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We talk regularly about using data to improve student learning.
Tailoring lessons with immediate feedback in our classrooms.
Tracking longer-term results to show progress.
Changing our approach when the data shows that need.
In this edition of Inside OPS, you’ll see how data-driven strategies help us do better throughout our school district.
From Transportation to Talent Services, Nutrition Services to Communications, teams are monitoring performance measures to keep doing better for students and families.
On-time arrivals mean students are present for learning.
Healthy school meals help young people stay focused.
Each part makes a difference in achieving our Moonshot.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Education will finalize our 2026-30 strategic plan.
Since summer 2025, we’ve been sharing updates on the work.
Evaluating our progress through the 2020-25 plan and planning our collective direction for 2026-30.
This is all connected.
Our destination: all students reading on grade level by 2030.
Our path: the next strategic plan.
How we get there, together: guided by our mission, vision and shared values.
Thank you for being part of this effort.
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Matthew Ray
Superintendent
Omaha Public Schools
| | Fueling Student Success Beyond the Classroom | | |
The smell of freshly baked bread fills the halls of Burke High early each morning as Nutrition Services staff begin preparing meals for the day.
“Every morning at 6 a.m., bread is rising,” said Kurt Sage, Burke High cafeteria manager. “This way, we know what’s in it. We can control the sugar, sodium and the weight.”
Behind the morning routine is careful planning and data review. Sage tracks daily production records, ordering schedules, student participation by menu item and leftover counts to better plan meals and minimize waste.
“Data plays a huge role in knowing how much I need to order,” said Sage. “When we gauge those numbers, we know that on pizza day, we can probably make fewer sandwiches.”
Keith Nocco, Omaha Public Schools executive director of nutrition services, looks at trends across our district to understand what meals students are choosing and how those choices impact their day.
“The data allows us to provide the meals students enjoy,” said Nocco. “The more choices students have, the higher the participation.”
This is one of the ways Omaha Public Schools is focusing on continuous improvement in addition to the work underway in our classrooms. Last school year, we launched our Moonshot – all students reading on grade level by 2030. Every employee across our district plays a part in advancing this goal.
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Our Transportation team uses the same approach, collecting data to improve the student experience. They track real-time feedback from a family app, along with call center metrics, on-time performance, safety incidents, maintenance records, gas mileage and more.
“Our drivers do a daily pre-check before they take a vehicle out on the street,” said Trevis Sallis, Omaha Public Schools executive director of student transportation. “It’s important for us to track that information to help with our vehicle depreciation process.”
Sallis says the transportation department is seeing results. Omaha Public Schools drivers earned an increase in customer service through satisfaction surveys. Throughout the year, the department handles hundreds of calls each month and works to improve its response times.
“The data tells a story,” said Sallis. “Every month, we see how we’re supporting the students by getting them to school on time, making sure they're there for breakfast or zero hour. All these things help support our Moonshot and our district overall.”
| | From Learning to Leading: Student Teachers Step into Omaha Public Schools Classrooms | | |
First grader Marvel Wallace has not one, but two teachers he’s learning from in his Western Hills Elementary class. This semester, Jahnae Andrews-Hogan joined the school as a student teacher.
“She’s a good teacher, and she’s really nice,” said Wallace. “She’s teaching us the silent e, structured literacy and we’re reading books.”
Andrews-Hogan is one of more than 160 student teachers gaining hands-on experience this semester with Omaha Public Schools. We’re hosting students from 19 universities across five states, including Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Missouri and Arizona.
“I like that I’ll be developing relationships with the students and growing my confidence to teach,” said Andrews-Hogan. “They're first-time first graders, and I’m a first-time teacher, so we’ll be learning together.”
Now, one month into the semester, Andrews-Hogan says she knows she’s on the right track.
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“I’m really happy with my growth already, and just this first month,” said Andrews-Hogan. “I feel like I’ve gained confidence, and I can finally see myself as a teacher instead of just a student teacher.”
