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2025 SPRING Newsletter

SHAPING THE FUTURE, ONE STUDENT AT A

TIME

Meet Our new president, Natalia wiita 2025 Inspire AwardS Giving Back to Move Forward

Omaha Fashion Week: Front Row Style

For our dedicated donors and community supporters, what is your vision for the future of the Foundation, and how do you see their continued partnership playing a vital role in achieving those goals?

Our vision is to ensure every student has the support to succeed, every educator feels valued and equipped, and every school is strengthened through community partnership. We’re building a future where generosity drives innovation, learning is a lifelong pursuit, and the Foundation catalyzes meaningful, lasting impact. With our community by our side, advocating, engaging, and investing, we can create a school system where opportunity and excellence are within reach for all.

What are some of the exciting opportunities or initiatives on the horizon for the Foundation that will have a significant positive impact on Lincoln Public Schools in the coming year?

We’re entering an exciting chapter with several impactful initiatives ahead. Spark Summer Learning continues to expand, offering even more students hands-on, high-impact learning experiences. We’re also building momentum around our Inspire Awards and scholarships to celebrate student and educator excellence meaningfully. We are also developing a new strategic plan to launch alongside the 2025–2026 fiscal year. This plan will align with the evolving needs observed across the district and LPS’s long-term goals. We’re committed to remaining flexible and responsive as needs arise because each school is unique, and our support must reflect that.

Q.

Building trust within the community is paramount. How do you envision the Foundation strengthening its connection with Lincoln residents and ensuring transparency in its operations?

We’re committed to clear communication, demonstrated impact, and being a trusted partner to both our donors and district leaders. We will continue to share regular updates, highlight success stories, and report on measurable outcomes. Our goal is to ensure every supporter knows their gift makes a difference and that every community member sees the Foundation as a reliable steward of opportunity, growth, and innovation for our schools.

Q.

Many of our donors are deeply invested in specific areas of education. Are there particular areas within Lincoln Public Schools that are especially critical and where donor support can make a profound difference?

Absolutely. Donors passionate about student wellbeing, equitable access to programs and activities, and innovative learning experiences, such as project-based learning or career-focused pathways, are helping shape the future of education in Lincoln. We also see an essential and growing need to support our educators and staff through professional development, classroom resources, and recognition.

While designated giving allows supporters to champion causes close to their hearts, unrestricted gifts are equally powerful. They allow the Foundation to respond quickly to emerging needs and ensure support goes where needed most. Together, targeted giving and unrestricted generosity form a strong foundation for success across every school in our district.

Q.

What message would you like to share with the Lincoln community and our generous supporters about your commitment to the students and the future of Lincoln Public Schools?

To the Lincoln community and our valued supporters: my commitment is unwavering, and I’m all in. I believe deeply in the mission of public education, the limitless potential of our students, and the dedication of our educators and staff. Every decision we make at the Foundation is grounded in what’s best for students while also lifting the professionals who guide them daily. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose, we can build a future where every student thrives, every staff member feels valued, and every school is a source of pride. We can’t do it without you.

Additional strategies and programs that contributed to Park’s success in the last year include:

School Ambassador Program: The program is designed to guide incoming students through a structured experience that helps them acclimate to the school environment.

English Learner (EL) Pilot of Prosocial Learning: In collaboration with the district’s EL and counseling teams, targeted lessons were designed for students to cultivate essential skills for success in and out of the classroom.

Community Resource Fair: To ensure greater accessibility for families, Park staff invited community resource groups and organizations to parent/teacher conferences to give families direct access to a wide range of resources.

Hair Care Station: The school partnered with a local church to provide students with hairstyling products so they can feel confident and focus on learning.

School Store: Panther “Paws” can be earned with positive behaviors and academic success. Students use them as currency at the store to buy fun items and free activities.

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Park Middle School is undeniably deserving of the 2025 Inspire School of the Year Award. The dedication of Park’s educators and staff is nothing short of extraordinary, creating meaningful impact both inside and outside the classroom. Their data-driven approach, unwavering commitment to student success, and deep collaboration with the Lincoln community set a powerful example of what’s possible in education. Lincoln’s schools are among the best, and at the Foundation, we are honored to support every school, educator and student as they continue to achieve excellence.

Natalia Wiita, President, the Foundation for LPS.

