack. Their presence in my life and the lives of our students makes an impact every day.

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Staff Spotlight: Marwa Alassaadi-Secretary/Secured Entry Monitor at Park Middle School

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Marwa Alassaadi, secretary/secured entry monitor at Park Middle School.

“Marwa is always so nice and welcoming and does an amazing job. She goes above and beyond for students and her coworkers. As an itinerant teacher, I go to many buildings and the first person you interact with before walking in the building really matters. With Marwa, she is always there to lift your mood.” Holly Flanagan-Matzen, deaf and hard of hearing teacher.

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
As a secured entry monitor, I spend my day helping students and visitors, answering and directing phone calls to the appropriate offices. I also get the privilege to meet families and help them.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I have been working for the Lincoln Public Schools for 13 years. I started as a bilingual interpreter. Then I became a special education paraeducator for about 10 years at Lincoln Northeast, and now, I work as the SEM/secretary at Park Middle School.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
Everything, specifically the students. It is very inspiring to work with children, not only to help and support them, but I also learn a lot from them.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
Making connections with students and families is the most fun part about working for LPS. Also, Park Middle School is such a great community. Working at Park feels like working with a family, and I'm one of the members of this family. Also, the administration team is always supportive and helpful, which makes my job a lot more fun and easy.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I went to Northeast High School for three years right after arriving in the U.S. from Iraq. I graduated from there, and then went back in 2011 to work as a para.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
I went to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and earned my bachelor's degree in chemistry.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
When I first moved to the U.S. from Iraq, I felt lost and didn't have anybody, even though my entire family was with me, but the Lincoln community has been one of the most wonderful things that helped. It is such a peaceful and supportive community.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced you positively?
I'm not good at reading books, but I always like to read online articles to keep up with technology. 

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
One of the most amazing people who had a huge impact on my life is Mrs. Ruth Lohemeyer, who was my counselor at Northeast High School. Life in general was very hard, when my family and I moved to the U.S. It felt like I was starting a whole new life, which made it even more difficult. My parents never gave up on encouraging me to continue my education, especially my father since he's an attorney and a professor at the law school in several countries such as Iraq, Libya and Jordan. I still didn't have enough courage to continue.  Yes, that's how hard my life felt  – being new in the country, not speaking good enough English even though I was attending EL class at my high school.  Everything else was complicated. 

Mrs. Lohemeyer never gave up and kept encouraging me to go to college. She helped me with all of the things she could from applying to schools to finding scholarships, in order to keep my hopes up, until I was accepted at UNL. My family and Mrs. Lohemeyer had such a great impact on my life to the point where I want to continue my education and never stop because learning is endless. Looking back at my past and the things I've done makes me feel so proud. I'm so thankful to the people in my life who helped me continue. 

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

Posted on January 10, 2024

Students showcase Kloefkorn kindness with large donation to food bank

Kloefkorn Elementary School students knew they were bringing joy to the world each time a new coin fell in their collection jars in December.
 
They ensured their holiday happiness would spread across the area with a large donation to the Food Bank of Lincoln.
 
The cubs presented a gift of $5,179.89 to the charitable organization at a schoolwide assembly Dec. 22. They soared past their initial goal of $1,000 with a full week of Kloefkorn kindness. They reached into their piggy banks, searched through couches and asked family members to contribute to the worthy cause.
 
Fifth-grade student Sadie said everyone was happy to make the season brighter for people. She is a member of the Kloefkorn Cub Council, which planned and led the coin drive at school.
 
“I thought it would be close to $1,000, but I didn’t expect to get over $5,000,” Sadie said with a smile. “I was really shocked.”
 
Food Bank of Lincoln Chief Relationship Officer John Mabry said Kloefkorn students had set a positive example for the entire city. He said their generosity would make a big difference. Food Bank of Lincoln officials estimate more than 48,000 people in Southeast Nebraska currently face food insecurity.
 
“For the kids to come up with this kind of support is incredible,” Mabry said. “We’re going to be able to turn this amount into over 10,000 meals, so it’s a big deal.”
 
Fourth-grade teacher Maya Arrigo and fifth-grade teacher Grace Halstead are co-sponsors of Kloefkorn Cub Council this year. The leadership group is for students in fourth and fifth grades who are interested in community service. They meet each Monday to plan projects that will help others both in the school and city.
 
Council members wanted to provide Lincoln families with more access to food through a coin drive. They asked fellow students to bring pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesday, quarters on Thursday and dollar bills on Friday.
 
Halstead said council members felt they could reach $1,000 if every Kloefkorn student gave at least one coin to the drive each day. They provided each classroom with a collection jar and hoped for the best. They watched with amazement as coins began spilling into jars on Monday morning.
 
“Honestly, we felt that was a pretty big ask to set a goal of $1,000, so when we saw kids coming down with baggies and buckets of coins on those days, it was pretty heartwarming and inspirational,” Halstead said.
 
“It was amazing to see how dedicated our students and their families were to donating,” Arrigo said.
 
Fifth-grade teacher Kristen Riley had a front-row seat to the charitable actions. She was impressed with the way students approached the project.
 
“The fifth-grade students were incredibly excited about the coin drive,” Riley said. “As the oldest students in the building, they really took the leadership role to heart. Every day they were so excited to hear the new total and reminded each other to check at home and bring coins in so we could reach our $1,000 goal.
 
“Kids would cheer one another on when they saw another classmate dropping coins or bills into our classroom collection container. It really was such a week of joy by giving to others.”
 
Sadie and other Kloefkorn Cub Council members met after the drive and tallied up the grand total. Arrigo said they exchanged high fives and wide smiles as the numbers continued to rise.
 
“Our council actually helped us count all the money, and as we were counting, we were like, ‘Oh yes, $100, another $100,’” Arrigo said. “It was just awesome to see their reactions as well as ours. We were not expecting that much money, so it was great.”
 
“It felt really good,” Sadie said. “Just knowing that it would help the community a lot and it would help a lot of people.”
 
Riley and Halstead said the project taught students many positive lessons.
 
“I believe it is incredibly important for students to learn about generosity at a young age,” Riley said. “Kindness, compassion and helpfulness are topics we revisit every week in our class circles. Many of our students have learned and experienced that in helping someone else, they actually feel better about themselves and realize that they add so much value to the world.”
 
