Coaching is key.
A partner to see the field, put data to work and brainstorm a fresh approach. Moving us together toward a common goal.
September’s Board of Education workshop reviewed the data that drives teaching in our classrooms:
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Understanding students’ knowledge before a lesson.
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Checking-in during a lesson.
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Measuring growth after the lesson.
Each assessment can look different: A short conversation or a test at the end of a unit.
Our principals meet monthly to learn and grow as leaders. October focused on building a culture of learning through instructional coaching. Whether it’s an informal classroom visit or a longer observation, we are one team with high-quality classroom instruction at the core.
Families, your partnership matters. We hope to see you at conferences. Middle schools meet this week and elementary schools the next. If you cannot attend, the Parent Portal and teacher emails are always available online.
Grounded in data, improving together and working toward our Portrait of a Graduate, the collaboration makes us all stronger educators – at school, home and in our community.
Matthew Ray
Interim Superintendent
Omaha Public Schools
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A Pond with Purpose
Former Student Gives Back to Educator Who Inspired Him
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When Zak Hensley arrived at King Science & Technology Middle on a hot summer afternoon, he planned on repairing the school’s courtyard pond. That work took a detour when he met the school’s principal.
“The principal turned out to be my seventh grade English teacher, Ms. Jane Laughlin,” said Hensley. “I recognized her right away, and I thought it was so cool because I didn’t know she was a principal. So now we’re back working with each other after 10 years.”
Hensley said that after reconnecting with his former teacher, he knew he wanted to do more than repair the pond. He wanted to repay the teacher who made a difference in his life. He offered to completely rebuild the pond at no cost to the school.
“It was my way of giving back after having Jane as my teacher,” he said. “It was a good situation, and I was really happy to donate the build.”
Laughlin met Hensley at Beveridge Middle when she taught seventh grade. Even through a new role, she values the relationships she builds with students. Hensley’s success and generosity all these years later mean a lot to Laughlin.
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“You never know what impact you’re going to make and what it will do,” said Laughlin. “It's cool to know somebody when they’re young and just starting, not knowing what they’re going to do with their life and then meet them again when they’ve done it and are doing it."
Hensley and his team at Zak’s Pond Service spent the summer working to bring the pond back to life. They designed the pond to be environmentally friendly, with plants and a safe habitat for fish and turtles. The pond also provides an outdoor educational space for students.
“I think we might learn about how everything works together to make it stable and how the turtles and the koi fish can live together without clashing,” said Jasmine O’Connor, King Science & Technology Middle eighth grader.
Hensley plans to return to King Science & Technology Middle this winter to teach students about the benefits of an ecosystem in their school’s backyard.
“I like to teach people about what I do because I’m passionate about it,” said Hensley. “Getting to show these kids, that is what I’m excited about.”
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Laughlin says that although she was once Hensley’s teacher, he’s the one teaching her now.
“Seeing his curiosity, how he impacts others and how he wants to give back has been a huge inspiration to me,” she said. “This pond Zak has put in for the kids of King Science & Technology Middle is a legacy that will live and will go on beyond even Zak and me. That kind of community is exactly what education should be.”
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Connecting Families and Schools for Student Success |
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A buzz of excitement ran through the halls at Pawnee Elementary. Students like the Cardenas Diaz sisters enjoyed playing word games, reading books and showing their family around their school at Family Literacy Night.
“It was a fun night because we were with our family and our teachers,” said Arlette Cardenas Diaz, a Pawnee Elementary third grader.
Arlette’s younger sister, first grader Annette, liked having her mom and dad there to play games and meet her teacher.
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The after-school event gives families a better understanding of what children are learning in the classroom. Families leave with new ways to support reading at home. Teachers, administrators, translators and other staff all played a role in making the evening a success.
“It was fun to see them together and engaging with us, just having fun,” said Heather Logston, Pawnee Elementary kindergarten teacher. “It’s empowering for the parents to see what we do at school and how they can be part of it.”
In classrooms, teachers showcased the literacy skills they are focusing on, learning strategies and recommendations for families to continue the work.
“The goal was definitely to help parents see how we can make learning fun at home,” said Cheryl Prine, Pawnee Elementary principal. “There are so many ways to help our children learn how to decode words so they understand what sounds the letters make. As students get older and the words get bigger, they're able to break them down.”
Throughout our district, schools organize family-focused activities to ensure student success in and out of school. Family engagement opportunities include conferences, open houses and more. Schools within our district that receive Title I funding host two family engagement events each year to promote coordination between families, students and their schools.
