A PUBLICATION OF THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION Learning Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
Summer 2019
www.NCSA.org
2019 ADMINISTRATORS’ DAYS July 31-August 2, 2019 Younes Conference Center and Holiday Inn - Kearney, NE
Keynote Speakers Todd Whitaker Todd is recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education, his message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. Todd has written over 50 books including the national best seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently.
Michelle Gielan Michelle has spent the past decade researching the link between happiness and success. She is the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change and Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” on PBS.
Craig Zablocki For nearly 25 years Craig has helped people transform the obstacles that keep them stuck, lift them up and breathe new life into their purpose! Aside from numerous interviews and articles written by or about Craig, he authored the book The Intelligence of Fun, Live with Craig Zablocki.
Tuesday - July 30th 8:00 pm
First National Capital Markets’ Hospitality
Wednesday - July 31st 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
NDE Program
11:25 am - 12:25 pm
Boxed Luncheon
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Exhibitors’ Reception
7:30 pm
Hospitality Suites Open
Thursday - August 1 8:00 am - 9:15 am
Welcome and Todd Whitaker
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Select-a-Session I
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Select-a-Session II
11: 15 am - 12:45 pm
Awards Lunch
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
Ice Cream Social
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Michelle Gielan
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Select-a-Session III
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Select-a-Session IV
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Administrator Reception
5:00 pm
Administrators in Action
6:00 pm
Social at Cunningham’s
8:00 pm
NCSA Trivia Night
8:00 pm
Hospitality Suites Open
Friday - August 2 8:15 am - 9:15 am
New Member Breakfast
8:15 am - 9:15 am
Breakfast Buffet
9:15 am - 9:30 am
Welcome and Honors
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Federal Update
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Craig Zablocki
Learn more and register at ncsa.org
C ONTENTS
7 Virtual Instruction Extends Learning Beyond
the Classroom BY TYLER DAHLGREN
4 The Teacher Pipeline, Part Two: The Central
Plains BY TYLER DAHLGREN
10 Finding the Remarkable in Flood's Heartbreaking Aftermath
BY TYLER DAHLGREN
14 NCSA Honors Retirees
19 Affiliate Awards
21 Better Together
BY DR. TERRY HOULTON
23 NCSA Election Results
NCSA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2018-2019
Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. John Skretta Vice Chair. . . . . . . Brandon Mowinkel Immed. Past Chair. . . . Dr. Mike Sieh NASA Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Sjuts President-Elect. . . . . . Dr. Mark Adler Past President . . . . . Dr. John Skretta NASBO Representatives President. . . . . . . Jason Buckingham President-Elect. . . . . . . Erin Heineman Past President . . . . . . . Dr. Brad Dahl NAESP Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Slama President-Elect. . . . Tammy Schaefer Past President . . . . . . Jason Calahan NASES Representatives President. . . . . . . . . Dr. Terry Houlton President-Elect. . . . . . . . Laura Barrett Past President . . . . . . . . Jason Harris NSASSP Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . Sheri Chittenden President-Elect. . . . . . Ross Ricenbaw Past President . . . Brandon Mowinkel
24 The Day Nothing Bad Happened
NARSA Representative President. . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Meyer
DR. JOLENE PALMER
NCSA STAFF
BY DR. JULIE DOWNING, SGT. MICK DOWNING,
26 Calendar of Events
27 Sponsorship
Dr. Michael S. Dulaney Executive Director/Lobbyist Dr. Dan E. Ernst Associate Executive Director/Lobbyist Megan Hillabrand Professional Development Manager Amy Poggenklass Finance and Membership Director
NCSA Mission
The mission of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) is to be an effective leader for quality education and to enhance the professionalism of its members. NCSA Today is a benefit of membership in the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, 455 South 11th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Telephone 402.476.8055 or 800.793.6272. Fax 402.476.7740. Annual membership dues are $335 (active members), $125 (associate members), or $50 (student members). NCSA Today is published quarterly. Send address changes to NCSA, Membership, 455 South 11th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Copyright ©2019 by NCSA. All rights reserved.
Tyler Dahlgren Communications Specialist Carol Young Executive Administrative Assistant Connie Hilker Administrative Assistant The opinions expressed in NCSA Today or by its authors do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. SUMMER 2019 NCSA TODAY
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T E A C H E R S HO R TAG E
The Teacher Pipeline, Part Two: The Central Plains By TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist
The Reality
For the last six years, Dr. Todd Rhodes has served as superintendent of Maxwell Public Schools, a district with about 300 total kids in a town of about 300 total people that sits north of the Platte River and 14 miles east of North Platte. Dr. Rhodes has spent the last 15 years working as an administrator in Lincoln County, and, until recently, he’d been lucky to dodge a dilemma that has beset school districts in the central Nebraska plains during that time. There’s a shortage in the state’s teacher pipeline. “I have never gone into May without having my positions filled, always been pretty fortunate, but the shortage has finally hit Maxwell,” said Dr. Rhodes, who had just finished an interview for an industrial technology opening before speaking with NCSA. “We are also looking for music and Spanish teachers. I know our neighbors to the west are having difficulty finding applicants for math and science positions that have been open for a year.” If the teacher shortage hasn’t reached epidemic status, Dr. Rhodes explained, then it’s certainly on that path. Especially in certain areas. Craig Kautz is retiring this summer after 13 years as superintendent of Hastings Public Schools. His district has struggled time and time again to fill math and science openings, particularly at the middle school level. HPS has excellent programs in skills and technical sciences, but hasn’t been able to hire staff that sufficiently measures up. “We have had to hire someone who doesn’t have certification in the area and we’ve had to provide professional development to that person to get them up to speed so they can do even the very basic skills and technical science instruction,” Kautz said. One of the state’s largest districts, Grand Island Public Schools has monitored a shortage in the educator channel throughout the last decade, and Dr. Tawana Grover said it’s been worrisome to see a scarcity in candidates unroll from math and science to, virtually, the entire instructional map. “The shortage has spread across the board,” said Dr. Grover. 4
NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
“The effects are particularly felt within the area of special education, where there’s a lack of bilingual, ELL and even language arts candidates. This speaks to the need for really taking a look at how teachers are entering the profession.” Things have changed over the years. Through his 25 years in education, and the last 19 as an administrator, Holdrege Public Schools Superintendent Todd Hilyard has seen a significant decrease in applicants. “Over the years, the total number of quality applicants has definitely decreased in nearly every single teaching area,” Hilyard said. It’s a pervasive challenge facing school districts of all sizes in every corner of the state, but how did we get here? And how do we reverse the trend? We spoke extensively with four superintendents from Central Nebraska in Part Two of The Teacher Pipeline.