“I think that it’s really important to start in elementary school and build that foundation of helping out others where you can and when you can,” Halstead said. “It’s important to create that environment here so they can carry on those traditions throughout not only their schooling, but their adult lives too.”
 
Kloefkorn’s theme for the 2023-24 school year is based on the book “The Story of You” by Lisa Ann Scott. Riley said one of her favorite pages includes this phrase: “When you choose to be kind, when you decide to share, when you reach out a hand, when you make sure it’s fair, you’re writing the story of you.”
 
Riley felt those lines came to life with the Kloefkorn kindness she saw during the coin drive.
 
“I think our students did a great job of this with the coin drive,” Riley said. “I’m so proud of each and every one of them!”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on January 10, 2024

Morley student connects global community through flag mural

Ethan’s love of geography has made Room 107 a popular place for everyone at Morley Elementary School to visit this semester.
 
The second-grade student designed and installed a large mural of world flags on a classroom wall for all to see. The project features handcrafted paper flags from 168 countries with intricate emblems and details.
 
Ethan said he is glad he decided to make the mural. He wanted to share his passion for social studies with all of his classmates and friends.
 
“I just really like geography and all of the flags,” Ethan said. “I thought it would be cool to make all of them and put them up on a wall.”
 
Tara Zuspan, the school’s gifted curriculum facilitator, said Ethan’s project has connected Morley students from all backgrounds and grade levels. Room 107 includes several large windows that open up to the school’s main hallway, which have made the mural attractive to look at.
 
“Many students at Morley who are from other countries or have family ties to other countries have come to Ethan to inquire about the flags and learn more about them,” Zuspan said. “Unknowingly, he has brought many people together within our community.”
 
Second-grade teacher Kate Athey said Ethan’s generous attitude has made a major difference at Morley. She said he has passed along information to his classmates in a kind and caring way.
 
“Ethan does a really good job of sharing his knowledge with others without making them feel less than,” Athey said. “He truly is the nicest kid. He’s always looking to build others up and make them feel good. That’s something that’s really neat.”
 
Ethan’s mother Lisa said the spark for her son’s love of geography came when the family watched the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in 2021. He became fascinated with the people, flags and cultures that represented each country.
 
“As he watched the athletes walk through the stadium, each group carried their nation’s flag and the country name was listed on the TV screen,” she said. “I don’t think he knew there were so many countries in the world. He asked questions about the countries and their flags, so we pulled out our atlas. He just poured over the pages.”
 
Ethan remained interested after the Olympics ended. He learned Oman is the only nation that starts with the letter O, India has the largest population (1.428 billion) and 98.3 percent of Bhutan is covered with mountains.
 
Ethan took the next step on his geography journey by working on the mural. He relied on a Lincoln Public Schools computer application to find high-resolution displays of each flag, and he used colorful markers to draw precise images.
 
Athey, Zuspan and Ethan’s reading mentor Mevi Hova watched in awe as he built the mural flag by flag. Afghanistan, Albania and Algeria are in the top-lefthand corner, and Zambia and Zimbabwe are featured on the opposite end.
 
Ethan has also kept the wall updated and accurate. He took down the flag of Kyrgyzstan when he learned in late November that the country’s parliament had voted to change its design. His Kyrgyzstan flag now features a question mark on a plain background.
 
“It was amazing to see how focused he was with this,” Hova said. “It took a lot of time and effort, and most kids his age would probably spend a little bit of time on it and then move on to something else. He didn’t do that. He would come in and work on it continuously, which was really impressive to see.”
 
Ethan has also been willing to share the project’s spotlight. Fifth-grade student Turuok is from South Sudan and has known Ethan for several years through Morley’s “flock friend” mentoring program. Ethan enthusiastically agreed when Turuok asked if he could create a flag of his home country for the wall.
 
Rahil, whose family is from Afghanistan, became excited when he saw his classmate and friend make the mural. Rahil researched and drew past versions of Afghanistan’s flag. He then used string to link the older flags with the current pattern on the wall.
 
“When my friend Ethan made the Afghanistan flag, I learned that it had changed several times in its history like the American flag, so I wanted to help design the older flags,” Rahil said. “It’s been really fun to look at all of the flags and learn about the different cultures. He’s done a really great job with this.”
 
“Ethan is such a humble and great kid,” Zuspan said. “He truly believes that this isn’t just his project. He wants this to be a project the whole school can contribute to. I think it’s going to be neat to see where it goes from here.”
 
Ethan would one day like to visit the Republic of Maldives, where “the white sand is right next to the bluest water.” One place closer to home on his travel list is Ethan, S.D., a small city 13 miles south of Mitchell.
 
“I think it would be fun to go to a town that has the same name,” Ethan said with a smile.
 
Zuspan said she feels the wall of world flags will help other Morley students pursue their own educational goals.
 
“I’m so proud of what Ethan has done,” Zuspan said. “He’s doing so many good things for other people.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 20, 2023

Student teacher honors Lakeview kindergarten class during UNL graduation ceremony

Kindergarten students at Lakeview Elementary School may not have walked a mile in Crandall Blake’s shoes this month, but they were able to do the next-best thing.
 
Blake wore shoes that showcased the names of every member of Cameron Mettenbrink’s kindergarten class at her University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduation ceremony. She wanted to make sure her young friends could symbolically walk across the stage with her.
 
Blake formed close connections with Mettenbrink’s class throughout her time as a student teacher at Lincoln Public Schools. She said prior to the Dec. 16 ceremony that it would be an honor to include them in her special day.
 
“Knowing my students are ‘with me’ as I graduate is such a heartwarming feeling,” Blake said. “These kids have truly molded and created a special place in my heart, and I am tearing up even thinking about all the things they will succeed in in the future and all the adventures they will have in their lives. This group of students has taught me more than I could ever teach them.”
 
Holden, Lillian and Bella smiled as they gathered around a table and wrote their names on Blake’s high-top sneakers with colorful markers. The shoes included signatures of all 23 kindergarteners. Holden said he enjoyed working on the one-of-a-kind graduation present.
 
“It was really fun,” Holden said. “Hopefully she’s happy with the shoes.”
 
A Kansas native, Blake grew up in both Wichita and Overland Park and graduated from Blue Valley Southwest High School. She was active in many journalism projects in high school and was planning to pursue a broadcasting career at UNL. One of her high school highlights was qualifying for a national broadcasting contest in Seattle.
 