Andrews-Hogan works alongside fourth grade teacher Alex Lee, who serves as her cooperating teacher this semester.
“She has seamlessly taken over, and we’re doing one content area at a time,” said Lee. “You can tell that she just genuinely loves what she's doing, and the kids can tell, too.”
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More than 60 student teachers have committed to full-time teaching positions with Omaha Public Schools.
“The work the recruitment team and our district have done through our partnerships with universities has strengthened that interest,” said Brandi Rossman, Omaha Public Schools coordinator of recruitment and retention. “Students are hearing great things about Omaha Public Schools and want to experience it.”
During a welcome conference in January, several incoming student teachers shared what they were most excited about heading into the semester.
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Aiden Thomas said he was looking forward to putting his skills to work with Bryan High social studies students.
“I’ve always had a passion for history and all the subjects that go with it,” he said. “I hope that what I learn throughout the semester will be good for teaching me how to do the job.”
More than 40 of this semester’s student teachers are Omaha Public Schools graduates. Northwest High alum Kathryn Krebbs is teaching 12th grade English at North High.
“I liked being a student at Northwest High, and the diversity at that school is why I chose to student teach with Omaha Public Schools,” said Krebbs. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the students and building relationships.”
Participants this semester are represented through a variety of programs, including the Teacher Scholars Academy at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and our Para to Teacher Program.
| | Get Ready for Kindergarten Event on Feb. 21 | | |
Omaha Public Schools Get Ready for Kindergarten Event is Saturday, Feb. 21.
We invite families to learn about kindergarten, find out how they can help their child feel ready, enjoy fun and free activities, and connect with staff and other families.
When and Where:
- In-person: 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Teacher Administrative Center (TAC), 3215 Cuming St.
- Virtual: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
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A link will be provided after registering
- Free childcare will be available on-site
Visit our website for more information.
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March Family-Teacher Conferences at Omaha Public Schools
All family-teacher conferences will be held the week of March 9. There will be no school for all students on March 12 and 13.
Conferences allow families to engage with the school community and stay involved in their students’ academic lives.
View conference dates on our district calendar. If you cannot attend during the times available, contact your student’s school.
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Omaha Public Schools All-City Music Festival
Students across our district performed in the Omaha Public Schools 76th Annual All-City Music Festival this month.
Click to see more photos of our incredible vocal and instrumental musicians!
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Our district and community have resources to support students and staff, including the Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline.
Safe2Help Nebraska is a confidential and anonymous hotline for students, families, staff or community members to report concerns.
If you or someone you know needs support or would like to report a safety concern, Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline is available 24/7 at (531) 299-SAFE. The app is installed on every Omaha Public Schools iPad, providing easy and immediate access.
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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:
- Ralston Girls Softball registration
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands 2026 Summer Camp
- Park Maintenance applications
- Hillside Little League registration
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... Stella Williams of Westview High for becoming the first female basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
… Bluestem Middle for earning the school-wide Social Justice Trophy at the 8th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Living the Dream Competition.
… all Omaha Public Schools students who placed at the 8th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Living the Dream Competition.
… Westview High’s robotics team for winning the JROTC Robotics National Championship Competition.
… Charlotte Ziegler, Burke High ninth grader, for being awarded the All Festival Individual Performance at the International Junior Theater Festival.
... Benson High’s Vittorio Heh and Gerardo Gutierrez-Cano, for their ceramic artwork being accepted into the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition by The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts.
… Bryan High for winning first place in the 100 Black Men of Omaha’s 26th Annual African American History Challenge for the third year in a row.
… Beveridge Middle for being awarded first place in the Junior Division at the 100 Black Men of Omaha’s 26th Annual African American History Challenge.
… Sophia Kaplun, Saddlebrook Elementary fifth grader, for winning the Omaha Public Schools District Spelling Bee.
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| | Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to accept allegations regarding non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-9822. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director for the Office of Equity and Diversity, 3215 Cuming St, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-0307. | | | | |