The Road to Here
So just how exactly did we get here? There are several factors (and even more opinions on factors) which contributed to the well running dry over time, but Kautz, who has shouldered half of his district’s human resource responsibilities in recent years, has a pretty straightforward answer. “We have a very large population of educators, we’ve labelled them the ‘Baby Boomers’, retiring in a relatively small time-frame,” he said. “And the demographic fact is there just aren’t numbers following them.” Dr. Rhodes found this to be true while conducting doctoral research centered on factors limiting the national pool. There have been enormous amounts of retirees in the last 10 years, he said. Far more educators are closing the doors on a career in education than walking in to a new one. “A lot of us knew it was going to hit,” Dr. Rhodes said. “We just had that age of staff that were near the age of retirement, and it just seemed like when they went, they all went at the same time.”
T E A C HE R S HORTAG E
"We have to go beyond students exiting college and look also at non-traditional candidates, people who maybe started out in different careers who we can lure back into the teaching field. It’s about being a little more innovative in regards to how we certify teachers."
— Dr. Tawana Grover, Superintendent of Grand Island Public Schools
Of course, there are other factors at play, the lack of an alluring salary being one that usually gets brought up early and often. “You look at the math and science field, and with almost the same amount of education you can go out there and make 20-25 thousand dollars more,” said Dr. Rhodes. Hilyard pointed out a scenario that often goes overlooked when dissecting the teacher shortage. Many years ago, the prospects of coaching drew many college graduates into the profession, he said, but despondency caused by negative parents or communities has repelled candidates.
“Over the years, young people have seen the negative impact that parents and communities can have on coaches and, because of this, not nearly as many young adults choose to pursue teaching because they don’t want to endure what they might have to in the coaching arena,” he said. In the spring edition of the NCSA Today magazine, the first installment of this three-part series focused one section on easing testing requirements for prospective teachers. Both Hilyard and Rhodes have mixed feelings on the theory, mentioning the importance of competency and high standards and, on the other hand, the need for flexibility. “I know of three or four kids that just couldn’t score well enough on one component of the assessment,” Dr. Rhodes said. “Using a composite score has been a great step by the state. You walk a fine line. You still want to see competence from those individuals as well.” Dr. Grover has an alternative solution to patch the problem, not a quick fix but an intriguing thought that has to do with seeking reinforcements from outside of the standard educator pool. “We have to go beyond students exiting college and look also at non-traditional candidates, people who maybe started out in different careers who we can lure back into the teaching field,” Dr. Grover said. “It’s about being a little more innovative in regards to how we certify teachers.”
Recovery and Reload
Grand Island is a hidden cultural gem. A community that offers diversity, job opportunities, and big city life with a small-town feel. But it’s in the middle of flyover country, just far enough off the interstate to remain hidden to those not seeking it out.
Grand Island Public Schools started its Pathback Program last year in an attempt to lure homegrown teaching candidates back to the district. It’s already paid off, as two future math teachers, Osvaldo Palma Vargas and Timothy Sikes (to the right of Dr. Tawana Grover) signed non-binding letters of intent to join the GIPS staff after attending UNL and UNK, respectively.
Continued on page 6 >>
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TEACH E R S HO R TA G E Kautz agrees that career pathways in education need to be offered as early as they possibly can. In Hastings, the school system is the community’s second-largest employer, but he’d like to see the teaching profession allotted the same amount of attention as manufacturing and medical fields. “Certainly, we need to be talking to kids about how rewarding the work is, and how a long-term career in education, particularly with some of the retirement systems, might be an absolutely wonderful way for them to carry out their careers and lives,” said Kautz.
Grand Island Senior Osvaldo Palma Varga and GIPS Board of Education President Bonnie Hinkle square away a teaching contract as part of the Pathback Program, which offers seniors pursuing an education degree a nonbinding teaching contract in the district upon graduating college.
“If you don’t know about it, you just may miss it,” said Dr. Grover. “Part of the challenge is attracting people to the area. I get asked that question often. ‘Where is Grand Island?’” Cultural experience matters to young people. To teaching candidates. Dr. Grover said the district has made a concerted effort to elevate its “cool factor”. When GIPS attracts a prospective teacher to the city for an interview, they usually leave impressed. “They’re like ‘I had no idea. I had no idea the state fair was here. I had no idea you had major companies here. I had no idea the school district was offering these kinds of experiences and support,’” she said. “People want to be engaged and they want to feel like they have a social network, so really understanding what matters to a candidate is important.” It’s a form of marketing, really. Marketing the teaching profession as a rewarding and prosperous field. Marketing the career as worthwhile and purposeful. And the marketing can start within the walls of our own schools. “There needs to be a little more education that goes on in our schools with our children,” said Dr. Rhodes. “This idea of fostering your own, getting them involved and identifying who we think might be good teachers down the road, it’s really important.”
As part of an effort to quote on quote “grow their own”, Grand Island started the Pathback Program, which identifies students interested in becoming a teacher and lines them up with a job within the district down the road. The innovative program matches prospective teachers with a mentor when they first step foot on a college campus and includes them in GIPS professional learning opportunities. The night before Dr. Grover sat down for an interview with NCSA, GIPS celebrated the second complete year of the Pathback Program and signed two students who wished to teach math, a hard-to-fill area for the district. “It’s going to pay off for us in so many ways,” said Dr. Grover. “We have created a path for educators to come back and be a part of the Grand Island community. They are excited because they feel they have a focus now.” It’s important for those pondering a career in teaching to see the whole picture, said Hilyard. There’s so much more than a salary that education has to offer, including the daily ability to make a positive impact in the lives of students. "The marketing push needs to be a collaborative one," adds Dr. Rhodes. "The films from Nebraska Loves Public Schools and the #ilovepublicschools movement on social media has been effective at shining light on what happens in schools every day," he said. “There needs to be some sort of a unified display that teaching is arguably the most important profession we have,” he said. Maxwell recently held its safety assessment, where the conductor interviewed 15 students. One of her questions was whether or not there was an adult in the building who the students felt comfortable and safe enough to confide their fears with. Continued on page 7 >>
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NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
V IRT UA L INS T RUCTI ON
Virtual Instruction Extends Learning Opportunities Beyond the Classroom By TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist Forecasters called for an eventful winter, but nobody foresaw a bomb cyclone.
“We want to move education forward, without having these disruptive gaps,” said Dr. Cerny.
There were predictions of a snowy season, sure. But a bomb cyclone? The harsh, late-round uppercut from winter coupled with an extreme drop in air pressure triggered historic flooding and record-setting snowfall.
Enter virtual instruction, an online extension of education into the homes of students. Bancroft-Rosalie started the implementation process of E-Learning Days in 2016.
Consequently, as school leaders across the state kept the safety of their students and families at the top of the priority list, districts tried to navigate their way through a drastic wave of cancellations and postponements. “More than anything, it’s disruptive,” said Dr. Jon Cerny, Superintendent of Bancroft-Rosalie Public Schools. “It’s hard to have continuation of instruction occurring when students and teachers have to remember what was done in the classroom three or four days ago.” Instructional disruption due to weather throws a wrench in the educational growth of a student, and, no matter how much it snows, standardized testing dates don’t fluctuate. “There is just a consistency that is necessary in order to have good instructional flow,” said Dr. Heather Phipps, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Millard Public Schools. “There are instructional objectives we have for our students, and we want to meet them. When instruction is constantly interrupted by snow days, that can be challenging.” Nebraska’s schools, as they so often do, set their sights on a student-centered solution. They needed to dodge the uppercut, if you will.