Even though television was her top priority when she signed up for classes, Blake was familiar with the education field. One of her cousins is a teacher in Kansas and her aunt has worked as a school secretary for many years.
 
Her future path changed soon after she arrived in Lincoln. Blake learned about the Community Learning Centers (CLC) program at Lakeview and thought it would be fun to help children there. The new plans for her life fell into place when she saw their smiles.
 
“I had gone to UNL as a broadcasting major but I knew it wasn’t right,” Blake said. “I took the job at the Lakeview CLC to try it out. I knew I liked working with kids and supporting them, so I thought it could be an easy test run to see if teaching was something I was interested in.
 
“After a few weeks, I remember standing on the playground with my CLC students and it clicked in my head that teaching was what I wanted to do. I haven’t looked back or regretted my decision since. Teaching is my passion and working with students and helping them grow to their fullest potential is what I strive to accomplish every day!”
 
Her time working with LPS students this fall proved to be everything she had hoped for. Mettenbrink, who served as Blake’s cooperating teacher, said he was impressed with the way she supervised and encouraged everyone.
 
“Miss Blake is the type of teacher kids will remember with fond memories when they look back on their educational journey,” Mettenbrink said. “Miss Blake is the first student teacher I have had the honor of working with and I couldn’t have asked for more. She possesses all the qualities of a teacher that you simply can’t teach to someone. She is passionate, isn’t afraid to work hard, loves kids and understands that each one is unique.
 
“Miss Blake has the type of personality that would make her great at whatever she chose to do. I’m glad she chose to teach.”
 
Brink said she felt the same way about Mettenbrink.
 
“He is truly one of the best teachers I have ever met,” Brink said. “He is so thoughtful in everything he does for his students, and he is always thinking three steps ahead on what he can do to best support his students. He is a teacher I strive to be like!”
 
Blake knew she would finish her student-teaching journey on Dec. 1, and she told the class in late November she would receive her diploma on Dec. 16. When they heard she would be in a graduation ceremony, they wanted to come support her because they liked and respected her.
 
Their faces fell when they learned they would not be unable to attend the ceremony. Blake then came up with a happy compromise. They could sign her shoes so they could be with her during every step of her graduation walk.
 
Blake ensured those LPS-based bonds remained strong when she returned to Lakeview Dec. 13. Every student created a personalized award certificate for her, and several of them wanted to sign the sneakers a second time. Students like Cianna said they were glad to see Blake in class again.
 
“She helps me learn,” Cianna said.
 
Blake was grateful to know the handwritten shoes would always be a reminder of their presence in her life.
 
“I enjoyed getting to work with a multitude of different learners from different backgrounds while student teaching at Lakeview,” Blake said. “Lakeview serves a diverse community and getting to work with learners from all backgrounds was truly a gift.”

Blake will return to Lincoln Public Schools in January as a first-grade teacher at McPhee Elementary School. 
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 18, 2023

Morley librarian Kinnaman surprised with state librarian of year honor

Steph Kinnaman loves to help children at Morley Elementary School enjoy the surprises that come from turning pages of each new book.
 
Students and staff members were the ones to give Kinnaman a heartwarming surprise Dec. 11 by presenting her with a prestigious library award.
 
Members of the Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) honored Kinnaman with the 2023 Nebraska School Librarian of the Year Award. Morley Principal Brandi Hennerberg asked Kinnaman to come to the gym to watch a winter band concert that was taking place that morning. She was shocked when Lincoln Public Schools Director of Library Services Chris Haeffner told the audience with a smile that she had been named the state’s top librarian.
 
“I was so surprised,” Kinnaman said. “I love being here. I get to work with so many good students and teachers every day, so to have something like this happen is just amazing. It’s very humbling.”
 
Hennerberg felt Kinnaman’s work ethic and instructional excellence had left a life-changing impression on everyone in the building.
 
“She’s very deserving,” Hennerberg said. “She always says how much she loves her job and how she enjoys being around students every day. I was really excited when I heard that she was going to receive the award.”
 
The NSLA is a professional organization for school librarians and members of the library community in Nebraska. The group advocates for school library programs, provides professional learning opportunities and helps to develop leaders in the school library field.
 
Recipients of the Nebraska School Librarian of the Year Award must demonstrate creativity and innovation in the profession through instructional opportunities and programming. All current NSLA members are eligible for the honor.
 
Mandy Peterson, PK-12 librarian at Shelby-Rising City Public Schools, served as chair of this year’s NSLA Awards Committee. She said committee members were impressed by Kinnaman’s dedication to her craft and her passion for creating lesson plans for elementary classrooms. They reviewed many of her lessons and felt they showed a superior level of writing and care.
 
“Overall, Steph models modern school librarianship in a consistent, powerful manner,” Peterson said. “That’s what the nomination showed us, and everything I looked up online extended the notion even further. I’m proud to have her representing our profession as the 2023 Nebraska School Librarian of the Year.”
 
LPS Library Services staff members Joy Harvey, Emily Jacobs and Betsy Thomas nominated Kinnaman for the award in early August. Harvey is library services coordinator and Jacobs and Thomas are both library services instructional leaders. They praised Kinnaman in their nomination letter and said she owned all the qualities of a great librarian.
 
“Steph Kinnaman is a true example of a 21st-Century librarian,” Harvey, Jacobs and Thomas said. “She is a master teacher who weaves information literacy, digital citizenship and research skills into highly-engaging and well-developed instruction for grades K-5. She leads by example through her teaching of immersive library lessons that provide a solid foundation of literacy and inquiry skills for all students.
 
“Stephanie is an active leader in our Professional Learning Community, where she helps create lessons for other librarians to use that are well-written, engaging and fun to teach and participate in. Steph has such a talent for lesson writing that we leveraged her expertise to help us with a summer committee to write additional lessons in support of other elementary librarians in our district.”
 
Peterson said their letter played a key role in the committee’s decision.
 
“They wrote a lovely nomination that showcased Steph’s creativity, innovation and professionalism,” Peterson said. “Between the lines, the deep respect and care they felt for Steph was evident.”
 
Kinnaman fell in love with libraries while growing up in Havre, Mont. She earned a Bachelor of Science in inclusive early childhood education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2007, and she later secured a master’s degree in instructional technology/library science from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Kinnaman joined LPS in 2007 and taught second grade at Saratoga Elementary School until moving to Morley in 2016. She said her classroom experience has helped her in her current librarian role.
 
