A PUBLICATION OF THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
SCHOOL'S BACK IN SESSION
John Baylor, Founder/Instructor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Catching Up with the Commissioner by Tyler Dahlgren ............................................................................................. 4
Mentorship Matters: Introducing “Ask Anything Saturdays with Dr. Loeffelholz and Guests” by Tyler Dahlgren ............................................................................................. 6
Full Circle: Dr. Jane Stavem Returns to Nebraska as Deputy Commissioner of Education by Tyler Dahlgren ............................................................................................. 8
Administrators’ Days 2025: Over 1,100 School Leaders Gather in Kearney for a Week of Professional Development, Networking, and Fun by Tyler Dahlgren ............................................................................................ 10
Loomis Illuminated: Wolves Welcomed Back to School with Glow! Themed Bash by Tyler Dahlgren ............................................................................................ 14
Mentoring with Purpose: ESUCC and TeamMates Unite to Strengthen Literacy Across Nebraska by Dr. Larianne Polk ........................................................................................ 16
New School Year Begins with Beacons of Hope by Dr. Dawn Lewis .......................................................................................... 18
Superintendent Turnover by Dr. Michael Sieh & Dr. Jerry Beach .......................................................... 20
COVER PHOTO
NCSA communications manager Tyler Dahlgren visited Loomis on the Wolves’ first day of school, featuring their celebration on the Nebraska Public School Advantage website. NPSA has been telling stories that demonstrate the power of public education in Nebraska since 2016.
NCSA MISSION
The mission of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) is to be an effective leader for quality education and to enhance the professionalism of its members. NCSA Today is a benefit of membership in the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, 440 South 13th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Telephone 402.476.8055 or 800.793.6272. Fax 402.476.7740.
Dr. Michael S. Dulaney Executive Director/Lobbyist
Dr. Troy Loeffelholz Associate Executive Director
Amy Poggenklass Finance and Membership Director
Tyler Dahlgren Communications Manager
Abbey Beardsley Event Manager
Jen Sylvester Executive Administrative Assistant
Brenda Petsch Administrative Assistant
The opinions expressed in NCSA Today or by its authors do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.
Catching Up with the Commissioner
B y Tyler Dahlgren, NCSA Communications Manager
Schools across the state were welcoming students back from summer break when Dr. Brian Maher sat down in an NDE conference room wearing an afternoon smile.
Interviews at the end of the workday don’t often incite such pleasantness, but Nebraska’s Commissioner of Education can’t help it. For Maher, this time of year has always been tough to top.
“It’s always exciting,” Maher, entering his third school year as commissioner after a 40-year career in education, said. “I did an interview earlier this week and somebody asked me if this is my favorite time of the year. My answer was yes, and if it’s not this, it’s the last day of school. Those two markers are really significant.”
The beginning of the school year, Maher said, is always filled with hope and optimism. It’s infectious, and you can feel the energy in schools, in communities, and at the department, too.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not really excited to be able to say I’m the commissioner of education in Nebraska, and a lot of that pride comes from the people I get to work with on a day-to-day basis,” said Maher.
In February, the State Board of Education approved plans for the Nebraska Literacy Project. NDE learned Nebraska would be receiving the $55 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) federal grant a year ago. Since then, literacy has been front and center at the department.
“We are at the inflection point of full implementation of the CLSD grant, and schools have been given the green light on implementing plans,” Maher said. “We’re really excited to roll that out. We held several summer workshops and believe teachers and administrators in Nebraska will be trained even better a year from now than they are today.”
In addition to the federal grant, the department received a $25 million grant from The Sherwood Foundation that is going to further boost the training Maher mentioned. The benefactors, the commissioner noted, are likely to be NCSA members: principals, assistant principals, and curriculum directors who serve as literacy coaches.
“We’re stacking professional learning for our teachers and for our administrators, and we really are believers that this work will result in positive outcomes for students,” Maher said.
Literacy was the focus of Maher’s message at Administrators’ Days in July, as the commissioner provided the morning keynote for Wednesday’s NDE programming. Maher stayed through Friday, enjoying the conference as an attendee. It was a fun and beneficial flashback for the longtime school administrator and former NCSA chair.