“The first thing we did was to get everybody on the same learning management system,” explained Dr. Cerny. “At that time, we had adopted Canvas. All of our teachers learned Canvas, and the first year one of our expectations for them was to have one course posted on Canvas.” Bancroft-Rosalie is 1-to-1, kindergarten through 12th-grade. When students reach eighth-grade, they are assigned a MacBook Pro, while elementary students use iPads. Seventh-graders are using Chromebooks on a trial basis. “The motivation was ‘Hey, guess what guys? We all get on Canvas, we all get proficient in using that platform, so when there is a snow day, we won’t have to make it up. We will have a virtual learning day instead,’” said Dr. Cerny. “This has brought us into the 21st-Century with education, but it has also given them the motivation to want to do it.” While students don’t hide their affection for snow days, they love their summers even more. Millard Public Schools had been kicking around the idea of E-Learning Days for a couple of years, said superintendent Dr. Jim Sutfin, before four snow days and the likelihood of two more forced their hand. Along with the exploration of two-hour late starts, virtual instruction Continued on page 8 >>
The Teacher Pipeline... (continued from page 6) “Each student was able to talk about two or three adults who are meaningful and have made an impact on their lives,” Dr. Rhodes said. “It’s really those relationships which makes Maxwell, and schools throughout our state, special.” Kautz’s career is at the tail-end, and as he nears retirement, he relishes the life education has provided and the impact his career has had on children through the years.
“I may not be Warren Buffett, but I have as much wealth asWarren does in terms of helping lives to be better than they otherwise would have been.” *This is the second installment of a three-part series. Look for Part Three: Alleviation in the fall edition of NCSA Today. ■
SUMMER 2019 NCSA TODAY
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VIRT UA L I N S TR U C TI O N has given the district safe alternatives to cancellations. “Before, the only arrow we had in our quiver was to cancel school,” said Dr. Sutfin. “We asked ourselves, ‘Can we come up with additional tools we can use during inclement weather, including the two-hour late start day and E-Learning Days, which would allow the roads to clear without wiping out a day of instruction?’” The third largest district in Nebraska, Millard Public Schools (MPS) is in the process of fulfilling a strategic planning objective to create blended learning classes, which will be rolled out in the fall. “We are many years into professional development with our teachers as for how you use a device to enhance the instruction going on in your classroom,” said Dr. Phipps. “Almost all of our secondary teachers have a Google Classroom, an online platform they use as a communication tool, for videos and writing assignments.” MPS teachers were already interacting with their students via Google Classroom on a daily basis, so there wasn’t a major adjustment period for students on their first E-Learning Day. MPS is 1-to-1 6th-grade through 12th, while 5th-graders have iPads.
said Dr. Phipps. “In fact, it’s just the opposite. How our students are used to interacting with their teachers, for example, just shifts on E-Learning Days.” Students are accustomed to contacting their instructors with questions through emails and their online management systems. Teachers, likewise, are always available on E-Learning Days. “We train the kids, too,” Dr. Cerny said. “They all have a practice virtual learning day. With the lower elementary, their assignments are very simplistic.” For rural districts like Bancroft-Rosalie, who conducted a survey with its families regarding the issue in 2016, equity as far as internet access has provided some challenges. The survey revealed that most students, whether they lived in town or on a farm, have reliable internet. For some, however, the signal isn’t reliable given location. “We have had to work case-by-case to make sure they are not at a disadvantage to complete the work,” said Dr. Cerny. “Through the Spark Grant, our school and our public library are connected so now kids can go down there and work any time the library is open.”
For both districts, communication proved to be key. Students, staff and families needed to stay on the same page for virtual instruction to prove sufficient. Online learning, contrary to reputation, requires open lines of communication.
If substantial work is completed, the students are counted as present. Students with adequate internet access who fail to complete their work face the same consequences they would on a normal school day, following the district’s policy on homework completion.
“Sometimes, there’s an assumption that the more technology-driven we are, the less communication there might be,”
“If they get their stuff done, then they’re counted as being at school that day,” said Dr. Cerny, noting the district’s policy
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NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
V IRT UA L INS T RUCTI ON is not aligned with the policy of the Nebraska Department of Education. Not yet, that is. Bancroft-Rosalie submitted a waiver request to NDE in an attempt to start the conversation regarding accredited virtual learning days. The waiver calls for the availability of five virtual learning days to use when school is not in session due to inclement weather or staff professional development. “The waiver calls for the instruction to move education forward in the classroom,” said Dr. Cerny. “It can’t just be a day of busy work, but rather instruction similar to what would be provided if the kids were in school. Our teachers have been very creative.” That conversation will be had. Commissioner of Education Dr. Matt Blomstedt said the department has been working on potential revisions to Rule 10 and accreditation requirements. “Virtual learning is a type of example of how we can extend learning and learning opportunities,” said Dr. Blomstedt. “Over time, we want to make sure it’s recognized within rules and processes at the Department.” Not only does virtual instruction keep young drivers off roads in dangerous conditions, but its utilization can also better prepare students for their next step in life, whether it be post-secondary education or the workforce.
and not complete some portion of their course work online.” Students have embraced the extra responsibility, added Phipps. Dr. Sutfin assembled separate parent and student advisory groups, both of which have provided satisfactory feedback. Students don’t want to attend school into the summer, but that’s not the only reason they’ve taken to E-Learning Days in such an enthusiastic manner. “They want to be adequately prepared, and that warms my heart as the teaching and learning administrator for the district,” said Dr. Phipps. “They want to do well on an AP exam and on the ACT and on course exams. If they are in the middle of an important project, they don’t want to skip a beat.” Dr. Sutfin ends the discussion with a hypothetical. Take a student from 50 years ago and drop them into a classroom in 2019. Similar subjects, he said. Similar number of kids in the room and similar blocks of time, too. “Technology, however, is allowing us to evolve for our kids,” Dr. Sutfin explained. “Our kids live in a different technological world than what we had when we were children, or what children had 50 or 60 years ago. Something like virtual instruction can help with the evolution of personalized learning for a child.” Anytime. Anywhere. ■
“We say college and career readiness, that’s our focus as a state and here at MPS,” said Dr. Phipps. “The world is virtual in many ways. It is unlikely that a student would enter a certification program, a two-year program or a four-year program
LB 281 Passes, Signed into Law Introduced by Senator John McCollister in January, LB 281 passed reading and was officially signed into law on May 30. The bill, which received unanimous approval from the Legislature, will permit, but not require, every public school in Nebraska to post in a clearly visible and accessible part of the school a poster in English and Spanish with the statewide toll-free telephone number established by the Department of Health and Human Services that receives reports of child abuse or neglect. Alternatively, the school could choose to post a link to the poster on its website. LB 281 allows for NDE to contract with an entity to create the poster or the digital image. At a public hearing for the bill, NCSA volunteered to serve as the entity that would create, house and produce the poster, or digital image, for distribution as a member service. NCSA will have posters available for pickup near the registration desk at Administrators’ Days.