“It gave me a really good foundation for collaborating with teachers and meeting their needs,” Kinnaman said. “We have amazing partnerships here at Morley. I love working with the teachers and students here.”
 
Hennerberg felt it was essential to have Kinnaman receive the award in front of the entire student body. She learned band members would be performing a schoolwide concert in the gym, which would provide a perfect reason for asking Kinnaman to leave the library. Hennerberg and NSLA members coordinated the surprise presentation at the end of the concert.
 
“It just worked out perfectly,” Hennerberg said. “It was incredibly nice to have everyone here to see her. The kids just adore her and really respect her, so to have them get to see her is something that was really important.”
 
Harvey, Jacobs and Thomas said Kinnaman would continue to help students turn positive pages in their lives with her library-based work.
 
“Steph demonstrates professionalism and leadership each and every day through her library instruction, collaborative partnerships and community involvement,” they said. “Her library is not only warm and welcoming, it’s a model of great teaching. She’s a master at classroom management and organization.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 18, 2023

Norwood Park CLC launches Parenting Partners program

Norwood Park Elementary’s Community Learning Center (CLC) teamed up with its families in a new way to transform their students’ lives inside and outside the classroom.

The CLC launched Lincoln Public Schools’ first Parenting Partners program at the elementary school this fall. The program aims to empower parents by teaching them new skills to help their children thrive at home and school. 

“If I could learn something and have it help me be a better parent, it was well worth my time,” participant Brian Bendle said. He has two sons who attend Norwood Park. 

“We simply cannot help our students reach the heights of success if we are an island of education,” Norwood Park Principal Pam Hale said. “Education has to be ongoing and cross over all boundaries of a child's life. We must have parents involved with the work we are doing to create an optimal support system for our students.”

The workshop was divided into six-week sessions allowing parents to practice strategies they learned in role-play scenarios, discussions and workbook exercises.  For example, one of the lessons showed how families eating three to five meals together per week can increase a student's grades.Workshop organizers incorporated a family dinner donated by local restaurants to model that strategy. 

“Keeping the school, community and parents connected is vital because it fuels a healthier dynamic for all involved,” organizer Ralph Martinez said.  “We all need support in one way or another so when the school, community and families are all pushing towards one goal it can magnify the success for all involved.” Martinez works as the Northeast Family Center’s family and community engagement coordinator. The center sponsors Norwood Park’s CLC. 

After the six-week workshop, about a dozen parents celebrated their achievement in front of their children and loved ones in an emotional graduation ceremony.  Before receiving their certificates, a few parents shared the impact of the Parenting Partners program.  

“I was smiling inside and outside. The words of the parents were very touching and I know that the program has meant a lot to them,” Hale said. 

“I had chills throughout the entire graduation,”  Martinez said. “Observing the families interacting with their children knowing that is why they chose to participate in the workshop was powerful. I had and still have a great sense of pride for all of the families.”

Two of the greatest impacts were the bonds and added support systems the parents gained in the process. 

“It takes a village to raise kids and it's just important to work together to help create the next generation,” participant Mandi Haunont said. Haunont attended the program with her mother. She has three Roadrunners and also leads the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. 

Organizers mentioned the Parenting Partners program is at the heart of CLCs programming within LPS schools. 

“The mission of Lincoln CLCs is 'Successful Students - Thriving Families - Strong Neighborhoods,’” Lincoln CLC Director Nola Derby-Bennett said. “We know that our students do well in school when their families and neighborhoods are healthy places for them to learn and grow.”

Norwood Park plans to host another Parenting Partners workshop in the spring of 2024. Other CLC sites are also looking to adopt the program.

To learn more about Lincoln CLCs, visit our website at  https://clc.lps.org/. 

Posted on December 15, 2023

2023 LPS Culinary Competition

On Wednesday, December 6, The Career Academy hosted the annual Lincoln Public Schools Culinary Competition.  More than 200 LPS students participated in the event, showcasing various culinary skills. The results from the day's competition can be found below. 

Culinary I Events

Knife Skills  44 entries

1st - Lucia Perez Roman, Lincoln High

2nd - Avery Fletcher, Lincoln High

3rd - Summer Ullman, Lincoln Northeast

4th - Sally Almotawa, Lincoln Southwest

5th - Genesis Moreno, Lincoln Northeast

6th - Izzie Kiser, Lincoln Southwest

Quiz Bowl  7 Teams
             
1st - Standing Bear High School

Adelyn Haden, Brinley Beerenstrauch, Jessica Sadler, Novalee Hutter

2nd - Lincoln Southeast High School

Kiarah Canby, Satore King, Cristian Hain, Hudson Witte

Nutrition Poster 
 
1st - Georgia Morrow, Lincoln Northeast

2nd - Logan Burbach, Lincoln High

 
Culinary II Events

Quiz Bowl 4 Teams

1st - Lincoln Southeast High School

Anthony Steen, Ava Neumayer, Betsy Rajala, Makenna Sherman

2nd - Lincoln High School

Emma Loving, Clementine Haffey, Allison Kwiatkowski, Lyla Talbott

Safety & Sanitation Poster 
 
1st - Rachel Koch, Lincoln East

2nd - Laila Al-Mugotir and Gizelle Bell, Lincoln Northeast

3rd - Audrey Chan, Lincoln Southeast

Sauces 22 Entries

1st - Tristan McGill, Lincoln Southeast

2nd - Eli Fiedler, Lincoln Southeast

3rd - Easton Cook, Bryan Community Focus Program

Salads 21 Entries
 
1st - Maya Kunc, Lincoln Southeast

2nd - Brigitte Palomares, Lincoln Northwest

Decorated Cookie  20 Entries

1st - Emma Loving, Lincoln High

2nd - Rachel Koch, Lincoln East

3rd - Amber Ortega, TCA

Decorated Cookie Pre-manufactured base 

1st - Isabelle Bausch, Lincoln Southeast

2nd - Lili Sorensen, Lincoln Southeast

3rd - Lucy Cogan, Lincoln Southeast

Culinary III Events

Dessert Plating  5 Entries
 
1st - Kyyon Nguyen, Lincoln Southwest

2nd - McKenzie Fuller, Lincoln High

3rd - Ella Cowan, TCA

Team Entree - High School Division 4 Entries

1st - LSW Green

2nd - TCA

3rd - LSW Silver

4th - Lincoln High 

School Spirit Award: Lincoln High School  For showcasing school spirit, attentiveness and participation in demonstrating excellent sportsmanship during the Culinary Competition!