“It takes me back to years and years ago when I was an assistant principal, and then a principal, and then a superintendent, coming out to Administrators’ Days and getting the lay of the land administratively,” said Maher. “I have fond memories of that. My kids are all in their thirties now, but they have fond memories of going out to Kearney with mom and dad, staying at the hotel and making a family event out of it.”
Administrators’ Days has always been a learning experience for Maher. He sees the conference as an opportunity to network and converse with school leaders from across the state, a reflection of the department’s commitment to customer service.
“We’re a compliance agency, a regulatory agency, and some of what that entails can get rather punitive from time to time,” Maher said.
Continued on page 7...
Nebraska Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher delivers the Wednesday morning NDE Day keynote at Administrators’ Days in Kearney. His message centered primarily on the department’s Nebraska Literacy Project.
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Mentorship Matters: Introducing “Ask Anything Saturdays with Dr. Loeffelholz and Guests”
By Tyler Dahlgren, NCSA Communications Manager
Slide over College Gameday and Big Noon Kickoff. Beginning this fall, school leaders in Nebraska will have an alternative viewing option on Saturday mornings.
Ask Anything Saturdays with Dr. Loeffelholz and Guests, 75-minute Zoom sessions for school administrators to share news and freely float questions, was launched Aug. 23. There will be five additional sessions throughout the school year, with the next being offered on Oct. 18.
The idea was hatched during a conversation between associate executive director Dr. Troy Loeffelholz, NCSA consultant Dr. Mike Sieh, and members of the Nebraska Collaborative Learning Network (NCLN) while working on assembling statewide mentorship huddles for new administrators.
It can be difficult to ask questions in large groups, Loeffelholz said.
“This is an opportunity for our new administrators to reach
out to someone who can provide an answer to the difficult questions,” he continued.
For novice administrators, it can be difficult to know which questions to ask, period, Sieh explained. With that in mind, Loeffelholz and Sieh plan to enter each Saturday morning session with a set of prompts.
“What’s going on in your building right now?”
“What’s on your plate?”
“What’s causing you the biggest headache at the moment?”
The hope is for Ask Anything Saturdays to grow into a weekend staple, a window for new school leaders to decompress, calibrate, and build a wide web.
“It’s a small, one-hour and fifteen minute window on Saturday mornings for them to reflect on the week, reflect on the month, and if they have those burning questions or need validation
on something, to offer guidance,” Loeffelholz said. “We think that’ll help send them into that next week.”
Sieh learned early on in his career as a school administrator that you simply cannot function in a vacuum. It’s imperative, he emphasized, to rely on the people around you.
“I remember going to Administrators’ Days twenty-five years ago, and hearing a speaker talk about building a professional
Catching Up with the Commissioner
(Continued from page 4)
“Those are roles that we have to take on, but there are also times when we can provide a service to the schools. We serve schools, and that’s how we serve kids in the state of Nebraska. So every time I hear feedback on something we did well from a customer service perspective, I take a lot of pride in that.”
It’s been two years and some change since Maher stepped into his role and out of the superintendency. When asked if he enjoys the job, the commissioner’s answer comes quickly and without hesitation.
“Working with teachers and working with administrators has been a joy,” Maher said. “This role gives me that satisfaction of knowing that I’m still doing what I was meant to do, and that is helping to advance the educational ecosystem in the state of Nebraska.” ■
web and having that be something that’s always stuck with me,” Sieh said. “What we’re trying to do is build an appropriate professional web for new administrators with colleagues they will be professional friends with for the rest of their lives.”
At Administrators’ Days in July, Loeffelholz and Sieh held their annual Networking with New Principals and Networking with New Superintendents sessions. The rooms were packed with young administrators eager to make a positive impact, an encouraging sight for the duo in charge of NCSA’s mentorship program.
“We have a great set of leaders coming in and it’s very encouraging,” Sieh said. “They’re willing to learn, and that’s important because, reality is, it takes about five years to get up to full speed. However, if we can get them up to full speed faster than that through this process, it’s going to be a fun and exciting time for all of us.”
The goal, Loeffelholz explained, is to keep a young administrator in the mentor program for three years. It’s about setting the table for success, and Ask Anything Saturdays is just an extra coordinated support.