New Playground Incoming for Zeman Elementary

In 2007, Harley and Shirley Bair established the Bair Playground Grant to provide annual funding for the update and renovation of playgrounds at elementary schools within Lincoln Public Schools. School playgrounds provide students with opportunities for physical and social development, contributing to the creation of strong, safe neighborhoods. The Foundation for LPS was pleased to award Zeman Elementary with an $11,000 grant to help upgrade, replace, and repair their playground equipment, increasing students’ experiences and promoting healthy children through exercise.

Foundation for LPS Gives Students a Front Row Seat at Omaha Fashion Week

Lincoln Public Schools students designed a world-class winter educational experience by looking at skillfully-made dresses, coats, jackets and hats.

Students from seven LPS high schools traveled to the Omaha Design Center for the Omaha Fashion Week Student Night Designer Showcase. The fashion show featured numerous works by members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s textiles, merchandising and fashion design program. Area high schoolers, 4-H students and local designers also unveiled their fabric-based creations to the crowd.

North Star student Nyapouke said the fashion show gave her extra inspiration for her future. Nyapouke has taken the Introduction to Fashion and Interior Design and Clothing, Textiles and Design courses with family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher Lily Hershey. She also attended last year’s designer showcase with her classmates, which made her even more excited about her second trip in 2025.

“I loved every part about the fashion show,” Nyapouke said. “I liked the different clothing that was made and I loved watching the models walking down the runway. I really just loved everything about it.”

Fellow North Star students Ailyn and Jo also said they were interested in fashion and interior design careers. Ailyn said

her artistic interest in drawing has led to many sketches of dresses and outfits. She has been “obsessed with big poofy dresses” and has completed the Introduction to Fashion and Interior Design class.

“I think this fashion show would be really helpful to figure out what I really want to do in the near future,” Ailyn said. “It’s always been an interest of mine and I would like to see it play out.”

Jo said she wants to create a wide range of clothing sizes. She felt it was important to ensure people of all body types can find clothes that allow them to express their personalities. She said it was a dream come true to watch the show.

“It was a very special and amazing moment for me to see all of the models walk down the runway and imagine that one day I might get to do the same,” Jo said. “It gave me a lot of inspiration for looks I want to design on my own, and it gave me an idea of how to make the design flexible to walk and move in, and how to make it comfortable for the person wearing it.”

More than three dozen students began their trip with a meal in Omaha’s Aksarben Village. They then arrived at the Omaha Design Center for the event. The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools sponsored the cost of each ticket and pre-show meal for LPS attendees.

From Lincoln Roots to Lasting Impact:

A Conversation with Donor, Travis Berry

Lincoln was always home. That’s where I grew up, and it’s an extraordinary city.

Decades after leaving Lincoln, Travis Berry’s heart and generosity continue to shape the future of its students. “Lincoln was always home. That’s where I grew up, and it’s an extraordinary city,” he reflects. Though his teaching career took him to Arizona, Travis’s deep-rooted belief in the power of education—and the community that raised him—drew his support back to Lincoln Public Schools (LPS).

When asked to describe himself, Travis laughed: “You couldn’t find a more boring person on the planet!” But as he shared his story, it became clear nothing was boring about a man who spent decades in the classroom, taking a pragmatic approach to teaching and a heartfelt commitment to making a difference in students’ lives. His path to education wasn’t straightforward. He began as a business administration major at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln but soon found himself questioning that direction. A casual conversation during a bowling league became a turning point. “My friend told me, ‘If you want to do something worthwhile and impact kids, you should go into elementary education,’” Travis recalled. That advice stuck—and ultimately shaped the rest of his life.

After earning his teaching certificate, Travis moved to Tucson, Arizona, driven in part by a desire to escape the Nebraska winters. He started as a substitute teacher and three days later landed a full-time role. For 27 years, Travis taught sixth grade in the same classroom, making the school a second home. The emotional impact of his retirement was clear when his school gifted him the number plaque from his classroom door—a symbolic farewell that underscored how deeply he was woven into the fabric of that community.

Despite his long tenure in Arizona, Lincoln never left his heart. He remained impressed by the city’s unified school district and its strong commitment to education. “Being one huge school district—Lincoln prioritizes education,” he said. That mindset, along with his personal ties to Randolph Elementary, Lefler Middle School, and Lincoln High, inspired him to give back to his local community. His discovery of the Foundation for LPS’s Fund a Need program resonated deeply.

Having team-taught for much of his career, Travis knew firsthand how even the best ideas could