Posted on December 15, 2023

Lux students energize their learning by racing solar, electric vehicles

Lux Middle School students Paige, Kinley and Stella eagerly watched their racecar fly down a track in the school’s gym Dec. 8.
 
They were among 150 students who took part in a powerful day of learning in their design thinking class.
 
Lux teacher Brett Jagels helped them discover scientific principles behind electric vehicles (EV) and solar-powered cars as part of a hands-on project. Sixth-grade students gathered around a 20-foot-long track for 70 minutes of races and research as a part of the Lincoln Electric System’s Solar Car Challenge. They began creating their vehicles Nov. 30 and endured a full week of anticipation leading up to the big day.
 
“They were excited to start building them,” Jagels said before the races. “They got excited when I talked about racing them against other students in class. They enjoy competing against one another to see who can do the best.”

Jagels gave each team a solar vehicle kit and provided guidelines of what items they could use. The kit featured a rectangular solar panel, one motor, two balsa wood sheets, four nylon spacers, four alligator clips, two axles, four wheels, four rubber bands, two screw eyes, a plastic gear font and a holder for a two-cell AA battery.
 
Students could choose whether they wanted to power their vehicles with a solar panel or batteries. They could also make alterations such as different shapes or designs. They drew blueprints of what they wanted their cars to look like and began putting them together.

Paige, Kinley and Stella said the project was a good way for them to plug their scientific knowledge into a real-world setting. They called their battery-powered car Scoops Troop and covered it with their names, hearts, a strawberry and a smiling face.
 
Stella said working together as a group was the best part of the project, and Paige and Kinley said they liked building and decorating the car. All three beamed as they walked back to an empty section of the gym to review how their car did in the day’s first race.
 
“It was really fun,” Kinley said. “That was cool to do.”
 
“We had to be careful because the car is fragile,” Paige said. “That was a big thing to think about.”
 
Mason, Kason and Mehdi also stepped away from the track with smiles. The three friends built a battery-powered car that had two vertical panels on either side. They felt they had learned a lot from the racing project.
 
“I think it’s been great today,” Mason said. “This has been a really fun experience to get to do this. I’ve really liked being able to hang out with my friends while we were building the car.”
 
Jason Thomsen said Jagels and other Lincoln Public Schools teachers began working with Lincoln Electric System (LES) in 2022 to develop ways to teach students about energy conversion. Thomsen, who serves as the LPS career and technical education curriculum specialist, said the idea of solar-powered cars popped up first. The group then decided to add electric vehicles (EVs) to the project to give students additional learning opportunities.
 
Jagels said the partnership with LES has already paid educational dividends. In addition to interactive lessons like the car races, students have also examined many scientific concepts through print and digital means.
 
“They are learning about how solar energy is harnessed and then used,” Jagels said. “LES has put some good videos together explaining how they use different renewable energy sources in our community. Students are also learning how a vehicle goes, and what the difference between torque and speed are. We have also talked a lot about natural versus artificial light and which one produces more energy.”
 
McKenzie Ferguson-Fagan is the LES education and outreach specialist. She and other employees of the public power entity engineered a straight track six feet wide and 20 feet long for students. Ultra-bright lighting panels, moveable starting gates and PVC piping were all part of the design. 

LES employees tested the three-lane track multiple times before the competition. They wanted to see which configuration of lights would provide the most energy to solar-powered cars. Ferguson-Fagan also brought battery packs for students who entered EVs in the races.
 
Ferguson-Fagan said it was important for students to gain firsthand knowledge of current and future energy trends.
 
“Through the LES/LPS solar car curriculum, students can learn real-life applications that go into working as a team to build cars with a renewable source of energy,” Ferguson-Fagan said. “Students are learning the differences between solar and battery power sources, which further educates them on how electricity is stored and used.”
 
Lux students were the first LPS students to race on the new track. LES staff started setting up the track one hour before the opening race. Students filed through the gym doors right on time and rushed over to see where the action would take place. They filled space on three sides of the track and cheered when cars reached the finish line.
 
Sadie, Leni and Hazel were among many students who breathed sighs of relief when their cars made it down the path. They smiled when their vehicle finished its journey in 4.01 seconds. Hazel said it was rewarding to see all of the team’s hard work pay off in happy fashion.
 
“This has been fun to do,” Hazel said. “I think it’s been a really good thing.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 13, 2023

Northeast students strengthen STEM knowledge during visit from Huskers

Lincoln Northeast students kept their academic gears spinning Dec. 1 by discovering engineering principles ranging from viscosity to elasticity.
 
Dozens of high school and college students filled Northeast’s library with a buzz of educational activity. University of Nebraska-Lincoln sophomores in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) led many Rockets enrolled in the Early College and Career STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Program at Northeast. 
 
Luci and Rai were engaged as they moved through different engineering stations. The Northeast ninth graders are both in Wendy Martin’s fifth-period differentiated geoscience class. They were happy to take part in the inaugural interactive event with the Huskers.
 
“I really liked the station about viscosity, and I also liked when we got to make slime,” Rai said. “I’m usually not a fan of getting dirty, but this was fun.”
 
“I liked learning about what college is like from everyone here,” Luci said. “It was good to hear from them and see what they get to do.”
 
Bailey Feit coordinates the STEM-based program at Northeast. She beamed as she watched CASNR students begin to set up their activities for the afternoon. She said it was a good opportunity for high schoolers to learn how integral engineering is to their everyday lives.
 
“Engineering is a common career, but a lot of our students don’t know yet how it connects with agriculture and natural resources,” Feit said. “I think that’s why this is so beneficial. They’re getting a chance to understand that engineering isn’t just about big buildings. You use engineering when you’re talking about all sorts of things like water and cars and farming.”
 
LPS added the Early College and Career STEM Program in collaboration with UNL to its lineup of focus programs in 2021. Its goal is to provide students with a firm foundation in science and agricultural topics. A large portion of the curriculum revolves around the themes of food, energy, water and societal systems (FEWSS).
 