“We want to meet their needs,” said Loeffelholz. “The first hour of College Gameday isn’t that good anyway, and in the Mountain timezone it’s not even on yet, so it should be a good time to grab a cup of coffee and come to us with some questions.” ■
NCSA Associate Executive Director Dr. Troy Loeffelholz and mentoring consultant Dr. Mike Sieh present to new principals during one of their select-asessions at Administrators’ Days in July.
Full Circle: Dr. Jane Stavem Returns to Nebraska as Deputy Commissioner of Education
B y Tyler Dahlgren, NCSA Communications Manager
Throughout a 35-year career in education, Dr. Jane Stavem has always taken the next step with appreciation and gratitude for the one that preceded it.
The Stromsburg native attended undergrad in Minnesota and received her doctorate from UNL. Her first building principal job was in Columbus, where she’d later serve as executive director of curriculum and instruction. In 2009, Stavem stepped into the superintendency, leading Blair Community Schools for three years before becoming Lincoln Public Schools’ associate superintendent of instruction.
In 2018, Stavem headed to the coast, becoming superintendent of Lake Washington School District (WA). Since 2020, she’s served as superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District, the largest in South Dakota.
“I’ve had the wonderful opportunity throughout my career of taking that next level of leadership, and I’ve had the chance to experience education in smaller and larger districts alike,” Stavem said. “It gives you a broader perspective that you can then offer as you support people, no matter where they are.”
Stavem announced her retirement from SFSD last fall with no concrete plans for the future. She was at peace with her decision to step away from life as a superintendent and excited for more time spent with family. And yet she knew she wasn’t ready to be away from education entirely. At the same time, her home state was searching for a new deputy commissioner of education.
Stavem threw her hat in the ring.
“I felt a sense of responsibility professionally and ethically to continue supporting the people who are on the front lines in our school districts,” Nebraska’s new deputy commissioner of education said. “It’s definitely different from being in a school district, but it’s still education and I’ve given my entire career to supporting kids in our schools. This was a great opportunity
to continue doing that.”
This is the first professional homecoming for Stavem, who officially began in her new role the Monday before Administrators’ Days. That was a calculated move, said Stavem, who attended the conference for the first time since 2017. She holds many fond memories of Administrators’ Days, and was excited to reconnect with administrator colleagues she hadn’t seen in years.
“One thing that becomes more and more apparent to me as I’ve journeyed through my career of thirty-five plus years now, is that that’s where you get your support, from the people who are in the field doing the work with you,” Stavem said. “That’s why I said yes to this role. No matter where you are, if you’re in a superintendent role, a principal role, a district office role or at NDE or NCSA, we’re all in this profession for the good of children and for providing a solid education no matter where you are in this state.”
In the seven years Stavem spent in Washington and South Dakota, she maintained and didn’t shy from sharing a strong sense of Cornhusker pride. Over the summer, her class of Stromsburg Vikings celebrated their 40-year high school reunion. Looking over the list of 26 names from that class, it was striking to Stavem how many have gone on to live successful lives.
“When you think about that as a whole, that’s not unique to Stromsburg,” Stavem said. “That’s a Nebraska thing.”
Now, she gets to help ensure the future generations of Nebraskans are set up to succeed in the same way she was.
“My hope is that every child growing up in Nebraska right now has the same opportunities that I did, opportunities for a successful life, hopefully right here in our state,” she said. “The level of excellence that exists in Nebraska is special, whether it’s organizations like NCSA or NDE. And while no organization is perfect, we have a high degree of excellence here that we expect and that we try to continually purvey in all of our Nebraska school districts.”
Stavem is boarding a ship with some serious momentum, one of the hooks that ultimately lured her to the department. She knows there’s going to be a learning curve and is eager to draw from the expertise of the NDE staff.
STAVEM
“There has been some really good work done, and there is a great sense of optimism and excitement about the future and a really good level of aspiring to be an excellent resource and foundation for our school districts, and that’s so important,” Stavem said. “It’s exciting to be a part of that and to learn how a government entity works compared to a school district. It’s fascinating, and there’s a great team at NDE for me to learn from and work with moving forward.”