SUMMER 2019 NCSA TODAY
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HISTORI C F L O O D AND NEBRA S KA S PIRIT
Finding the Remarkable in Flood’s Heartbreaking Aftermath By TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist
North Bend
The superintendent walks through the central office doors, out into the commons and down a walkway leading to Tiger Arena. School’s out for the summer, but North Bend Central’s hallways still buzz with energy as teachers shore up end-of-theyear odds and ends and next week’s state track participants come in and out of the building. “What are you guys doing here?” Dr. Dan Endorf jokes. “You know school’s over, right?” The track stars laugh, pick up their pace and disappear off to practice. They’ll represent the Tigers on the state’s biggest stage. They’ll represent their small town, 15 miles west of Fremont near the banks of the Platte River. A proud community that, just two months ago, had nowhere to go. Nowhere but here.
working tirelessly, because people needed food. Most of it was donated, from near and far.” North Bend’s streets were completely under water. Helicopters captured shocking images from the sky and airboats both brought supplies to those stationed in town and helped transport those who needed out. “Both of our schools, thankfully, were bone dry,” said Dr. Endorf. “Since we were dry, and it is a huge facility, it provided us an opportunity to assist the town in the preparation and recovery from the flood.” The Tuesday before the flood, the city council became concerned of a potential disaster and called for an emergency meeting. Endorf, who grew up in Tobias, NE, where droughts are common on an annual basis, said that meeting helped him understand the severity of what could be in the cards.
Dr. Endorf continues his tour. North Bend Central feels like a school again, but when the levee broke in March and devastating flood waters swarmed the town and displaced many of its 1,200 residents, this building became a safe haven.
He offered Tiger Arena, a gorgeous facility constructed after the town passed a bond issue in 2013, as an evacuation site. Tiger Talk, the district’s electronic communication system, became the city’s primary means of transmission. The local newspaper played a vital role in communication too, through the utilization of social media.
Endorf enters the gym and, though completely empty and peaceful on this May morning, thinks back to what Tiger Arena became during those 10 days after the flood.
It was all hands on deck as the town moved into the school.
“That door over there,” he points, “leads to the industrial arts room. Donations would come into that room and they would be inventoried and brought into this gym, which became a donation expo, or a grocery store of sorts, chock-full of items.” Endorf opens the door to the school’s library. While North Bend citizens worked towards restoration, this became a daycare. One classroom became a UPS/FedEx station. Another housed the command center, where Endorf would run through assignments at the beginning of daily meetings with the city council and other town officials. “City Council, volunteer fire department, and several other groups just stepped up and filled some very important needs and roles,” Endorf said. “We had mental health counselors in a math room. People really needed it. We had kitchen staff 10
NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
“Our taxpayers support us to the highest degree,” he said. “There were no second thoughts when it came to providing this facility to aid the patrons of this district.” Commissioner of Education Dr. Matt Blomstedt had visited North Bend, along with a handful of other districts severely affected by the flood, the day before NCSA’s visit. What he saw, and the stories he heard, were heartbreaking, and, yet, at the same time, remarkable. “In North Bend, the schools were somehow not impacted and became the center for the operation,” Dr. Blomstedt said. “Folks came together, volunteered and worked unbelievably hard. These are remarkable, heroic stories, but mostly it’s the story of people relying on one another and continuing to rely on one another, and that’s the beauty of what happens
HIS T O RIC FLO O D A ND NE B RA S KA SP I RI T in Nebraska’s schools all the time.” “North Bend’s story isn’t about a flood,” explained Dr. Endorf, “but rather one of a town, a school, and a recovery. The story here is a community of heroes.”
Boyd County
Water seeped into the building in Lynch first, the night before disaster struck. Boyd County Elementary School Principal Cindy Johnson and her custodial staff spent hours vacuuming up water in an attempt to stay ahead of predicted flooding. Thursday morning, the Spencer Dam along the Niobrara River collapsed, giving way to catastrophe. Boyd County Public Schools, with buildings in Lynch, Spencer and Butte, let out school immediately as a rolling current methodically blanketed the connecting Highway 12. Friday morning, Boyd County Superintendent Michael Brown met with Johnson and 6-12 Principal Matt Korkow, and the trio of administrators agreed the first step that needed to be taken was assessment. They evaluated facilities and checked on the welfare of their students and families. Brown made the decision to call off school for the entire next week. “Not because our facilities were so much affected, but because our families were so affected,” he said. “Kids were so much more essential at home, helping their families.”
Much like what transpired at North Bend and schools across the state, Boyd County Elementary’s gymnasium was quickly filled with supplies. Bottled water, clothing, shoes and food, stocked to the max. “You name it, we had it,” said Brown. “For almost a month, we became the donation center in Lynch.” While kids weren’t in class, they were certainly helpful. Students played a key role in the clean-up process in Lynch and unloaded truckload after truckload of supplies at emergency centers. Brown was proud of the courage the district showed throughout the recovery process, one that continues to this day. “Our kids are very tough, and showed a lot of fortitude,” he said. “As did our teachers. Every time you went to one of the distribution centers, there they were, unloading a truck or cleaning a house. Everybody pitched in and did what they could.” Residents of Spencer and Lynch were still without drinkable water at the end of May. Two bridges to the south were completely wiped out, leaving the county a virtual extension of South Dakota. “For us to get south, you have to go across a pretty rough gravel road, or you have to travel 60 miles out of your way to go around,” Brown said. “We are still impacted that way.
NRCSA-NCSA Disaster Relief Fund Raises $11,000 Through the generosity of vendors and school staff, the NRCSA-NCSA Disaster Relief Fund raised $11,000, which will be distributed directly to schools affected most by the floods and blizzards. NRCSA and NCSA are now in the process of discussing how to distribute the funds. If your school district was directly affected by such disasters and would like to be considered for receiving part of the funds, please contact either Jack Moles (jmoles@nrcsa.net) or Dr. Mike Dulaney (Mike@NCSA.org). In submitting for consideration, please provide a short description of what took place in your district concerning weather-related disasters. Thank you to those who contributed!
Continued on page 12 >>
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Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architechure BCDM Architects BD Construction Boyd Jones Construction Co Dan and Molly Dahlgren EMC Insurance Engineering Technologies, Inc eScholar Hamilton Telecommunications KSB School Law NCSA NRCSA On to College Renaissance TRANE - Dave Raymond Valentine Community Schools Vosaic
SUMMER 2019 NCSA TODAY
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H IST ORI C F L O O D AND NEBRA S KA S PIRIT
When natural disaster struck North Bend, it was all hands on deck. The school building became a safe haven, as displaced residence and those in need took shelter in the city’s largest structure. NBC staff, like (from left to right) Aaron Sterup (English), Todd Ziettlow (Math) and Fred Ladehoff (Science) worked in teams to assist those impacted.