All of the UNL students who visited Northeast are sophomores who are enrolled in a course called “Engineering Properties of Biological Materials.” The future agricultural and natural resources engineers are learning about physical properties important to the design of harvesting, storage and processing systems for agricultural crops. They are also examining how to measure properties such as frictional effects, moisture content, thermal conductivity and modulus of elasticity.
 
UNL students Morgan Heckman and Avery Florea were members of four-person teams that guided Northeast students from the geoscience, physical science and engineering design classes.
 
“I was really excited when I heard that we were going to get to do this,” said Florea, who was an honor roll student and All-State singer at Lincoln Southwest. “It’s totally different from sitting in a class. This is a lot more fun, because we’re getting to help students learn.”
 
“It’s been a lot of fun getting to prepare for this,” said Heckman, who went to high school in Savannah, Mo. “I think everyone in our group has enjoyed it.”
 
Heckman and her teammates led a station that focused on the impact of viscosity on engines. Viscosity is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow and describes the internal friction of a moving fluid. It affects how hard an engine works in vehicles such as cars, tractors and semis.
 
Northeast students dropped marbles in four plastic cylinders filled with honey, corn syrup, water and hydraulic fluid. They timed how long a marble took to reach the bottom of each cylinder, and they used that data to determine the viscosity of each substance.
 
The marble dropped to the bottom of the water-filled cylinder the quickest. Some students felt water would be the best substance to use in engines if viscosity was the only determining factor. Heckman explained water is not a good option because it easily freezes. Hydraulic fluid becomes thicker in colder temperatures, but it is easier on engines than a gooier substance like honey.
 
Florea and her teammates taught a lesson about non-Newtonian fluids, which see their viscosity transition to either more liquid or more solid depending on stress. For example, toothpaste changes properties depending if it is contained in a tube or brushed on teeth, and a bottle of ketchup becomes runnier when it is shaken.
 
All ninth grade and sophomore students at Northeast study FEWSS concepts in their math, science, social studies and world language classes, and upperclassmen can take college-credit courses through the STEM program. Feit said the program’s goal is to help students understand the many ways STEM and FEWSS topics impact Nebraska.
 
Heckman said she was impressed by the different types of learning opportunities LPS students have in their classes. She said she would have enjoyed being in their spots growing up.
 
“It would have been really cool to have had something like this in high school,” Heckman said. “It would have been a ton of fun to get to learn from college kids, so we’re wanting to make this as good of an experience for them as we can.”
 
Learn more about the Early College and Career STEM Program at Northeast by visiting the focus program’s website at https://eccsp.lps.org/.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 12, 2023

Spartans create winning algorithms with computer science fair activities

East High School senior Darian would like to use her computer science knowledge to create technological breakthroughs in the field of veterinary medicine.
 
The future geneticist and entrepreneur is using the school’s computer science program as a launching pad for her goals.
 
Darian joined hundreds of her classmates Dec. 5 during the East Computer Science Fair. Also known as the Hour of Code, the event is designed to promote interest in computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. The activities gave students in grades 9-12 a chance to learn about computer science concepts outside of a classroom setting.
 
Darian said she was happy to join her friends at the fair. She is interested in computer science and STEM topics because they will allow her to help others in the future.
 
“I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of it,” said Darian, who wants to double major in computer science and business administration in college. “I like figuring out how to improve something that might not be the most efficient. It’s fun to find a solution where we can use technology and coding to make something better.”
 
East math teacher Bryan Baxter enjoys watching students like Darian explore a wide variety of activities. Baxter and members of the school’s Computer Science Honor Society Club organized the day. Students from more than a dozen math courses filled tables in the east gym during their class periods.
 
This year marked the first time the Hour of Code event was held in the gym. Baxter asked club members last spring if they supported changing the makeup of the fair, and they enthusiastically agreed to make it their main project for the fall semester. They moved it from the auditorium, added more interactive lessons and invited students from every math class to attend. East held the event during Computer Science Education Week. 
 
“It’s been really nice to see how their work has turned out,” Baxter said. “This is the first year we’ve done it like this, and the kids have done a great job. It’s turned out really well.”
 
Baxter said the change in location was an important part of the fair’s success this year. Instead of trying to accommodate all activities on the auditorium stage, the gym provided students with more room to set up tables and include additional stations. Participants could also move more easily throughout the gym and explore every aspect of the fair.
 
Seventy-six students from a variety of math classes examined different STEM-based lessons during fifth period. One of those was sophomore Ryan, who spent time working on a laptop-based coding game.
 
“I think it’s fun to do coding and to see how it works,” Ryan said. “I enjoy it.”
 
Darian joined several of her friends in another section of the gym for a binary bracelet activity. They used a binary decoder key to find the first letter of their name. They then used multicolored beads to create a binary code pattern that matched that letter of the alphabet.
 
They completed the project by stringing the beads together on a bracelet. The activity gave students a visual representation of how computers use binary code to store information.
 
Dozens of students sat at eight tables in one corner of the gym to solve Rubik’s cubes, and others had fun operating a Turning Tumbles game – a marble-based problem-solving activity – in the opposite corner. They also examined the interior hardware of a laptop computer, saw what the inside of an arcade game looked like and visited with representatives from several colleges.
 
Baxter spoke with students during each session of the Hour of Code and offered assistance at the stations. He received positive feedback from many mathematicians as they shared their excitement about the day.
 
Baxter said he has been encouraged with the rising interest in computer science at East. The school has three student clubs that are devoted to the topic – Girls Who Code Club, Computer Science Club and Computer Science Honor Society Club – and all of them are growing.
 
“Computer Science Club had been in the single digits, and this year we have more than 20 students,” Baxter said. “The numbers are definitely up for the other two clubs too. It’s really exciting to see that happen.”
 
Darian has developed many friendships by being a member of all three clubs. She founded the Girls Who Code Club in October 2021 and has been instrumental in spreading knowledge of STEM subjects throughout the school. She said the fair highlighted how many opportunities East students have to create winning algorithms in computer science.
 
“It’s really awesome what we have here at East,” Darian said.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 08, 2023

New building wing will help North Star students prepare for career launch

North Star High School students will see their aviation careers take off thanks to a major facility expansion project.
 
School and community members celebrated the completion of aviation classrooms and an airplane hangar for North Star’s Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program at an open house Dec. 4. Several speakers noted the importance of community partnerships in projects like this during the dedication program before tours of the facility were given. 