Lincoln is home now, and Stavem is looking forward to getting to know her home state better, a mission that’ll be both beneficial for her new job and, well, fun. Stavem authors a popular blog and has published a couple of books. She’s learning to play the violin and ukulele, things that serving as a superintendent didn’t allow time for, and has visited some wineries and farmers' markets since coming home.
Once the summer heat breaks, Stavem and her husband plan on some long walks and taking to the trails with their bikes. It is fall in Nebraska, however, so while all of those plans sound like plenty of fun, they’re not quite the top priority.
“I am so excited to get to a couple Husker games,” Stavem said with a smile. “I always try to go to one a year, even in the last few years when I haven’t lived here. So yes, anybody who wants to invite me to a Husker game, please call.” ■
SCAN
Administrators' Days 2025: Over 1,100 School Leaders Gather in Kearney for a Week of Professional Development, Networking and Fun
B y Tyler Dahlgren, NCSA Communications Manager
More than 1,100 school leaders gathered at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney July 23-25 to ring in the school year with Administrators’ Days.
This year’s conference included all the usual attendee favorites, including the ice cream social, music bingo, karaoke, and three days of premium professional development. Thursday morning’s Administrators in Action drew over 350 administrators to the Kearney trails. On their behalf, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska presented a $5,000 check to The Kim Foundation.
NCSA announced the recipients of its annual awards during the conference.
The Distinguished Service Award is given annually to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional, distinguished leadership in public education. The 2024 recipients are Josie Floyd and Stuart Simpson.
Floyd currently serves as principal at Dudley Elementary
in Gothenburg and has long been active at the state level, serving as Vice Chair of the NCSA Executive Board from 2023-2024. Simpson recently retired from North Platte Public Schools after serving 18 years as the district’s finance director.
During Thursday’s awards luncheon, Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) executive director Trish Guinan was honored with the NCSA Friend of Education Award, which is given annually to a non-member(s) who has demonstrated exceptional, distinguished leadership in public education. Guinan is set to retire in December after dedicating her long career to public education in Nebraska.
On Friday, NCSA presented Stand for Schools, the team behind the Public School Proud Nebraska campaign, with the Friend of Education Award. Senator Dunixi Guereca and Stand for Schools deputy executive director Daniel Russell were on center stage to accept the award.
NCSA chair-elect Dr. Chris Prososki and vice chair-elect Dr. Chip Kay addressed the Administrators’ Days crowd before drawing the winners of the scavenger hunt raffle.
This quartet of Columbus Discoverer seniors kicked off Thursday at Administrators’ Days with their rendition of The National Anthem. Sally Donoghue, Kaylee Foster, Macy Carlson and Emma Heidtbrink received a standing ovation from attendees.
Senator Dunixi Guereca, executive director of Stand For Schools, accepts the NCSA Friend of Education Award during Administrators’ Days in Kearney. Guereca and his team launched the Public School Proud campaign in 2024, partnering with Nebraska Public School Advantage to showcase the great things happening in the state.
Dr. Dan Schnoes, chair of the executive board, welcomes new members to the annual NCSA New Members Breakfast, held on Friday morning before the final Administrators’ Days general session.
Also at the conference, Dr. John Schwartz, superintendent of Millard Public Schools, was announced as the 202526 Nebraska Superintendent of the Year by the Nebraska Association of School Administrators (NASA). Dr. Schwartz will receive his award at the State Education Conference in November.
The annual event included keynote presentations by nationally-renowned speakers Erin King and Thomas C. Murray, and was attended by members of the State Board of Education, Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher, and staff from the Nebraska Department of Education, who held their programming on Wednesday. ■
Administrators in Action drew more than 350 school leaders to the trails in Kearney. On their behalf, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska presented a $5,000 check to The Kim Foundation.
Loomis Illuminated: Wolves Welcomed Back to School with Glow! Themed Bash
B y Tyler Dahlgren, NCSA Communications Manager
The gymnasium lights cut to black when the clock struck 1:30 last Wednesday afternoon, prompting 270 glowstickwielding Loomis Wolves to fall silent–at least for a moment. Then the music piped in, and the students erupted. They danced and laughed their way through a couple of songs, ringing in the new school year the only way Loomis Wolves know how.