It really affected busing routes, and our transportation to student activities. Fuel costs are skyrocketing right now, not to mention our county roads are in very poor shape.” Boyd County is a county-wide district stretching 50 miles. They cover a lot of ground, and effective communication through the ordeal was vital. The school’s alert system allowed community-wide text messages to keep folks on the same page during recovery. “We had to stay in constant communication with our families,” Brown said. “There are some students who we couldn’t get to, and they couldn’t get to us. People had to meet our buses at highways, just to get the kids to school.” Though Boyd County currently exists on an island of sorts, nearly disconnected from the rest of the state, school staff did its best to finish out the school year. As the governor visited and those without running water in the county showered at the school building in Butte, staff tried to establish normalcy for their students. “Sometimes, with our younger kids, certain stories will bring them back to the flood, and we have to be cognizant of that,” said Johnson. “The teachers are doing a great job at that, being understanding and supportive of each of their students and their respective situations.”
NDE
The historic flood directly impacted 89 of the state’s 244 public school districts, with more than 60 having to close down for some period of time, but no two towns share the same story. “Each story, even if they were coming from districts in close approximation to one another, were different for different reasons,” said Dr. Blomstedt. “The flood impacted places and schools differently, but it impacted them all dramatically.”
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Like districts throughout the state, NDE did its best to brace for the flood. On Friday, March 15, the commissioner communicated with his staff and asked them to be prepared to meet the following week. “We were gearing up, and then it got a lot worse,” he said. “The weekend was more severe than predicted, and it just kept building. It was a snowball effect, and, with the blizzard in the western part of the state, that’s what it truly was.” Blomstedt sent another email to his staff over the weekend, establishing a time for everyone who felt they could contribute to meet on that Monday, and every Monday moving forward. The focus group used chart paper to map out assistance they anticipated each area might require in the flood’s aftermath. “It was nothing compared to what the folks actually dealt with on the ground level, but I was very pleased with how our team responded through all of that,” said Dr. Blomstedt, who was in contact with and seeking support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Education. “Moving forward, there might be some additional federal funds we can tap into together. Instead of having 15 to 20 different grant applications out there, we are thinking of ways we can consolidate that effort and have one application or one way to manage that and make sure costs that wouldn’t otherwise be covered are covered.” Nebraska continues to heal. Commissioner Blomstedt is still in awe of educational leadership throughout the state-how even superintendents impacted the most were constantly asking what kind of assistance other districts needed. “After the flood, there was a conference call involving 60 or so superintendents and several ESU people,” Blomstedt said. “Many of them weren’t directly affected. They were just
HIS T O RIC FLO O D A ND NE B RA S KA SP I RI T on the call to be helpful. That’s a very Nebraska story, in terms of other people giving up their time to do that.” The stories will stick with Dr. Blomstedt through the recovery process and long after. Stories of students being put up in hotels and community members taking in kids and keeping them safe. Stories of dead fish being found in freshly-laid mulch on school grounds and of playgrounds being treated for E. Coli. Stories of bravery and stories of schools rising to the challenge of rescue for their towns and their families. “The schools just felt very normalizing in an otherwise chaotic situation, and that was brought up often,” Dr. Blomstedt said. “They were the center of activity through this, not just for the kids but for families as a while. And for people not otherwise connected to the school setting, the elderly and others who needed support.”
The Nebraska Spirit
The notes still sit on Endorf’s desk. Letters of support from districts near and far. In the envelopes, between the cards filled with well-wishes, he finds monetary donations. They mean more to him and the school than anyone will ever know.
The community and school board recognized the need for one day prior to the return of students for the NBC staff to reassemble, clear their minds and set the path to providing a great academic experience for their students, most who had experienced loss of some kind, the next day. “When our students and staff were reunited after two weeks of no school, it felt like August,” said Dr. Endorf. “There was an August-type excitement in this building that carried us through the rest of the school year.” There were no April doldrums in North Bend. Johnson said Boyd County Public Schools received nearly $9,000 in donations from other schools, most from Nebraska and some from South Dakota and Wyoming. “We had four families, staff or students, who lost their homes to the flood, and we’ve been able to give them close to four-thousand dollars in donations to help them recover,” said Johnson. “It was amazing how much assistance we received. It shows the spirit of helping people is still alive and well.” ■
“I know that I owe thank you notes to countless schools across Nebraska that sent well-wishes, monetary donations and other acts of kindness to NBC,” Dr. Endorf said. “My faith is humanity has never been higher after experiencing that outpouring of generosity.”
Sally Nellson/Barrett receives AshlandGreenwood Alumnus of the Year Award NCSA attended the Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools Honors Dinner on April 26, where Sally Nellson/Barrett, Director and Executive Producer for our partners at Nebraska Loves Public Schools, was honored as the district’s Alumnus of the Year. The majority of those in attendance wore the famous I Love Public Schools t-shirts, and gave Nellson/Barrett, the director of so many influential and difference-making I Love Public Schools films, including the most recent docuseries “The Mind Inside”, a standing round of applause. “What you do is so taken for granted, and that’s why I do what I do,” Nellson/Barrett said. “I get to go in and observe what you do and turn it out to the rest of the world.”
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RE T I RE ME N T
NCSA Honors Retirees Each year NCSA is sad to lose, but happy to congratulate those educators who are leaving the profession due to their long-deserved retirement. We are honored to share with you a glimpse of their future plans or just a bit of advice that only those who have worked with children and parents for so long can give! Darrell Barnes K-12 Principal Newman Grove Schools It has been a good run during my 40 years in education. The thing most remembered will be the relationships built with colleagues and students. No matter how cliché, it should always be about what is best for the students and that was always the goal in my decision-making as a teacher, coach, or administrator. Dennis Bazata 7-12 Principal Randolph High School A heartwarming thank you to all of my professional colleagues in the NCSA and in public education. During this journey of the last 40 years, it has been a pleasure to work with and know all of the outstanding people who are so dedicated to student learning and student well-being. I truly consider it a privilege to have been a part of it. Kim Beyer Director of Curriculum & Assessment Kimball Public Schools I can’t believe I’m at the twilight of my career. I remember loving my job so much that when my paycheck was placed in my mailbox, I didn’t pick it up. The secretaries always had to remind me I got paid, I loved my job so much, I forgot I got paid for it. I was most influenced to become an educator through the successes of my mother, Lois Koenig, who also retired from Kimball Public Schools after 37 years; my Aunt Lyla Girth, who also retired from Kimball Public Schools, and my dear, departed Uncle Darrell Yentes, who was Holdrege’s high school principal for many years.