“None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our community partners,” Lincoln Board of Education member Kathy Danek told the crowd. “Your generosity, guidance and belief in our vision have laid the foundation for these incredible opportunities for our students. Together, we're shaping a future where every child can dream big and reach for the skies.”
 
Amanda Woodward leads courses for the focus program. She grew up riding in airplanes with her uncles and is passionate about all aviation-related topics. She said the new classroom space would give students a runway and help them soar into their future careers.
 
“If you’re in this room, I’ve probably asked you to buy me something for my classroom, donate something to my classroom or to get me a hangar to teach in. When it comes to opportunities for students, I’m a squeaky wheel,” Woodward told the audience. “Squeaky wheelin’ isn’t always super popular. But ‘this is the way it’s always been’ isn’t really compatible with the Lincoln Public Schools All Means All Action Plan. I’m grateful to work for a school district that embraces the changes necessary to support and uplift students.”
 
North Star sophomore Emma is in her first year with the program. She has been attracted to aviation since she was little and wants to become a pilot. She was happy to see how the community has supported the building project.
 
“It feels really good that they want to help youth prosper,” Emma said.
 
Jason Thomsen shared the same enthusiasm about the endeavor. Thomsen works with aviation programming as the LPS career and technical education curriculum specialist.
 
He said the new classrooms were a big victory for everyone in Lincoln, as aviation will continue to be a major industry. A Boeing study released in July 2023 forecasts that 649,000 new pilots and 690,000 new maintenance technicians will be needed to support the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years.
 
“The aviation industry is in need of workers worldwide,” Thomsen said. “Thus, being able to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary will allow them to pursue a high-demand and high-wage career. The demand for these hands-on aviation courses has been high and it has been great to see the expansion of the program year after year.”
 
Leon Holloway, vice president of team member services at Lincoln-based Duncan Aviation, said that is a major reason the company is passionate about the focus program. LPS began offering classes in 2019-20 for students in grades 9-12 interested in aviation and technical careers. District leaders mapped out the program using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum materials developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
 
Everyone soon realized the program was outgrowing its original classroom space. They formed partnerships with Duncan Aviation and Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County to ensure it would continue to thrive.
 
Holloway said local officials visited programs at both Omaha Burke High School and a school in Grand Rapids, Mich., to explore possible options for Lincoln. They felt a new hangar and classrooms would accommodate all of their educational needs, but Lincoln could do it better than programs they saw in other places.
 
“We did it,” Holloway said. “We absolutely did it.”
 
Duncan Aviation provided a gift of $3,335,000 in May 2022 for the project, and Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County contributed $805,000. LPS added $1.5 million from the 2020 bond issue to complete the venture.
 
The first flight of aviation courses attracted 150 students. The number of enrollments at North Star has skyrocketed since then. There are 317 students taking classes this year.
 
The program’s three original aviation offerings – power mechanics, aviation I and aviation II – had been taught in the same room. Thomsen said the new facility will allow the aviation I and II courses to be held in a room dedicated to those classes. The power mechanics course will take place in the airplane hangar, and a flight-based course will be held in a classroom featuring 13 flight simulators.
 
Students can also take a new advanced aviation maintenance course. They will use industry-standard equipment and do hands-on projects designed to mimic some of the skills that an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic needs to have. A&P mechanics repair and maintain aircraft parts such as engines, brakes, landing gear and air-conditioning systems.
 
The expansion will also provide opportunities for Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County. The organization will use new space on the south side of the school building for Community Learning Center (CLC) programming. The club currently offers after-school and summer activities for CLC students in arts, education, health and wellness, leadership, service and sports/recreation areas.
 
Woodward has been around airplanes for most of her life. She was grateful that current and future students will be able to navigate their way through successful skies at North Star.
 
“It is the honor of a lifetime to build this program, to work with my friends at Duncan Aviation, to get tools in the hands of students, and to teach them what high-skill, high-wage and high-demand aviation maintenance careers look like,” Woodward said.
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 05, 2023

Turley puts name on state map with prestigious geography award

Chris Turley has mapped out successful learning routes for Lincoln High students with his love of geography.
 
He received a major award in early November for pointing students in the right direction in all of his classes.
 
Geographic Educators of Nebraska (GEON) members presented Turley with the Gildersleeve, Stoddard, Stone Award on Nov. 4. Turley was recognized during the organization’s annual conference in Omaha. He was the only recipient from the First Congressional District of Nebraska.
 
Turley said it was humbling to know other teachers and professors had chosen him for the award. He was grateful for their support of his geography interests.
 
“I was honored to receive the award,” Turley said. “It always feels good to be recognized, especially by a group like GEON, which is filled with so many people who are passionate about improving geographic education. I know there are many well-deserving geography educators.”
 
Jaci Kellison works with Turley as the school district’s K-12 social studies curriculum specialist. She said Turley has helped students successfully transition from middle school to high school with his classroom knowledge. He has also had a difference-making impact outside Lincoln High’s walls.
 
“Chris is an invaluable member of the LHS social studies department and larger social studies community in the district,” Kellison said. “He has expanded access to ninth-grade AP human geography for students at LHS by providing the necessary supports students need to be successful in their first college-level course. He is also a leader in the district on matters related to geography curriculum, instruction and assessment.”

 
GEON leaders recognize one person from each of Nebraska’s three Congressional districts each year. Recipients have promoted and improved geography education in Nebraska through teaching, research, professional development and field inquiries. Educators from across the state honor them at a conference called GeoFest Nebraska.
 
Harris Payne is GEON chairman and served as director of social studies at the Nebraska Department of Education from 2012-20. He and Turley work together as fellow members of the GEON Board of Directors. He has been impressed with Turley’s enthusiasm for his trade.
 
“Mr. Turley is an excellent teacher,” Payne said in his nomination letter. “He cares deeply about all his students and works to improve his craft by attending professional development.”
 
Turley graduated from Millard West High School in 2009 and attended college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned a degree in secondary education and endorsements in social sciences and coaching in May 2013. He collected practicum experiences at Lux and Irving middle schools before completing his student-teaching assignment at Lincoln Southwest.
 
Turley was a substitute teacher in Lincoln, Elkhorn and Gretna after receiving his degree. He joined Lincoln High’s social studies department in 2014 and began teaching world geography and psychology. He has also led courses in human geography, civics and United States history at the school and has been a freshman boys basketball coach.