“We want them to feel like coming back to school is a celebration,” said Title 1 teacher Kim Schukar, one of the primary planners of what has become a tradition at Loomis. “Starting the year with a big kick-off just gives you a little boost of momentum.”
This wasn’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill first day of school. It was, as Schukar accurately described, a day-long celebration. The pep rally, where kindergarten students were welcomed and the Class of 2026 was recognized, was the perfect exclamation point to the perfect day.
“By doing what we do, it kind of lights a fire underneath the kids,” said elementary resource teacher Jackie Johnson. “It gets us excited and gets our momentum going for the rest of the year. It does that for us teachers, too.”
These celebrations started five years ago, when the Loomis
staff wanted to do something special for students returning to the building for the first time since the pandemic. Every year since, they’ve rolled out the red carpet for their students.
“We want our kids to know that everybody here cares about them and wants them to do well and be successful,” said Nate Weaver, who is in his second year as superintendent after serving the previous six years as principal. “When they look around and see everybody participating and everybody sharing that excitement, they know that we’re all in their corner.”
Last year, the theme for the first day of school party was all things Western, complete with hay bales, saddles, and everything in between. The year before that, the party was fair-themed, with bumper cars and Ferris wheel baskets to boot. This year, the Sunshine Committee, which focuses on hospitality and staff and student morale, opted for a “Glow!” theme. They’ll come back to the theme on random days throughout the year, whenever they feel the school could use a bright boost.
“We have a couple of staff members that really take it and go above and beyond,” Weaver said. “They think of stuff that I’d never think of. The school year is long, so we’re just trying to make it as fun as possible.”
Loomis Public School rolled out the red carpet for the return of students to the building on Aug. 13, capping a daylong celebration with a K-12 pep rally and a glow dance.
Math intervention teacher (and Nate’s wife) Kristin Weaver is on the committee, and spent the day handing out popsicles and coordinating class photos in front of a big mural in the gym that the committee constructed.
“We want the first day of school to be memorable for the kids,” she said. “We always pick a fun theme they can get involved in, and it makes their first day back go pretty fast.” The students get a kick out of the Sunshine Committee’s creations, too.
“All the teachers here are really creative,” said sixth-grade student Rhea Payton. “They like decorating and making it special for us, which makes it a lot of fun.”
Kids love summer vacation, and, in other places, it’d take a lot of arm-twisting to get them to admit that they’re excited about the first day of school. In Loomis, that’s not so much the case.
“Everybody’s happy to be back,” said principal Jeff Ellsworth. “We have some kids who might come in saying they don’t want to be here, but it doesn’t take long before they have a big smile on their face. They don’t mean it.”
In this small village west of Holdrege, the school is the center of everything.
“Our school district and our community are both full of great people who love Loomis and bleed green,” said Schukar. The kids, Ellsworth explained, are the core of the community.
“They’re in tune with everybody,” he continued. “They look up to those high school kids. When we get to the sports season, everybody’s there. It’s always packed and the younger kids are there cheering on the high schoolers. It’s just a big, happy family.”
Nolan Benjamin can speak to that. The 2020 Loomis graduate is starting his career as a teacher and a coach here, back at a place that he’s proud to call home.
“The people are what make this place so special,” he said. “The people I get to work with now, and the ones I got to learn from and who taught me as a student, are just really great.”
Eighth-grader Ayla Westerbuhr came to Loomis last year from a different school district. When asked what makes her new district special, she takes a break from her popsicle and looks around, as if the answer is pretty obvious.
“It’s very welcoming here in Loomis,” said Ayla. “It’s really small, so everybody really knows each other. The teachers
are really welcoming. The Wolf Pack has been so nice to me.”
Brinley Wood, Ayla’s friend and a fellow eighth-grader, echoed what her principal said.
“It’s just a really fun school with a family atmosphere,” said Wood.
The pep rally wrapped up with relay races, 18-year-old seniors bouncing balloons and running right alongside fiveyear-old kindergarteners, a heartwarming sight unique to small districts like Loomis.
