October 2026

Matthew Ray

Superintendent

Omaha Public Schools

Building Literacy into Everyday Learning at the Omaha Public Schools

In Christina Collins’ social studies class at Burke High, students are analyzing maps, learning new vocabulary, discussing readings with classmates and using evidence to support their answers. 

For students, it’s another day in social studies, but the lessons include science of reading strategies. These help teachers understand how students learn to read and make sense of what they’re reading.  

“The science of reading is just good teaching,” said Collins. “Students will be able to engage with the text, find the purpose and the point of view, and that’s what’s really going to be beneficial to their success in the future.”

Across Omaha Public Schools, secondary social studies teachers are incorporating science of reading strategies by building on practices already happening in their classrooms and focusing on how students interact with text. 

“As a classroom teacher, I have to find ways to meet all of my readers wherever they are,” said Collins. “These strategies can help with that by providing those supports and the purpose for reading.”

For Matt Bedore, a social studies teacher at Hale Middle, the work is about helping students think critically to express themselves. 

“It’s giving students access to text, then reading, writing, discussing and forming a claim,” said Bedore. “This requires them to go back into the text and find something to support what they’re saying.”

One of Bedore’s eighth grade students, Xavier White Thunder, sees many ways literacy skills overlap with social studies. 

“When we talk about reading with table groups to understand a text better, we use evidence from the reading to support our answers in speaking and writing,” said White Thunder. “I like learning about history in a fun way, and I have a great teacher.”

Throughout this school year, social studies teachers are engaging in professional learning through online coursework, in-person sessions and classroom coaching. 

“Our teachers will have a deeper knowledge base and more instructional moves at the ready to help enhance what they’re doing and to make sure those lessons are literacy-rich every day,” said Lindsay Behne, Omaha Public Schools teaching and learning consultant. 

Teachers put what they learn into practice through what students do in the classroom. Activities, assignments and more. Curriculum specialists then visit classrooms to see those strategies in action and provide feedback.

“We want teachers to feel supported in their work,” said Behne. “Being able to have that peer-to-peer support as well as their professional learning aligned to that is something that we’ll continue to do.”

It’s social studies, but it’s also literacy in action.

“We have to provide opportunities for our students to help them develop a love of learning and reading and be able to engage in dialogue with their peers and with their teachers about what they're learning,” said Behne. “Those are skills that are transferable beyond the four walls of a classroom and beyond just their time in Omaha Public Schools.”

October is National Principals Month

We're celebrating the dedicated principals who support Omaha Public Schools students, staff and families every day! To recognize their hard work, students stepped into the role of interviewers to get to know a few of our outstanding leaders.

Click the image below to watch the student-led interviews!

Student Voices Shape Positive School Communities

Inside a classroom at Central High, students are talking about everything from class schedules and hallway expectations to lunch lines. They’re sharing what’s working, what isn’t and what they think could make their school better. 

And school leaders are listening.

“It’s a place where students can come together to express their opinions on issues, behaviors or precautions the school takes,” said Sam Berglund, Central High junior. “It’s where everybody can feel comfortable expressing their opinion to, not only a trusted adult, but somebody in the building who stands up for students and is able to relay our needs.”



These conversations are part of Student Voices, a student-led group at Central High that gives students an opportunity to share their experiences, raise concerns and help shape conversations.

“We are trying to make school a safer and more comfortable environment for everyone,” said Soleil Bauldwin, Central High junior.

Across our district, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) teams work to establish clear expectations, support positive behavior and identify where students may need additional help. Teams use school data to understand what’s working and where adjustments may be needed.

“Our teams in every school and program really set up systems to support all students with being able to engage in school-wide expectations,” said Danielle Starkey, Omaha Public Schools MTSS-B supervisor.

For Jamie Miller, Central High educator and MTSS-B chair, the student-led club was an important step to ensure students had a platform to make their voices heard.

“One thing that we've always struggled with is how to include the students. How can we receive authentic feedback without it just ticking off a box?” said Miller.

The group began last school year and welcomes all students, allowing those with different perspectives to contribute.