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Dan Bird Superintendent Burwell Public Schools School is the great equalizer in our society and never forget the impact you have on helping make a difference in our student’s lives. It is amazing how quickly 35 years has flown by and the number of great relationships I have formed over those years. A special thanks to NCSA for creating a professional network that allowed me to meet so many great people. Paul Bohn Director of Student Services Papillion-La Vista Community Schools I have absolutely loved (almost) every minute of my 37 years working in some truly amazing communities (Crete, Plainview, Geneva/ Fairmont, and Papillion-La Vista). I’ve crossed paths with some really special people during that time. Specifically, it has been so rewarding being a member of NCSA and witnessing the growth of this organization over the past several decades. NCSA’s leaders and members have made it an extraordinary professional organization. Best wishes to you al! Alan Bone Director of Student Services Westside Community Schools I’m proud to be retiring after 32 years as a Nebraska educator (24 in the classroom, eight at the central office). As a recovering English teacher, I offer two quotes. In the finale of “The Office,” Andy Bernard says, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” That first quote leads to the second, from Kurt Vonnegut, who urges readers “to notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” Bob Braithwait PK-12 Principal Arapahoe Public Schools I want to thank everyone I met and worked with along this journey. I feel extremely blessed to be able to say I was involved in education for 35 years. I wish everyone the best on their journey.
RE T I REMENT Dr. Trudy Clark Superintendent Bruning-Davenport USD I appreciate the professional relationships and friendships I have had throughout my years in education. I will always respect and admire educators for the dedication and commitment shown every day. I’m excited for the new direction my professional life will take as I begin my new position with NDE in July. Good luck everyone! Dawn DeTurk Elementary Principal Weeping Water Public Schools The years have flown by since I graduated with an education degree. I have had great opportunities to serve as a teacher, principal, early childhood coordinator, special education director and curriculum director. I learned so much serving on the NAESP board and being a part of NASES. You know you are ready to retire when you think “getting lucky” means you have time for an uninterrupted lunch. Barbara Ehrhart Director of Student Services Gering Public Schools I want to thank all those individuals who supported me during my tenure as a teacher, school psychologist and administrator. I will be forever grateful to those who pushed me to go further, do more, and be sure that the students, families, and staff I served received the best that I could give. As I look back, I firmly believe that my association with my professional organizations (NCSA, NASES, and NASP) were significantly important in my career. The people whom I met and networked with gave me the opportunity to find help when I needed it and encouragement to continue my career for over 40 years. Again, THANK YOU! I wish all of you the best as you continue in your careers to make our schools models for others to follow. David Evertson Technology Director Cozad Community Schools I may be retiring, but I’ll never stop learning. Thank you to everyone who has helped me to grow and to learn as an educator.
Matt Fisher Superintendent Northwest Public Schools I’ve had three great stops in my career in education. The people I got to work with in each of those districts made them great places to work. The people I have had a chance to work with across the state through organizations such as NCSA is what has made this a great career. Dean Friedel 7-12 Principal Perkins County Schools After 34 years of education, 24 as an administrator, it is time to move on to new frontiers. I look forward to spending time with family and maybe finding a hobby to focus on. I enjoyed my time in education and value the relationships with fellow administrators over the years. This career path has been challenging, rewarding, and eventful. Congrats to fellow retirees and stay strong for those who have chosen the leadership role in education. David Friedli Principal Conestoga High School William Watson Purkey said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I am fortunate to have cared enough about students and staff that they never figured out I didn’t know much at all. Education is about relationships. Thank you for every professional relationship we have shared over the past four decades. Bruce Friedrich Principal Elmwood-Murdock Elementary School I have really enjoyed my 29 years as Principal at Elmwood-Murdock. It is hard to leave but I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life. I would like to thank the students, parents, and staff that I have worked with over the years. Elmwood-Murdock has been a great place to work!
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RE T I RE ME N T Mark Hanson Principal Wayne Jr/Sr High School Being able to work with students for the past 37 years has been amazing. I can’t think of a more rewarding career. There are definitely ups and downs in this profession, but if you base your decisions on what is best for students, you will always be successful and fulfilled. Lavon Hood CFO Scottsbluff Public Schools Serving in this role has been one of the most gratifying professional experiences of my career. To utilize my skills and abilities to help young people be successful has been more rewarding than I could have imagined. Working with all of you has been both rewarding and motivating and I look forward to what great strides you all will make in the future. Dr. Renee Hyde Assistant Superintendent of HR Papillion-La Vista Community Schools What a wonderful way to make a life! Thanks to each of my colleagues and mentors. Without you, being an administrator would be impossible and much less fun. Continue to be strong advocates for children and their families. Find something to smile about each day. Lynn Johnson Superintendent Arlington Public Schools The past 36 years of my professional life have been a blessing and a joy. Relationships are the ‘value add’ of life and I feel fortunate to have spent my life in a career that embraces and promotes that ideal. My formal affiliations within our professional organizations, such as NCSA, have created the vehicle for establishing these positive relationships. Thanks to all of you who have made a positive difference in my life and my continued support and well wishes to all of you as you carry on the charge of making a positive difference in the lives of our Nebraska students.
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Rick Johnson Principal Falls City Middle School The learning and relationships I have made through the NCSA organizations, and other professional educational organizations have been key to any of my successes and longevity in this rewarding job. I want to thank Falls City Public Schools for allowing me to serve for the last 29 years. It has been an honor to work with some of the State’s best teachers, staff members, administrators, and school boards. It continues to be a great place to raise a family. My goal has always simply been to make this a great place to learn and work. Craig Kautz Superintendent Hastings Public Schools I want to thank my colleagues for what they do every day for the students and the communities they serve. They are making a huge difference and they are, objectively and as measured by student outcomes, the greatest educators this country has ever seen. I want to thank the NCSA team for what they do for the membership of NCSA. Thank you for your advocacy, support, and leadership! Keith Leckron Superintendent Elkhorn Valley Schools It’s been a great gig and I wouldn’t trade this career for any other out there. We truly do essential work for the students in our state and I will be forever grateful to be a part of this public education journey. Through the years when I asked colleagues how they were enjoying retirement, the universal response was “It’s Great!” with a grin from ear to ear. All I can say as I approach retirement day, I believe I will concur with that assessment about retirement! Keep fighting the good fight and as I retire, I will quote the best band in the land, “Ain’t Life Grand!” Katie Mathews Principal Park Elementary School Kearney Public Schools It has been a tremendous honor to serve children in the state of Nebraska with you. NCSA staff and members of NCSA, all of your hard work is not in vain. Our children benefit from all of your hard work and outstanding advocacy! Thank you for being a special part of my career in education!
RE T I REMENT Dr. Blane McCann Superintendent Westside Community Schools I want to thank all of my colleagues for their support and encouragement the past seven years. I enjoyed every minute of working with the learners of District 66. Mary McKeon Superintendent Elementary Principal Stanton Community Schools I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to my friends and colleagues. I have learned from your wealth of knowledge and experience. It has been a great pleasure working with all of you. Thank you for your support and friendship through my 30 years as a classroom teacher and Elementary Principal. Jill Pauley (Retired 12-31-2018) Director of Business Services Lincoln Public Schools I have enjoyed working at Lincoln Public Schools and the friendships that have been created through NASBO and NCSA. We all play in important role in educating the students of Nebraska. Even though we all may not be directly in the classroom, each employee makes it possible for students to get the best education the can. I hope you continue to strive for the excellence we have created and I wish you the best in the future. Kipp Petersen Principal Horizon Middle School Kearney Public Schools Thank you NCSA for the professional guidance and support through my 22 years of being an administrator in the Kearney Public Schools. The NCSA organization was a pipeline to professional support throughout my years for which I am truly grateful. Best wishes to my colleagues as they continue to make a difference in the lives of the students they serve.
