About
Nebraska Loves Public Schools is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing the stories of schools today.
We make films. We make shirts. We capture the strength and humanity happening in schools today – it’s heart of our work.
Since our start in 2011, we have created hundreds of I Love Public Schools films, built a powerful community, and continue to raise the visibility and importance of public education.
Nebraska Loves Public Schools has become part of the statewide identity in large part due to our original and iconic I Love Public Schools shirts worn everywhere.
OUR MISSION
We believe that by connecting people to the humanity of public schools we will rekindle their pride and intensify their support of Nebraska as the education destination.
WE MAKE FILMS | watch our films
OUR PROCESS
Working with schools and community organizations, we uncover and contextualize academic programs and societal issues that impact public schools.
From poverty to the achievement gap, mental health to English Language Learners, our films help the public understand the complexities and successes, and provide a call to action.
Through relationships with organizations like the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, statewide Educational Service Units, Network for Public Education, and independent outreach to urban and rural Nebraska school leaders, Nebraska Loves Public Schools sources stories based on input from those in public education and provides a voice for the stories happening today.
Through online distribution, community screenings, and Ambassador partnership with former public school superintendents, the films are played across the state and country providing a platform for dialogue and opportunity to support the students and professionals in our public schools.
WE MAKE SHIRTS | show your love
Our original I Love Public Schools t‑shirts have created roaring positive dialogue and an increase in pride for public schools. A simple shirt has opened the door to conversation and it can help others better understand what’s happening in the classroom, build pride, and ignite more positive and constructive conversation for public schools.
Wear our heart on your sleeve and start a conversation in support of public schools today. Visit our shop to gear up for the year ahead and share via social media using #ilovepublicschools in your post.
WE SHARE STORIES | share your stories
Over the past year, a movement has grown throughout the educational community in Nebraska and has brought together those who are passionate about sharing the story of public schools throughout the state. And while this movement continues to spread through the tremendous films and social media campaigns Nebraska Loves Public Schools puts together, the spark has been a simple shirt with three words and a symbol.”
OUR TEAM
Sally Nellson Barrett
Director
Since 2011, Sally has interviewed more than 500 people and directed more than 40 films to raise awareness about the high-quality public education in Nebraska. Most recently she has turned her attention to creating longer-form I Love Public Schools films, documentaries focused on the ways societal issues impact public schools and what schools are doing to protect, understand, and empower students to be successful. Prior to this campaign, Sally ran a successful practice providing creative direction and story development for many of the largest banks and investment managers in the country. Sally is a proud graduate of Ashland-Greenwood High School.
Amanda Irvine
Impact and Evaluation Strategist
After serving nearly a decade as our film producer, Amanda has shifted her attention to study the impact our work is having on audiences across the state. She serves as the key point of contact between our team and our research partners. Through her institutional knowledge, vast relationships, and clarity around our mission she is able to aid in defining what to measure, how, and with whom. Through surveys, focus groups, and other data collection activities, Amanda’s work strives to answer the question: is our work making a difference? Since she joined the team in 2012, she has helped us evolve into the storytellers we are today. Amanda is a proud product of public schools as a graduate of Westside High School.
Andrew Marinkovich
Director of Photography
As a cinematographer, Andrew has worked on the Nebraska Loves Public Schools project since the very beginning. After taking a three-year hiatus to live abroad with his wife and family, he has since returned as our fulltime Director of Photography. He has an unparalleled ability to make everyone feel as if he or she has known him forever. It is through this establishment of comfort and trust that we are able to capture the most authentic stories possible. After wrapping up a soccer career at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Andrew has traveled the world pursuing a passion for helping those in need. His experience as a student at a Native American reservation and other high-poverty schools in Nebraska helped to provide a deep understanding of issues in education that help inform our films. He is a proud graduate of Omaha North High School.
Liz Renner
Deputy Director
Liz comes to Nebraska Loves Public Schools with a background that ranges the storytelling continuum. She spent her early career as a documentary editor and producer — a prescient highlight was being in the room for a voice over session as Meryl Streep narrated a series on the history of American public education. Prior to this campaign, Liz was a communications strategist and copywriter for higher education, nonprofit, and software clients. She is an active writer in her free time, recently winning Omaha Film Festival’s Best Short Screenplay award. In her role, she oversees our administrative and operational efforts. She believes that every creative endeavor is made stronger and freer through structure.
Brittany Mascio
Director of Marketing
One of the biggest goals of our project is to share the message of the stories we create. In her role, Brittany is tasked with and responsible for just that: the distribution of our films. Through telling our story, she creates companion campaign pieces for the documentary films, including the project's TV, radio, and social media. In-person, she connects with teachers, students, and community leaders to encourage others across the state and country to share the 'I Love Public Schools' message online and in the community. She's also the creator of I Love Public Schools Day holiday, celebrated nationally each January. Brittany is a proud graduate of Millard South High School.
Nicole Brown
Creative Director
As a friend and follower of Nebraska Loves Public Schools since the beginning, Nicole seamlessly joined our team to help us reach more Nebraskans with our message. A designer by trade, she’s responsible for extending and advancing the look and feel of our brand online, on our merchandise, and in-person. Nicole is a recovering PTA President and passionate advocate for parental engagement in public schools. She is also a proud graduate of Adams Central Jr-Sr High School.
Kourtney Kaisershot
Social Media Manager
Kourtney graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She grew up in Normal, Illinois where she attended public schools her whole life. (And yes, it was very “normal” thanks for asking). Kourtney is responsible for our social media and assists Brittany with marketing. Knowing she wouldn't make a great teacher but seeing her many family members thrive as public school educators, she was influenced to join the I Love Public Schools team. You know how the saying goes, those who can’t teach decide to promote and advocate for public schools! She is a proud graduate of Normal Community West High School (Normal, IL).
Mandy Karaus
Traffic Manager
Mandy's responsible for overseeing our short- and long-term goals and keeping our team on track. She has worked in many different corporate environments, she is a pro at finding efficient solutions, and not to mention, she's an excellent seamstress. She grew up in a military family and married a military man, so she has experienced schools, both public and private, all over the country. She is the mom of two public school graduates. She's also a proud graduate of Papillion LaVista Community Schools.
Jennifer Zatechka
Merch Director
Jennifer joins the team through our merchandise partnership with Bergman Brand. Her experiences with marketing and management in both the corporate world and non-profit groups combined with a love of arts and education translate to a perfect match for Nebraska Loves Public School's mission. Specifically, Jennifer is committed to raising brand awareness through our gear opportunities and school fundraising program. She is a proud product of Lincoln Public Schools (Go Knights!) and can still sing her elementary school song upon request.
Jenny Dillingham
Media Director
Spending her career as an experienced marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer goods industry, she’s responsible for making sure our television, digital, and radio content reaches our audience. Jenny helps us unify our messages to reach all parts of the state and ensure the voices of our public school communities can be shared far and wide. Though across the river to the East, Jenny is still a proud graduate of public school, Sioux City North High School to be exact.