“Our school has tremendous love for our students and families. We conduct massive food drives during the year and we also have a school store that provides clothing for students in need. We have a backpack program as well”

Clint Edwards
Horizon Middle School

“Even during the pandemic year, our coaches and sponsors were able to adapt and adjust. For example, we have one of the strongest National History Day student groups in the state, and our two sponsors had to rethink their approach and their work times to help meet the needs of our students but still continue to maintain high expectations as they prepared to submit their final projects.”

Andrew Parizek

Ralston Middle School

“Our AG program has started two test plots,one for field corn and another for popcorn and pumpkins. The plan is to sell the pumpkins and popcorn to help support our community and FFA students.”

Alan Ehlers
Madison Public Schools

“Our Center for Teaching and Learning does an amazing job of preparing our high school students for the real world. We are now beginning a similar program in the elementary.”

Jill Brodersen
O’Neill Public Schools

“We have been extremely fortunate to get out in front with our MTSS team and tackle the issues with Social and Emotional behaviors.

We have completed the N‑sights research through UNL and are in the process of implementing a curriculum into our elementary.”

Thomas Schneider
Clarkson Public Schools

“We are waiting to hear if we have been awarded Project AWARE, and are looking forward to addressing social-emotional learning and mental health awareness for admin, staff, and students. 

We are also working to build relationships to ensure our students are supported by the community and school resources.”

Angie Kovarik
Lexington Public Schools

“We are in our third year of having a doctor of psychology working with our school district to provide training to our staff and specifically our school guidance counselor to help our students. 

Being able to build capacity in our staff has helped our district better serve our students and get them the help needed to be successful in school and in their lives.”

Jeff Steinbeck
Hershey Public Schools

“We are currently bringing three schools together into one brand new $34 million school in the center of three communities. How exciting is this! We are building not only a building that will be completed in August but a new school culture and climate!”

Cathy Cooper
Summerland Public Schools

“We do Victor E. Days. (Victor E. is the name of our badger mascot).

It’s two days a year where people from the community, staff, and teachers come in and teach kids life skills, hobbies, and introduce them to different things that they may take an interest in that they didn’t have previously.

Activities include cooking, welding for girls, rock climbing, baking a variety of items, art, taxidermy, kayaking, hunting, fishing, preparing wild game, etc.”

Andy Cronin
Valentine High School

“Every day, the work with do with immigrant families is some of the most heroic work I have seen by a group of people. Every day building better lives for families with nothing.”

Barry McFarland
Sandoz Elementary School

“[We have a] new partnership with a local auto dealer group and Central Community College to provide hands-on experience for students interested in becoming auto technicians. 

Kids have the chance to earn a certificate over 2 years of classwork while still in high school, get a jump start on completing requirements for an associates degree from CCC, and the possibility of being hired full time by the local dealer (Janssen Auto Group) upon receipt of their high school diploma.”

Robert Drews
Holdrege High School

“A quick look at assessments for our district show we had very little, if any, loss of learning from the spring of 2019 to the spring of 2021.”

Terry Haack
Bennington Public Schools

“Our school spent a lot of time last year during covid recognizing and raising money for one of our paras who was diagnosed with breast cancer. We had 2 – 3 honor nights at games and showed our support for one of our great staff members.”

Adam Boettcher
Franklin High School

“We have an incredible NCAPS mentoring program that exposes students to professionals in their careers. We also provide many college courses free of charge to students that are geared for either two or four-year degrees.”

Jason Searle
Sandy Creek Schools

“We have an amazing community that reaches out to help ALL students. From food certificates for our local grocery store to winter coats/​hats/​gloves, and school supplies, our community serves our students and families…making sure they have the opportunity to learn, be safe, and comfortable like everyone else.”

Josie Floyd
Sutherland Public Schools

“We have so many great things happening in our district. We have developed the Buffalo Early Learning Center that has 3 full-day preschool classrooms, 2 head starts, early childhood offices, an early childhood food pantry, and an outdoor classroom so kids can do hands-on activities outside”

Peggy Romshek
North Platte Public Schools

“We are creating a multicultural principals group to make sure our diverse population is being heard in our schools. We also purchased flags of the home countries of all our students and hung them up in our common space and will provide monthly opportunities to learn about different countries our students represent.

We are also creating monthly SEBL focus areas and using common time to teach students about these things.”

Marcy Harrifeld
Crete High School

“We have a JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program that planted and harvested 7 acres of land and is providing the community as well as our kitchen with produce.”

Tiffany Fada
Omaha Nation Public Schools