CYFS Research InFocus

May 2025

Welcome to the first edition of Research InFocus, a newsletter created to highlight life-changing research conducted in partnership with UNL’s Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools. This research is made possible by funding from state and federal agencies, local communities and foundations.

PreSTAR team members include, front row, from left: Lisa Poppe, Sarah Paulos, Deepika Menon and Christine Wittich. Back row, from left: Marianna Burks, Maddie Pieper, HyeonJin Yoon, Soo-Young Hong (PI), LaDonna Werth and Doug Golick.

Building Science Confidence in Rural Early Educators

Why it matters: Children’s early science and engineering experiences foster critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity — skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning and academic success. These essential skills not only help children thrive but also contribute to a skilled future workforce in Nebraska.

What’s happening: CYFS research affiliate Soo-Young Hong is leading a project to strengthen early childhood science education in rural Nebraska using an innovative professional development model: Preschool Science Talk in Action and Reflection (PreSTAR). This research is funded by the National Science Foundation.

• PreSTAR in Rural Nebraska involves preschool educators and child care providers serving 4- and 5-year-olds in rural communities across the state.
• Rural early childhood educators understand the importance of teaching science and engineering concepts, but they need more support to do so with confidence.
• The PreSTAR model fosters educator growth by providing tools, resources and community support — building their science and engineering knowledge and reflective practice skills.
• The research team is studying how PreSTAR influences the way educators talk about science and engineering with children, aiming to refine the model and offer it more broadly in the future.

WORDS team members include, from left, Janet Bohaty, Mary Jo McElhose, Amanda Witte, Sarah Zuckerman, Natalie Koziol, HyeonJin Yoon, Nancy Coffey and Rachel Schachter.

Boosting Early Reading Success in Nebraska

Why it matters: Reading is key to success in school and life. In Nebraska, the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected students with reading challenges, particularly in rural schools. It is critical that all teachers in the state have the tools they need to help young students learn to read, achieve their academic potential and become future leaders.

What’s happening: CYFS research affiliate Pamela Bazis is leading Nebraska WORDS (Workshops on Reading Development Strategies) — an effort to provide evidence-based literacy training for K-3 teachers in rural schools, building capacity and equipping them to deliver high-quality reading instruction and assessment. This research is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and directly supports Nebraska schools.

• In partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, the WORDS team provides professional development, coaching and resources to teachers using the latest science of reading practices.
• The project also includes reading leadership training and after-school tutoring.
• WORDS has strengthened literacy statewide, reaching more than 2,500 K–3 students in 25 rural schools.
• Early results show fewer students needing extra support and teachers reporting improvements in both their teaching and students’ reading skills.

The CYFS Research Network includes nearly 100 research affiliates working to make a positive difference in people’s lives — in our state and beyond. Here’s a quick look at one of our valued research affiliates and her impact in Nebraska.

Nebraska provides fertile ground for transformational research that supports a prosperous future for children and youth. CYFS is proud to be a catalyst for that research.

The stories in this newsletter offer a snapshot into the center’s high-quality work that drives innovative practices, informs policy and advances interventions to meet the needs of our children, youth, families, schools and communities.

Thanks to your partnership, these efforts are not only improving lives today — they are also an investment in Nebraska’s future, helping to strengthen the workforce and support long-term economic vitality.

We hope you learned something new and feel inspired by the possibilities ahead.

Research InFocus is a bi-monthly newsletter showcasing research conducted in partnership with the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

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