“Those little kids look up to the big kids, and I think the big kids really enjoy being in that peer model role,” said Johnson, who was born and raised and has spent her entire career in Loomis. “I love the school. I love the community. I know the kids and their families. Teaching here just makes me feel like I make a difference, like I’m helping the kids grow day by day.”
Because it's always in the back of their minds, said Schukar, planning for next year’s back-to-school bash has already begun. There are a lot of days between then and now, a lot of memories to be made.
“I love all the people in our school,” said sixth-grader Aspyn Weeder. “We’re all excited to be here.”
The students are back. At Loomis, they can’t do anything but smile. ■
Temperatures hovered in the high 80s for the first day of school in Loomis, where staff handed out popsicles throughout the day to help students stay cool.
Mentoring with Purpose: ESUCC and TeamMates Unite to Strengthen Literacy Across Nebraska
By Dr. Larianne Polk, CEO, Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council
At the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC), we believe that the most meaningful impact often happens at the intersection of strong relationships and intentional learning. That belief is the foundation of a new and exciting partnership between ESUCC and the TeamMates Mentoring Program, a collaboration designed to expand the role of mentoring in promoting literacy and lifelong learning across Nebraska.
The Vision Behind the Partnership
TeamMates is no stranger to life-changing work. For more than 30 years, they’ve connected students in grades 3-12 with caring adult mentors across 150+ chapters statewide. These schoolbased mentoring relationships focus on encouragement, trust, and helping students reach their full potential, meeting weekly during the school day for about 30 to 45 minutes.
At the same time, Nebraska’s schools continue to grapple with persistent challenges in literacy, particularly in early grades. Recent assessment data highlight both pockets of progress and areas where more support is needed. As educators and mentors alike seek to respond, this partnership represents an opportunity to align efforts: to infuse mentoring with meaningful literacy development, without turning mentors into tutors or losing the heart of the relationship.
This isn’t about adding more to anyone’s plate; it’s about enriching what’s already working.
What the Partnership Includes
Starting in Fall 2025, ESUCC and Nebraska’s ESUs will provide support to TeamMates chapters, mentors, and coordinators through the following key components:
1. Targeted Literacy Training
ESUs will deliver flexible training, both virtual and in-person, on topics ranging from foundational English Language Arts strategies to digital, math, and social-emotional literacy to school districts across Nebraska. These sessions will be open to mentors, TeamMates coordinators, and local TeamMates board members, equipping them with practical tools to use during weekly mentor sessions.
2. The Literacy Playbook
This digital resource hub will include:
• Conversation starters tied to books and literacy themes
• Book recommendations by grade level and interest
• Reading challenge templates and bookmarks
• Goal-setting worksheets aligned to literacy milestones
• Strategies for accessing books and other reading materials
• Curated video library of training content
3. Resources for Mentees
Additional tools designed for students will include printable reading journals and creative prompts to make literacy engaging and confidence-building.
4. Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
Together, ESUCC and TeamMates will collect and review data to assess the reach and impact of the partnership, including pre- and post-surveys from mentors, coordinators, and board members, along with feedback on training and resources. This will allow us to continuously improve the initiative and share findings that can benefit other statewide efforts.
Why it Matters
We know that students need both academic and emotional support to thrive. Mentors are already helping students dream bigger, build confidence, and stay connected to school. When we add intentional literacy conversations and resources to
POLK
those relationships, we unlock even greater potential.
This partnership doesn't ask mentors to become reading specialists; it invites them to become champions of literacy in small, approachable ways. A simple conversation about a book, a shared writing prompt, or a few minutes spent setting reading goals can make a lasting impression on a student.
For TeamMates, it’s an extension of their mission. For ESUCC and Nebraska’s ESUs, it’s a natural way to expand our literacy support into a new, meaningful space.
Our shared belief is simple: Literacy is foundational. Relationships are transformational. Together, they can change the trajectory of a student’s life.
Looking Ahead
This is more than a one-year project; it’s the beginning of a broader vision. A vision where every student is surrounded by trusted adults who are invested not only in their personal
growth, but also in their learning. A vision where mentoring and literacy walk hand-in-hand toward long-term impact.