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Ways to Stay Involved in Your Student’s Learning |
Families can positively influence a child's success in school by staying engaged in their learning. When schools and families work together to support learning, children are more likely to attend regularly, achieve higher grades, graduate and go on to postsecondary education.
Here are some ways to stay involved:
- Create a home environment that encourages learning
- Keep communication open between family and teacher
- Attend family/teacher conferences
- Read communications sent from the school
- Attend school programs and events
- Help your student with homework
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“Schools always do something different, and it’s never the same event, which I love,” said Tina Forte, Omaha Public Schools Title I director. “Our schools go above and beyond expectations to get parents and students to think big and dream big.” |
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At Pawnee Elementary’s Family Literacy Night, families left with a free book, a new public library card and learning games like the ones they played that night—giving families a great opportunity to network, access available resources and have fun.
“We are investing in students’ literacy and math skills,” said Prine. “Bridging that gap between home and school so that we are all working together as partners.”
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Through the last few weeks, hundreds of people provided feedback that will inform the next steps in the Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Search.
Our district collected information through surveys in May and September, and hosted dozens of community forums to gather input from students, staff, families and our community. Each survey and forum asked about our school district’s strengths, opportunities and what the characteristics of an ideal future superintendent.
The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education hosted the forums in partnership with our superintendent search firm. There was at least one forum in each Board of Education subdistrict, with options during the day, evening and weekend. Multiple locations were accessible by public transit. Bilingual liaisons were available at each forum. The surveys available in May and September asked the same questions in five different languages spoken among district community members.
The feedback guides our Board of Education’s work through the recruitment, application and selection process. Members always welcome your feedback. Please continue to contact them directly if you have ideas, questions or concerns.
The latest superintendent search information will always be sent directly to Omaha Public Schools staff and families and posted to www.ops.org/superintendentsearch.
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Join School Conferences in October |
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Omaha Public Schools family-teacher conferences take place in October. Conferences allow our families to engage with their school community and stay involved in their student's academic lives.
“It gives us information about what classes I can take next year as a senior or what I can do for my pathway or educational path in general,” Sims shared.
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Omaha Public Schools Debuts Podcast on KIOS |
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This month, Omaha Public Schools student leaders joined Interim Superintendent Matthew Ray to launch More than Hashtags: The OPSProud Podcast.
The podcast aired on KIOS - Omaha Public Radio. Bryan High and Buena Vista High students participated in the first episode, highlighting our Strategic Plan of Action.
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Be a Technology Role Model |
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October 16-20, 2023, is Digital Citizenship Week. It is an opportunity to reflect on our media and technology habits and carefully consider how it impacts our family and friends.
Here are four tips to be a tech role model - promoting positive experiences for your lives online and offline:
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Model digital habits. We’re all guilty of checking an email at the park or scrolling our social media feeds at a stoplight in the car. Young people notice, and we want to set an example for how to use our devices appropriately.
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Establish tech-free zones. The constant buzzing, pinging and notifications keep us checking our devices frequently. The internet connects us more than ever, sometimes at the cost of meaningful in-person connections. Consider finding places in your home to keep tech away, such as the dinner table or bedrooms. Protect valued time with loved ones.
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Co-experience technology. Watch a movie or show with your student, or play a video game together. Ask questions like, what do you think will happen next? For older students, scroll social media together or watch a YouTube video and discuss what they see and how it makes them feel. Research shows that spending meaningful time using technology together as a family can lead to more positive experiences online and promote greater well-being.
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Set expectations in the home. Every family is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to consuming media at home. Expectations for screen time, social media use and online interactions are all important topics to discuss.
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Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline
Safety is our top priority at Omaha Public Schools. There are resources in our district and community 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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Celebrating Our Principals |
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October is National Principals Month. Click the image below to see how we're celebrating school leaders across our district for their dedication to our students and all they do to support our schools. |
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Check out this month's Community Opportunities. Our Community Opportunities section provides a destination for youth and family events.
Omaha Public Schools does not endorse any business, product or service.
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… to all Omaha Public Schools students who qualified as a semifinalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.
… to all Omaha Public Schools students who received 2023 AP Scholar Awards, which recognize high school students who demonstrate exemplary college-level achievement on AP Exams.
... to all Omaha Public Schools students named as 2023-24 Currency Believers & Achievers Local School Winners by the Nebraska School Activities Association.
… to all Omaha Public Schools students who received a Seal of Biliteracy from The Nebraska Department of Education.
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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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