April 2025

Last month, Inside OPS highlighted our united focus on improvement. All 9,000 staff throughout every 

school in our district have a role in achieving our Moonshot: All students reading on grade level by 2030.

The effort drives change. Change in what we do and change in our approach to improve student outcomes. All as we sharpen our concentration on literacy.

Every month this year, more than 100 people have gathered to talk through four priority areas connected to reaching that Moonshot:

• Instructional Minutes: How we make the most of student time every day.
• Graduation Requirements: How a student’s time in high school ensures they read on grade level and graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.
• Moonshot Strategy: The opportunities we should pursue to reach our goal.
• Stop Doing: What can be done to free up time, energy and other resources to reinvest toward achieving our Moonshot.

We see similar themes, interests and ideas across the groups of staff, students, families and partners we are engaging. That genuine teamwork gives us a strong foundation to recommend action steps in the months ahead – needed change that we own to improve.

There is also change outside of our control. Change we will manage. It could be local, statewide, across our country or even global.

Our values and focus help us rise to every challenge and opportunity. The students you meet in this edition of Inside OPS are why we must make it happen together.

Our students’ success is everything to us.

Matthew Ray

Superintendent

Omaha Public Schools

Celebrating Omaha Public Schools Graduating Seniors

Each week leading up to graduation, Omaha Public Schools is celebrating a senior from each of our nine high schools, showcasing their journey toward a bright future. The Senior Heroes: Achieving Excellence stories highlight outstanding students who are making a difference in their schools and communities.

Giselle Sanchez Morales is part of the first senior class to graduate from Buena Vista High. She looks forward to walking across the stage in her school colors this May.

"It's something that I take pride in because we're setting the stage for future generations of students at Buena Vista, leaving our footprints behind in hopes they follow them," she said.

When Sanchez Morales started kindergarten at Walnut Hill Elementary in 2012, her first language was Spanish. She credits her elementary teachers for helping her learn a new language.

Inspired by the support she received, Sanchez Morales later pursued Buena Vista High's Teaching as a Profession Pathway. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska Omaha and major in elementary education so she can help young learners have similar outcomes.

"I believe that every student should have the opportunity to be successful in a positive, safe and welcoming school environment," said Sanchez Morales. "I'm grateful for all the teachers I had in elementary school because, without them, everything would have been much different."

Senior Alexis Cervantes Mendoza discovered a love for the technology behind performing arts through courses in South High's Performing Arts Pathway. Over the past four years, he developed his skills in stage production and theater technology and learned to play guitar. He credits his music teacher, Joshua Austin, with helping him find his way.

"Mr. Austin is probably my favorite teacher," said Cervantes Mendoza. "It's cool to have that support, especially when you're young and trying to experience high school."

As Cervantes Mendoza prepares to graduate, he looks forward to seeing how he can build upon the skills he's learned to succeed in another field of study. He hopes to become an orthodontist. 

"I want to pursue something to give the Hispanic community the comfort and reliability of someone that came from the same place," said Cervantes Mendoza.

In the fall, North High's Tyson Terry will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and play defensive lineman for the Cornhuskers. He says Omaha Public Schools helped shape him into a leader on and off the field.

"I tell other students, 'If you need help in the classroom, help on the field, I'm always a person here to talk,'" Terry said.

A multi-sport athlete, this year, Terry accomplished something never done before in Nebraska high school wrestling: winning four consecutive state championships in the heavyweight class.

"It's my last year, so I wanted to leave everything out on the mat," said Terry. "I'm always trying to reach a new level, a new potential."

His connection to North High runs deep—he is the fourth generation in his family to attend the school. His pride in the school and community is evident.

"I've been with Omaha Public Schools my whole life," said Terry. "I've had a good journey and been around a lot of good teachers and people."

Omaha Public Schools is proud of the entire graduating Class of 2025. The Senior Heroes: Achieving Excellence videos are on the Omaha Public Schools YouTube page and social media.

Student-Built Tiny House Project Displayed at The RiverFront

If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might easily miss it.

At first glance, the tiny structure on display at The RiverFront in Omaha resembles a garden shed. A closer inspection reveals a compact living space known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Students from Benson High designed and built the self-contained housing unit.

“The students have had their hands on every single step of the way,” said Thomas Sibbitt, a teacher leading the work at Benson High.