“I do feel heard coming here, and I think this is a great club for people to know about because it’s a way to let everything off that you’ve kept inside all day,” said Bauldwin. “I think it’s important to have something like that.”

Those conversations don’t end when the meeting is over. Miller brings their feedback to school leadership and the building's MTSS-B team to help form discussions about school-wide expectations or potential improvements.

“This is connecting those communication pieces between different groups because there are so many moving parts to a school,” said Miller.

This work at Central High is one example of how Omaha Public Schools is working to create positive and supportive environments through MTSS-B and is an important part of our 2026-30 Strategic Plan.

This year, all MTSS-B teams are meeting in person quarterly to collaborate, share ideas and learn from each other.

“The power of them coming together is that we share ideas across buildings, because one school might be doing something well that another is struggling with,” said Starkey.

At Central High, that work starts with listening to the students. Miller hopes that students leave the group knowing their opinions do matter.

“I hope the students understand that their voice is important, that they are powerful, and they can elicit change in a positive way, and that it might not be fast, but it can be effective,” she said.

All Family-Teacher Conferences the Week of Oct. 19

Omaha Public Schools family-teacher conferences take place the week of Oct. 19. Conferences allow families to engage with their school community and stay involved in their students’ academic lives. 

If you need more information about conferences, please reach out to your student’s school. 

There will be no school for students Oct. 22 and 23. Find our full district calendar on our website, www.ops.org. 

REMINDER: Late Start for Improvement Day on Oct. 27

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, all students will begin two hours late for the next Improvement Day.

Staff will use the extra time for data-driven work to improve teaching and learning across our district. This allows teachers to collaborate and make the most of every minute with students in the classroom.

The remaining Improvement Days are:

• Jan. 26, 2027
• Feb. 23, 2027

Stay informed about other important dates during the 2026-27 school year by visiting www.ops.org/calendar.

Moments That Matter Staff Appreciation Program

Omaha Public Schools recognizes and celebrates the outstanding contributions of our staff through the Moments That Matter staff appreciation program. Thanks to the generosity of our community sponsors, honorees can select from a variety of gift card options as a token of appreciation.

Students, families and colleagues are all invited to take part by nominating staff members. Submit your nominations here.

More Than Hashtags - The OPSProud Podcast

Whether it's Standing Bear Elementary's head custodian engineer Torrey McIntosh or Morton Middle's cafeteria manager Chiquita Stratford, every role across Omaha Public Schools contributes to our Moonshot. They're among the first staff to arrive each day and bring a unique spark to our schools.

"I'm always looking forward to bringing my energy that I wake up with every morning and transferring it to the kids when they walk in here," beamed McIntosh. "Trying to put smiles on everyone's face."

Hear how their work improves student learning in this month's More Than Hashtags - The OPSProud Podcast.

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:

• 10th Anniversary Believe Bigger Fun Day
• Young Life Omaha Club

Superintendent Matthew Ray extends

congratulations to...

… to Thomas Kearney, South High athletics coach, for being recognized as a Nebraska School Athletics Association Above and Beyond Award honoree.

… to the Omaha Public Schools students who earned the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy from the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy Advisory Committee.

… to Christina Schik, Bancroft Elementary fourth grade teacher, for earning a 2027 Nebraska Excellence in Teaching Award from the Nebraska Department of Education.

… to Michelle Kiel, a Lewis & Clark Middle school psychologist, for being recognized as a 2026 Outstanding School Psychologist by the Nebraska School Psychologists Association (NSPA).

… to Lindsey Sheets, an Omaha Public Schools school psychologist, for being named as a 2026 Early Career School Psychologist by the NSPA.

… to Westview High for being nationally recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School.

… to Adam Raffety, Central High geography teacher, for being chosen to receive the Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Council for Geographic Education.

… to Hilary George, South High art teacher, for being named the 2026 Nebraska Art Teachers Association Art Educator of the Year.

… to Central High’s swim and dive team for receiving the Nebraska Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award from the Nebraska Coaches Association.

… to Central High’s CHS Singers for being selected to perform at the National Conference for the American Choral Directors Association.

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