“Teaching social studies at Lincoln High School is an amazing experience,” Turley said. “The students provide excitement to the classroom and I am honored to be able to teach them.”

Payne said one example of Turley’s dedication was this past summer at the GEON Geography of the City workshop. He created a unique online interactive story map after speaking with residents across the city. Payne said the project highlighted Turley’s ability to master geographic content and explain it in clear and relatable fashion.
 
“His story map highlighted the unique experiences of immigrant communities in Lincoln, Neb.,” Payne said. “Many of the children from these communities attend his high school.”
 
Kellison said Turley’s students are collecting valuable skills in his geography courses. In addition to learning about places ranging from the Arctic tundra to the Zambezi River, they are also discovering how human communities and cultures interact with each other and the natural world.
 
“Geography helps provide context for students to fully understand the human story,” Kellison said. “Geography is not just about memorizing the location of countries or landforms. It sparks curiosity as students seek patterns and connections between people and places across the globe and make sense of their particular place in it.”
 
Turley agreed with Kellison’s assessment.
 
“Geography is where it is at!” Turley said. “Geography can explain the current world that we live in, as it incorporates all the other social studies subjects but emphasizes the spatial connection of the world. I challenge my students to find a topic that we talk about that does not connect to their lives, and it is almost impossible in human geography. Geography is a great way to learn about the similarities, differences and connections of people around the world.”
 
Turley said he has enjoyed helping LPS students put their names on the school district’s geography education map.
 
“Social studies classes provide so many real-life connections for students, and for many students it allows them to find an interest in what they are learning in school to understand why the world they live in functions as it does. Students can use their own backgrounds as well as their peers’ backgrounds to learn about the world.”
 
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on December 01, 2023

LPS Family Literacy Program changes lives for Campbell parents, students

Shiriz arrived in Lincoln 11 years ago from Iraq with hopes of building a quality life in the United States.
 
Campbell Elementary School’s family literacy program is helping her turn all of her dreams into reality.
 
Shiriz is involved in a Lincoln Public Schools program that is transforming many lives throughout the city. Campbell is one of ten schools that host family literacy events in their buildings for immigrants and refugees. Belmont, Clinton, Elliott, Everett, Hartley, McPhee, Prescott, Randolph and West Lincoln elementary schools also offer classes for parents and students.
 
Shiriz said she has enjoyed coming to Campbell for the activities. She has learned to speak and write English, gained information about American culture and customs, met Campbell teachers and watched many school events. She has also participated in Parent and Child Together (PACT) time with her two daughters and one son.
 
“It’s a good program,” Shiriz said. “I very much like it.”
 
Jahena enrolled in the program this year after immigrating to the United States from Mexico. Her three children attend Campbell and have met many new friends. Jahena said she was eager to become part of the Campbell community through the family literacy classes.
 
“I really enjoy it,” Jahena said. “I’ve learned many things every day. I feel a lot more comfortable speaking with others.”

 
Monica Asher is the family engagement coordinator in the LPS Federal Programs Department. She said National Family Literacy Month is a good time to highlight the many ways the LPS Family Literacy Program benefits our students and families.  The program is a family-centered approach to education connecting children and their loved ones in learning.  

Participating parents attend their kid’s school Monday through Friday for two hours per day. They identify educational and career goals and engage in learning English along with other parents.  
 
“It’s incredibly helpful,” Asher said. “I can’t even begin to describe all of the good things that come from this. Parents want to help their children succeed in school, and this is something that is helping them do that. The parents are benefiting from everything they’re learning in the classes, and the children are benefiting from having their parents at school.”

 
Raya Al Zuhair is a member of Campbell’s family literacy team. She immigrated from Iraq four years ago to help her children. She wanted to become connected with local schools after arriving in Lincoln, and she began working as a paraeducator at Campbell. Asher quickly realized how intelligent, organized and caring Al Zuhair was, and she asked if she would be willing to handle more responsibilities at Campbell.
 
Al Zuhair said she has been happy to help immigrants and refugees succeed in their new homes. She and fellow team members Colin Koehler and Zainab Ozier have taught students such as Shiriz and Jahena about a whole host of important topics.
 
“Our goal is to help families navigate their way around Lincoln and learn about the school and community,” Al Zuhair said. “It’s exciting because we can see people benefiting from the program in real time. We’ve helped them learn about Lincoln and all of the customs here that may be different from their home country, and you can see them gaining confidence every day. It’s very good.”
 
One of the top priorities for the family literacy program is to help students become more familiar with the English language. Families in Campbell’s program this year speak Kurdish, Pashtun, Arabic, Spanish and Ukrainian as their native languages. Shiriz and Jahena both speak fluent English, and many of their classmates are learning key vocabulary words each day.

 
PACT Time allows parents to join their children in their regular classrooms twice a week. Al Zuhair said parents are able to gain a firsthand understanding of the American educational system, which may be different from how schools operate in their native country.
 
They watch how teachers interact with students in subjects such as reading and math, and they are able to see their children create friendships with classmates of diverse backgrounds. Teachers and parents are also able to form stronger bonds through face-to-face interaction.
 
Family Literacy classes are offered twice during the school day. One session takes place in the morning and a second session runs in the early afternoon. Childcare is provided for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, which allows parents to participate without worrying about their children.
 
Many activities take place in the school building, but Campbell parents and children have also spent valuable time on field trips. One class took place at the Lincoln Children’s Museum earlier this semester. Parents became more familiar with downtown Lincoln during the visit, and children enjoyed learning about fire trucks, grocery stores and banks.
 
“We’re learning about everything right now,” Jahena said. “We’re learning about the food, the culture, everything. It’s fun to do this with classmates.”

 
Al Zuhair said many parents and children have expressed appreciation for the welcoming environment at Campbell. She felt that was why the family literacy program has helped students such as Shiriz and Jahena begin to realize their American dreams.
 
“You can tell how our teachers are so supportive,” Al Zuhair said. “They’re extremely cooperative with the program because they want all of our students to succeed. It’s the same way with everyone here. The nurses, the librarians, the principal, the entire administration. Everyone here wants to help people.”

Interested in learning more about our Family Literacy Program and other services offered by LPS Federal Programs? Visit our website at https://home.lps.org/federal.

Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!

Posted on November 30, 2023