As CEO of ESUCC, I’m proud of the alignment this work represents. It brings together community-based mentoring, evidence-based literacy strategies, and the statewide infrastructure of ESUs to create something uniquely Nebraska.
We look forward to sharing updates as the program launches and grows. And we hope this serves as inspiration for other partnerships where people and purpose come together for students. ■
New School Year Begins with Beacons of Hope
By Dr. Dawn Lewis, NASA President
I am honored to serve as the NASA president in 2025-2026. What an awesome opportunity, and responsibility to the school districts of Nebraska.
As I begin my seventh year as the superintendent at Arlington Public Schools, I have so much to be grateful for. I have a daughter in high school, a son beginning his college experience, a daughter beginning her first year of teaching, and my oldest son is sending my grandchildren back to school. So, I have the best of all worlds, and I couldn’t be more grateful. To top it off, I get to work with some of the best people I know, all teaching and leading in public schools. What a blessing to be a part of it all for the past 26 years!
As I watched the students of Arlington Public Schools file through the doors last week, with overflowing backpacks, brand new shoes, and bright smiles, I reflected on my “first days” as a child. I was a farm kid in the 80s, and we didn’t have much. But there was always a new outfit and bag for the first day of school because it was a special day (and maybe also because we grew and nothing fit!). The first day of school, more than any other day, reminds me of how incredibly fortunate we are to be a part of a system of public education that accepts every child from every walk of life, giving them hope for the future.
Desmond Tutu stated, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Tutu inspired us, as the 1984 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, by boldly denouncing apartheid during some of the darkest days in the history of South Africa. He reminds us to keep alive the eternal hope that situations will improve, conditions will change, and all people should be treated with dignity.
Hope is defined as a vision for the future fueled by positive feelings and inspired actions. I am not a “hope expert,” however, there is a great deal of research that supports the numerous benefits of remaining hopeful, including living longer, sleeping better, experiencing improved overall health, and better outcomes when living with trauma. (Hope
Research, 2025)
How can we increase the hope of staff and students in our schools? We have eight hours each day, 175 days of the year, to instill hope. That is nearly half of all waking hours for half of the calendar year. We must continually remind students that they can overcome any challenge, that every problem has a solution, and that there isn’t a mistake that cannot be corrected or forgiven. Public schools need to be the collective positive voice of hope because we accept and are responsible for all children. For some of our students, school may be the only place in which they feel hopeful and safe. That singular thought should be enough to incite us to action.
Public schools across Nebraska continuously provide resources that impact hopefulness. By carefully planning academic instruction and interventions, we provide assistance to students who need hope to perform well in school. We offer mental health services, including school counselors, licensed mental health professionals, and outside counseling services for staff, students, and family members who need help finding hope in the present moments. We provide supplies, clothing, and food for those families who need hope for the future. May it never be lost on us that every time we do a kind thing, no matter how small, hope is provided to someone who needs it.
If you are unsure about the atmosphere of hope in your district, there are some key indicators that hope is waning. According to an AI overview, those signs include erosion of trust, learned helplessness, and decreased motivation among stakeholders. Recognizing signs early and taking corrective action can restore hopeful practices in your buildings. Fortunately, we don’t have to be experts on hope or tackle the challenge on our own. Our Educational Service Units, the Nebraska Department of Education, and peers and colleagues leading other districts are great resources to ask for help.
Accept the opportunities of 2025-2026 with renewed hope and passion. Never miss a moment to provide a positive message to others, to lend your support to an impactful initiative, and to allocate resources to the most helpful and useful programs available. You are making a difference, today and every day. ■
Works Cited: Hope research. Hopeful Minds. (2025, April 30). https://hopefulminds.org/hope-research/
LEWIS
Superintendent Turnover
By Dr. Michael Sieh and Dr. Jerry Beach, Wayne State College
The New Year
At the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, there are 244 PK-12 Nebraska public school districts. Forty-six (46) possible superintendent positions became available across Nebraska. The 2025-2026 rate of turnover in the state is 16.0% this year, up from 12.2% in 2024-25. The 16% figure reflects that, of the 46 potential superintendent openings, only 37 were filled by individuals with less than one year of experience in the district at the start of this school year. The 2025-26 rate is slightly up when compared with the average annual turnover for superintendents in Nebraska since 2000-01 (15.2%).