Darrell Peterson Superintendent Ainsworth Community Schools After being in education for 40 years, with the last 30 in administration, it is time to relax and enjoy life. The hardest decisions to make, in this job, have always turned out to be the best in the long run. Thanks to my colleagues and NCSA for all the work that you do. Dr. Carol Renner Director of Student Services Kearney Public Schools Serving as an administrator in Nebraska schools is the most fulfilling career one can experience. Thanks to the hundreds of NCSA professional peers I’ve met over the years that inspired me. Keep Nebraska kids safe and soaring! Kevin Riggert Principal Elkhorn Ridge Middle School Elkhorn Public Schools Always remember – Kids Come First!!! Dr. Kevin Riley Superintendent Gretna Public Schools I have said many times that educators are, collectively, the best people on the planet. I thank you all for the work you do and the impact you’ve made on my career. Dr. Paula Sissel Superintendent Garden County Schools It has been an honor to work with such dedicated professionals that have always reminded me to “keep kids first” every day! Dr. Daniel Shoemake Administrator ESU #6
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RE T I RE M E N T Mike Wentz Principal Falls City South Elementary School It has been a privilege to work with so many educators over the years. Nebraska public schools’ students are some of the best in the nation. I am looking forward to more family, hunting and fishing time. Gary Wockenfuss Principal Weeping Water Public Schools What a great educational ride for 33 years! Thanks to all who have helped me get to where I am today – Retired! The students, teachers, coaches, parents, and administrators who have been in the several awesome districts I have served as a Special Education professional for 22 years: Cripple Children’s Hospital and school-Sioux Falls, SD, Oakland-Craig, Grand Island/Wood River, Wymore, Superior, Nebraska City, and along with Weeping Water as the K-12, 7-12,
Also Retiring: Susan Anglemyer Principal Upchurch Elementary Millard Public Schools Shaun Brothers Assistant Principal Plattsmouth High School Angela Craft Principal Keith Lutz Horizon High School Millard Public Schools John Erwin Dean of Students Norfolk Senior High School Tom Jochum Principal Glenwood Elementary Kearney Public Schools
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6-12 principal for 11 years has been exceptional. Thanks to all the NCSA team members, associates and administrators for all you do for our Nebraska students and for each other on a day-to-day basis. IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A NEBRASKA RETIRED ADMINISTRATOR! Steve Woodside Principal Columbus High School What an honor, privilege, and amazing experience it has been to have worked with such amazing people over the past 40 years in education who have devoted their careers to the betterment of children. As a school administrator, I am so thankful and blessed to have had the opportunity to have been a part of something so much greater than myself. Early on in my life, inspiration came from all those who saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. Be mindful each day that relationships do matter and through our actions, words, and deeds, as adults, we cannot afford to every let our kids down.
Dr. Ken Heinz Superintendent Weeping Water Public Schools Jackie Herink Principal Centennial Elementary Columbus Public Schools Eldon Hubbard Principal Gering High School Jackie Kelsay Principal Calvert Elementary Auburn Public Schools Mary Jo Leininger Middle School Principal Norris District 160 David Ludwig Executive Director ESU Coordinating Council
Mike Mitchell Principal Mary Lynch Elementary Kimball Public Schools Donna Moss Director Student Services Hastings Public Schools Scott Plummer SPED Director/Principal Gordon-Rushville Elementary Gordon-Rushville Schools Chuck Story Special Populations Coordinator Fremont Senior High School Dr. Mike Teahon Superintendent Gothenburg Public Schools
A FFILIA T E AWARDS
NSASSP Announces 2019–20 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year The Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals has selected Dustin Mitchell as the 2019 High School Principal of the Year. This award is presented annually to a principal who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their school, region, and at the state level. The award honors principals who have Mitchell demonstrated excellence in the areas of: Personal Excellence, Collaborative Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Personalization. Mr. Mitchell has been in education since 2004 and has been the Principal and Athletic Director at Sutherland Jr./Sr. High School since 2011. Prior to his return to Nebraska, he taught high school social studies at Alief Taylor High School in Texas and at Hiawatha High School in Kansas. Mr. Mitchell, a native of Morrill, NE, has been a member of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA), the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for 8 years. Dan Keyser, Superintendent of Sutherland Public Schools, praised Mr. Mitchell noting, “Through my 39 years in education, it is my observation that the principalship is the most challenging position in education and Mr. Mitchell has demonstrated that he has the skills, knowledge, and attitude to take on the demands of the position.” Shannon Staggs, Business teacher at Sutherland Public Schools states, “He (Mr. Mitchell) brings a level of dedication to the welfare and well-being of his students and faculty that is readily apparent to all that he comes in contact with. He truly cares about individuals and works diligently to impact their lives for the better.” Mr. Mitchell states, “...my number one priority is to create positive relationships with the people around me. I get to witness many miracles of student learning and maturing while they are in our school. We work to reach each student and help students do things the ‘Sailor Way’. Building positive relationships is the key to education…”
Sutherland senior, Erica Hopping, states, “With his personable, friendly, and supportive attitude, he is always looking out for the well-being of students. Mr. Mitchell is the first person to notice somebody is having a bad day…” Mr. Mitchell received his Associates Degree from McCook Community College in 1999 and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies Education in 2004 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In 2001, he earned the Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Emporia State University. Along with his duties as 7-12 Principal, Mr. Mitchell serves at Transportation Director, School Safety Director, and Athletic Director at Sutherland. Mr. Mitchell is also involved in State Level leadership holding offices in Region V NSASSP, as the Student Council Rep on NSASSP Executive Board, and working with the NEPAS, Assessment and Accountability, and NDE ACT committees. Congratulations to Dustin Mitchell for his outstanding performance as a Secondary School Principal at Sutherland Public Schools. Mr. Mitchell will represent Nebraska and NSASSP at the National Advocacy Conference hosted by NASSP in March of 2020! NSASSP appreciates the contributions to the profession and is proud to name Dustin Mitchell of Sutherland Jr/Sr. High School the 2019 High School Principal of the Year! ■
"Mr. Mitchell brings a level of dedication to the welfare and well-being of his students and faculty that is readily apparent to all that he comes in contact with." — Shannon Staggs, Business Teacher at Sutherland Public Schools
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AFF I LI A T E AWAR D S
NSASSP Announces 2019–20 Nebraska Middle School Principal of the Year The Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals has selected Ross Ricenbaw as the 2019 Middle School Principal of the Year. This award is presented annually to a principal who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their school, region and at the state level. The award honors principals who have Ricenbaw demonstrated excellence in the areas of: Personal Excellence, Collaborative Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Personalization. Mr. Ricenbaw has been in education since 2003. He has been the Principal at Waverly Middle School since 2013 after serving 7 years as a teacher at Ralston Public Schools and 3 years as 7-12 Principal at East Butler Public Schools. Mr. Ricenbaw, a native of Friend, NE, has been a member of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA), the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals (NSASSP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for 9 years. Ricenbaw was selected as Nebraska’s “Outstanding New Principal” in 2012. Dr. Cory Worrell, Superintendent of Waverly Public Schools, praised Mr. Ricenbaw, noting, “Ross is an influential leader in his building. This includes the ability to understand effective assessment and instruction. He also has a personality that allows for him to be approachable for students and parents.” Dr. Worrell continues, “Ross is a leader amongst our administrators. He is not afraid to speak his mind on issues that need resolved and he brings another level of thinking to our administrative discussions.” Emily Finley, teacher at Waverly Middle School states, “I have seen Ross change the culture of Waverly Middle School. His growth mindset has set an example and model for the teachers here. He is constantly working to grow as a leader and is always encouraging the same in his teachers.” Mr. Ricenbaw currently serves on the NSASSP Executive Board as the President-Elect. He has previously held numerous leadership positions as part of the NSASSP Region 1