The project evolved from discussions about the growing demand for affordable housing.

“Our students all had a research and design process,” said Sibbitt. “From that, we decided, you know, we have a pretty great design here. Let's go ahead and try to construct one. So, we dove into the hands-on project and found creative ways to fund it.”

Students from the school’s Architecture and Engineering and Design and Construction Pathways have been working on the project for two years, ultimately leading to a fully functional ADU.

“We started by making a list of the material we need,” said Lah Ku Paw, a Benson High junior. “After doing that, we did the framing, the siding and any retouch we needed to make the house better.”

The 140-square-foot home includes a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Students also installed electrical, plumbing and other features.

“It's insulated. It is watertight,” explained Sibbitt. “I would say certainly in the Midwestern climate, you could live there.”

The ADU display at The RiverFront is part of an educational exhibit that highlights the benefits of compact housing and offers a unique park programming opportunity.

“I feel really proud,” said Lah Ku Paw. “Not only is it helping, I'm also getting hands-on experience.”

Student access to collaborative projects like this prepares them for college and careers.

“We're deep into looking at housing, building, employing students after graduation,” said Sibbitt. “Putting students in a position where they have the right skills to have a design or engineering career.”

In addition to the skills learned, students feel pride in their accomplishments.

“Not many 17-year-olds can say that they know how to build a tiny House,” said LawLa Paw, a Benson High senior. “I feel very proud.”

The ADU will be temporarily displayed during peak times, accompanied by educational materials for visitors. Benson High plans to auction the unit in the future.

District News

Omaha Virtual School Info Sessions

The Omaha Virtual School (OVS) is holding a series of informational sessions throughout the month to provide families with the opportunity to learn more about the program.

Sessions will be held online on Microsoft Teams. The dates and times are:

• Thursday, April 24, from 12:30-1:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 30, from 10-10:45 a.m.

Find the links to each meeting on our website.

High School Students: Register by May 19 for the Unicameral Youth Legislature

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work as a state senator? Now is your chance! Open to all high school students, the Unicameral Youth Legislature is an opportunity to learn what it’s like to serve in the Nebraska Legislature.

The event is June 8-13, 2025. Reserve your seat now. The registration deadline is May 19. To learn more information about the Unicameral Youth Legislature, visit our website.

Omaha Public Schools Graduation Livestreams

Commencement ceremonies for our comprehensive high schools will take place May 19-23 at Baxter Arena.

Live streams for each event will begin approximately 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Links and graduation information for our programs can be found on our website.

Our Community Opportunities section is our digital bulletin board where families can find information about upcoming events and activities available in our area. New flyers are posted at the beginning of each month. This month's flyers include:

• Easter in the Village
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Youth Talent Show
• Parenting With Purpose Workshop
• Big Red Rugby
• Omaha KROC Summer Day Camp

Omaha Public Schools provides this opportunity for outside organizations for the benefit of our families. It does not endorse any business, product or service.

Superintendent Matthew Ray extends

congratulations to...

… to Austin McGrath, Westview High junior, for winning first place in the Nebraska Federation of Music Clubs Composition Contest with his piano composition "(Waltz of) The Deranged Mind."

… to Fiona Bryant, Central High senior, for being awarded the 2025 Outstanding Library Volunteer by the Nebraska Library Association.

… to Sarah Nelson Wiese, Bryan Middle science teacher, for being selected as a National STEM Scholar from the National Stem Cell Foundation and The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science.

… to Lauren Loper, Westview High senior, for being named Nebraska Student Journalist of the Year Runner-Up by the Nebraska High School Press Association.

… to Benson High’s Wah Hsee Paw for earning a Gold Key, Gold Medal and the American Visions Award from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

… to Jasmine Aguilar Basilio, South High sophomore, for receiving a Gold Key and Silver Medal from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

… to the Hale Middle robotics team for qualifying for the 2025 VEX Robotics Worlds Championship.

... to Omaha Public Schools research team for winning a 2025 Qualtrics XM Breakthrough Artist Award. The award recognized the team's innovative use of data to improve the educational environment for staff and students.

… to South High for winning first place in the 2025 Nebraska School Breakfast Challenge in the 600-plus enrollment size category.

… to all Omaha Public Schools students for their top five finishes at the 2025 HOSA Nebraska State Leadership Conference.

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