To our Omaha Public Schools community,
We see how much we’ve accomplished, and we know the work ahead of us.
Through challenging times, we deployed 1:1 technology, built staff pipelines and invested in our students’ academic growth. It is all grounded in our Strategic Plan of Action.
In 2020, our Board of Education adopted the plan’s four key priorities:
- Staff
- Academics
- Financial Accountability
- Ethic of Care
Time-bound, measurable goals guide our work through 2025.
Since 2020, we’ve welcomed new teachers, paraprofessionals, principals and Board of Education members. Our Strategic Plan of Action gives us a shared direction through transitions.
For five years, Superintendent Cheryl Logan, Ed.D., guided the Omaha Public Schools with excellence, passion and commitment. We are very thankful for her service. This summer, we welcome Mr. Matthew Ray as interim superintendent. Even through a superintendent transition, the Strategic Plan of Action is our roadmap.
In 2020, students, staff, families and community partners all helped to develop the plan. Mr. Ray coordinated much of that community engagement. He is uniquely qualified to carry the work forward with our Board of Education, staff and families. It is all for the 52,000 students we serve. I invite you to read more about our Strategic Plan of Action online at www.ops.org/SPOA.
In May, our district sent an initial survey to all Omaha Public Schools staff, families and high school students as part of our comprehensive superintendent search. Questions focused on our school district’s strengths, opportunities and the ideal attributes of a future superintendent. This initial survey will guide and shape our search process as it progresses through the year. Our Board is committed to hearing from all stakeholders and will be conducting another survey and multiple stakeholder meetings this fall.
Omaha Public Schools is Nebraska’s largest school district and one of our state’s largest employers. We owe it our 52,000 students, 9,000 full and part-time staff and the greater Omaha community to conduct a thorough search and get it right. We will always communicate the most current information directly to our staff and families, and post it to www.ops.org/superintendentsearch.
School districts cannot accomplish the work alone. We depend on our families, partners and the greater Omaha community to succeed. The children we serve today are tomorrow’s teachers, superintendents and school board members. Your support makes it possible.
Thank you.
Spencer Head
Board of Education President
Omaha Public Schools
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Bluestem Middle Opening Celebration Marks Completion of Omaha Public Schools Fifth New School |
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Live music greeted families as they entered Bluestem Middle earlier this month for its opening celebration.
“The oohs and aahs and the wide eyes coming in as kids have gotten their first glance at our beautiful school has been invigorating, exciting and thrilling for me to welcome them,” said Bluestem Middle Principal Brian Begley.
The opening celebration included a tour, staff introductions and a meet and greet with the school’s Mighty Meadowlarks mascot. Bluestem Middle is Omaha Public Schools fifth and final new school built as part of the 2018 Bond Program.
“The pride we feel today will only be surpassed when the students enter in just a few short weeks to enjoy a learning environment that is not only beautiful but provides them with all of the learning opportunities they deserve,” Superintendent Cheryl Logan, Ed.D., shared during the ceremony.
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The $50 million facility can serve up to 1,000 students and features STEM learning suites, a library with teacher collaboration areas and an outdoor track and field complex.
“We're going to have a wonderful place of learning with high expectations academically, behaviorally and socially for our students,” said Begley. “It’ll be really important for us to engage with our students to provide wonderful learning opportunities.”
Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary, Indian Hill Elementary and Gateway Elementary are the primary schools feeding into Bluestem Middle. Andrew Frans and Galilea Silva, two future classmates, joined to unveil the key to the building during the opening celebration. Frans looks forward to playing sports and history class.
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“It’s exciting to be part of the new school being opened,” said Frans. “My favorite things about the school are the library and the classrooms.”
Bluestem Middle officially welcomes students and staff for the 2023-24 school year in August. The opening marks a milestone for our district after Pine Elementary, Forest Station Elementary, Westview High and Buena Vista High opened in 2022. Each school is an investment from the Omaha Public Schools bond program. The $409.9 million bond, approved by voters in 2018, included 25 projects. In addition to our new schools, work continues to improve existing schools and programs.
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Omaha Public Schools Graduate Ready to Serve Students as Full-Time Educator at His Former School |
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When Adrian Felix walks through the doors at his former school this August, it will be a full-circle moment.
Felix is joining Chandler View Elementary as a physical education teacher, taking on the role of his former teacher, who retired in May. The opportunity brings big shoes to fill, following someone who helped him succeed in school.
“Ms. Tamara Freeburg helped me a lot when I was a student there,” said Felix. “It’s a mix of emotions, but it will be nice to be back there.”
Felix attended the Omaha Public Schools from elementary school through high school. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska Omaha to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. Then, he joined our district as a student teacher, serving students at Spring Lake Elementary.
“I’m an Omaha Public Schools kid, and I want to be a role model for those kids in similar situations that I was in growing up,” said Felix. “I want to show them that you can make a difference and give them that light that might not always be shining on them.”
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Felix says his experience as an Omaha Public Schools student inspired him to join our district as a full-time educator.