The average tenure-in-position for Nebraska at the start of the new year will be 5.14 years. This mark is consistent with past years.
Of 46 possible changes in superintendent status from a year ago, 26 individuals are retiring. This number represents about 10.7% of those who were in top leadership positions last year. The 2024 Education Technology, Services, and Research (EAB) Annual Survey of District Leaders reflected 15% of superintendents nationwide reporting plans to leave their position within the next two years. Fifteen former principals will be stepping into the role of superintendent for the first time during the 2025–2026 school year. Career changes for both outgoing and incoming superintendents are shared in Tables 1 and 2.
Of note this year: a) Ten superintendents are serving on an interim basis at the start of the 2025-2026 school term; b) 19 superintendents in year-one are assuming a public-school superintendent position for the first time; c) 90 of 244 (36.9%) superintendents have three years or less tenure in the same district, inclusive of the 2025-26 school year.
SIEH
BEACH
Same District Tenure
Over the past 15 years, Nebraska has averaged slightly over four superintendents serving 20 years or more in the same school district. This year we have six. Jon Cerny continues to lead the pack as he starts his 33rd year as the superintendent in the Bancroft-Rosalie Public Schools. Mark Aten is next in line with 24 years of leading the Overton school district. Del Dack (Paxton) and David Spencer (South Platte) each have 22 years in the same school system. Starting their 20th year will be Holly Herzberg of Hampton and Margaret Sandoz of Niobrara.
The veteran level is reached with the 15th year as superintendent in the same district. Table 3 lists all the superintendents who have 15 years of experience or more tenure in a single school district.
Service Unit Directors
Educational Service Unit (ESU) leaders provide invaluable assistance to PK-12 school districts in their service areas, ranging from staff development to technology. Functioning within each district's central office administration are ESU18 (Lincoln Public Schools) and ESU19 (Omaha Public Schools). Table 4 lists each ESU administrator according to years of experience.
James
09 (Hastings) 7
13 (Scottsbluff) 5
19 (Omaha) 4
11 (Holdrege) 4
16 (Ogallala) 3
18 (Lincoln) 3
Mitch ESU 02 (Fremont) 1
(Columbus)
TRENDS IN SUPERINTENDENCY
Women Superintendents
A final scan of superintendents looks at the state's progress concerning gender equity in the superintendency. Demographic data from the 2024-2025 AASA Superintendent Salary and Benefits Study reflects the percentage of female superintendents in the nation at 26.5%.
Nebraska trails that number with 13% of the state's top educational leaders being female. Table 5 reflects women serving as superintendents in Nebraska and their respective tenures in their current school district. Worth noting is that the 31 female superintendents in 2025-2026 is the highest number ever, as reflected in Table 5.
Despite the slow progress towards gender equity in superintendents' roles, ESU administrators represent women well. Of the 17 ESU leaders, seven are female. The result is that 41% of ESU administrators are women.
Table 6 – ESU Women Administrator Experience, including 2025-2026 School Year
Superintendent/ESU Administrator Longevity
Jon Cerny (Bancroft-Rosalie) and John Hakonson (Newcastle, Blue Hill, Sidney, Lexington) both have 30+ years as superintendents. Drew Harris (Out-of-State, Thayer Central, ESU 9) has 28 years of superintendent/ESU experience. Nebraska has four superintendents with 24 total years of superintendent experience – Mark Aten (Overton), Jeff Edwards (Sandhills, Logan View, Nebraska City, Northwest (GI)), Amy Malander (Cedar Rapids & Central Valley), and Kendall Steffensen (Blue Hill, Shelton, Pierce).
Eleven additional superintendents have between 20 and 23 years of experience, including some who have served multiple districts/ESUs. Because tenure in multiple districts/ESUs can be more challenging to track, please let us know if your name was omitted from this list. Table 7 displays superintendents/ ESU administrators who have 20 years or more of total superintendent/ESU experience.
Historical Nebraska Public School District Superintendent Data
Lastly, Table 8 depicts trends in the Nebraska superintendency over several years. As we analyzed past trends, we cannot help but wonder what the data will show in future reports.