“I’m excited for the next journey, and I appreciate everyone who has been a part of this one. It means a lot to me,” he said.
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Felix made a lasting impact on students and staff during his time as a student teacher. Spring Lake Elementary surprised him with an end-of-year send-off. Guests included many of those who helped him along the way.
His cooperating teacher, Spring Lake Elementary’s Aimee Noel, coordinated the celebration. She says Felix will continue to benefit students for many years to come.
“Adrian is very detail-oriented and has great compassion for the kids,” said Noel. “He’s very open to learning and becoming a better teacher. I believe he’ll be an impact on our profession.”
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Throughout the building that day, Spring Lake Elementary staff wore shirts representing the colors of the schools he attended, symbolizing the milestones in his education. Students also delivered hand-made cards for their student teacher.
“It feels really rewarding that these people know that they mean what they mean to me,” said Felix. “They’re here for me on something that I am proud to accomplish after all this time."
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Board Workshop Provides Overview of 2023 Facilities Assessment Study
As part of the Strategic Plan of Action, approved in 2020, our district prioritized thoughtful planning and financial accountability for future facility needs and maintenance while ensuring a consistent standard of quality condition and cleanliness.
The 2023 facilities assessment study is a big-picture tool that creates a comprehensive management plan for maintaining each Omaha Public Schools building. It is a data-driven, long-term guide for Omaha Public Schools to allocate resources toward maintenance and help avoid unplanned spending.
Through the last year, we’ve partnered with experts to study Omaha Public Schools facilities and anticipate maintenance needs through the next two decades. The process included three parts, an assessment of each school component, a review of educational spaces and a proposed master vision.
As the study becomes final, our Board and staff leadership will continue to build a comprehensive action plan to address the needs identified in this assessment. Find regular updates on our website at ops.org/FacilitiesStudy.
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Omaha Public Schools Leader Honored for Service in Education
The award recognizes graduates of the educational administration program at UNK for their diligence and success as school administrators. Nominations come from previous award winners focused on distinguished service in the administrative field.
Mr. Ray has served the Omaha Public Schools community for more than 25 years. He began teaching at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary. From there, Mr. Ray served in Student Community Services and other district leadership positions. He currently serves as Omaha Public Schools deputy superintendent and the Board of Education secretary.
The Board of Education selected Mr. Ray as interim superintendent for the 2023-24 school year, beginning July 1, 2023.
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Launch of OPS.org Earns National Recognition
The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) recognized Omaha Public Schools and our District Communications team with a Gold Medallion Award for their work redesigning our district's website.
NSPRA selected eight Gold Medallion winners from 66 entries from school districts across the United States and Canada. This award recognizes school public relations programs and campaigns that effectively use strategic communication methods.
"This year's winning submissions are truly reflective of best-in-class, effective school communication plans," said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR. "Each demonstrated a rich understanding of strategic communication best practices and resulted in a positive, authentic impact on their communities."
Read more about our District Communications team's award on our website.
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Summer Food Service Program Underway |
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Omaha Public Schools proudly sponsors the Summer Food Service Program, providing more than 300,000 healthy meals to children 1-18 years old only, free of charge each summer.
Thanks to the federally funded program (SFSP), children get the nutrition they need to learn, play and grow during the summer months when they do not eat at school.
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Omaha Public Schools Celebrates Class of 2023 |
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Our district provided a live stream during the ceremony for each of our comprehensive high schools. Each event video is now available on our website.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
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Check out this month's Community Opportunities. Our Community Opportunities section provides a one-stop shop for youth and family events.
Omaha Public Schools does not endorse any business, product or service.
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… to Burke High for being recognized as an Outstanding Musical Theater Production and Outstanding Ensemble from the Nebraska High School Theater Academy.
… to Milan Aranda of Burke High for being selected as an Educators Rising National Student Officer.
… to all Omaha Public Schools students who were awarded Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role from the Nebraska High School Theater Academy.
… to Lori Maestas of Kennedy Elementary for being the first recipient of Dr. Benton and Harriet Kutler Outstanding Vision Teacher Award from the Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children.
… to Benson, Bryan, Central and Westview High’s eSports teams on qualifying for the Spring 2023 'PlayVS' Postseason Competition.
… to the South High boys soccer team for being district champions and state quarterfinalists.
… to Nathan Johnson of Burke High and Garrett Potts of North High for qualifying at state golf.
… to all Omaha Public Schools students who participated and placed at state track.
… to all Omaha Public Schools students who are state track champions.
… to Bryan High senior Olivia Wallace, whose play “Roses” was selected for presentation by the Great Plains Theatre Conference.
… to all who took part in the opening celebration at Omaha Public Schools new school, Bluestem Middle, as our district prepares to welcome staff, students and families in August.
… to our elementary students for logging more than 1.8 million minutes of reading so far in our Summer Reading Challenge.
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We love feedback on how well this newsletter is meeting your needs. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey. It is our goal that the newsletter provides content and information that is important to you.
Thank you!
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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. |
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