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principals group as well as the NSASSP Executive Board. He has been active within the state by presenting at the NCSA Administrators' Days, the State Principals Conference, and at the NCSA Emerging Administrator program. Mr. Ricenbaw received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Grinnell College in 2002. Mr. Ricenbaw earned a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College in 2005 and earned an administrative certificate from Wayne State College in 2010. He is currently pursuing an Educational Specialist and a Doctorate Degree from Doane College. Congratulations to Ross Ricenbaw for his outstanding performance as Middle School Principal at Waverly Public Schools. Ricenbaw will represent Nebraska and the NSASSP at the National Principals Institute hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in September of 2019, and he will be considered as a candidate for National Principal of the Year! NSASSP appreciates the contributions to the profession and is proud to name Ross Ricenbaw of Waverly Middle School the 2019 Middle School Principal of the Year! ■
"I have seen Ross change the culture of Waverly Middle School. His growth mindset has set an example and model for the teachers here. He is constantly working to grow as a leader and is always encouraging the same in his teachers." — Emily Finley, Teacher at Waverly Middle School
A FFILIA T E LE A DERSHI P
Better Together
By DR. TERRY HOULTON, NASES President “The business of business is people.” — Herb Kelleher, Founder of Southwest Airlines Substitute “education” for “business” and you have hit on one of the critical factors of what makes education special. The foundation of education is people. But the secret sauce in educaHoulton tion is more than simply just people. Yes, people working in isolation can produce good results, but when people are the foundation of what you do, relationships and collaboration become the multiplier effect. Education is a people business where quality collaboration drives greater outcomes. The combined effect of educator collaboration is far greater than the sum of the group of people engaged in the collaboration and definitely surpasses one person simply working in isolation. When impacting the learning and growth of our students we are definitely better together. “Collaboration is a systematic process in which educators work together, interdependently, to analyze and impact professional practices in order to improve individual and collective results.” — Dufour, Dufour, & Eaker Educating students with disabilities only intensifies the need to be better together. Throughout this year, the Nebraska Association of Special Education Supervisors (NASES) has focused on the theme Better Together. As leaders in special education in Nebraska, we are better when we are working together and collaborating. We are better when we build genuine relationships and collaborate with our students with disabilities and their families. We are better as leaders when we build deep relationships and collaborate with all of the special educators we work with. We are better when we have relationships and collaborate with the people at the Nebraska Department of Education Office of Special Education. But most importantly, we are better as special educators when we build relationships and collaborate with our peers in general education. When the education of a student with a disability is successful general and special educators are connected, focused, and have a clear understanding that
"People working in isolation can produce good results, but when people are the foundation of what you do, relationships and collaboration become the multiplier effect. Education is a people business where quality collaboration drives greater outcomes."
neither a general nor a special educator alone can successfully educate a student with a disability. There was a time when special education was thought to be a place to send students with disabilities away from the general education environment. A place where students who struggled to learn or behave would go to be fixed and returned to the general education classroom when they were ready. Special educators may have even originally reinforced these practices by displaying a sense of accomplishment when students learned skills in isolated situations that did not always generalize to other environments. But this time is long past. Special educators know that an indicator of success is when a student with a disability develops the awareness and generalizes knowledge and skills to put them in the position where they can self-advocate for and self-determine their lives past K-12 education. Special education is not successful without a collaborative partnership with general education. We need the richness of a strong core classroom curriculum and instructional program that is delivered by talented general educators who individualize for a variety of learners. George Batsche (2019) indicates that a strong relationship exists between the academic performance of general education and special education students. In other words, in school districts where the
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AF F I LI A T E L EAD ER S H I P general education students are performing at high levels of learning, special education students follow the same pattern. The importance of a general educator to the special education process was solidified in the 2004 revisions to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) that made a general educator a required and equal team member in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process. General educators were given a significant responsibility in the IEP process. They not only are to speak to how the student with a disability is doing within the general education classroom they are also to participate in the development of the plan to support the student with a disability to be successful in the classroom. Being better together takes leadership. Leadership in building a collaborative culture where relationships and working together is how we do business. Leadership listens and promotes safe environments where educators and their students can take risks. It is important as leaders that we seek out opportunities to collaborate and support general and special educators in their collaborative efforts. Collaboration is one means of developing leadership and capacity in others.
As a building principal, I remember running late for a team meeting. As I hurried towards the room where the meeting was being held I felt a sense of urgency because I would be holding up the collaborative conversation by not being there. Outside the door I paused and was struck by the powerful collaborative conversation that was occurring. The team did not need me to collaborate. They just needed the format and opportunity. A leader sets the stage for others to engage in collaboration and problem-solving. It is important for all educators to identify opportunities to engage in collaborative conversations. I look forward to seeking out opportunities for myself and others to engage in collaborative conversations especially with my friends in general education. Because I know that in the business of education and for our students with disabilities that we are better together. â–
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844-793-4357
nee@missouri.edu
NC S A REP ORT
NCSA Election Results The Nebraska Council of School Administrators is pleased to recognize our new president-elects for the 2019-2020 year. Each affiliate president-elect is selected by their peers through the affiliate election process. We thank you for taking the time to vote and encourage you to always participate in election process of your affiliate. It is a great honor to have been voted into office by your professional colleagues. We are very fortunate to have highly qualified and successful school administrators that are willing to run for leadership positions within their affiliates. We salute all those individuals that were willing to accept a nomination to have their name on a ballot. Your affiliates remain strong because of quality administrators willing to lead. In addition to the new role within their affiliate associations, we would also like to welcome the president-elects to membership on the NCSA Executive Board, our organization’s governing body. The new executive board members are well qualified to serve and begin their official term on the NCSA Executive Board on September 1, 2019. We look forward to their participation on the board and guidance of the organization. We congratulate and welcome our new President-Elects:
NASA
NAESP
NSASSP
NASBO
NASES
Dr. Jeff Edwards, Northwest Public Schools
Sara Paider, St. Paul Elementary School
Brad Jacobsen, Ashland-Greenwood High School
Pam Roth, Elkhorn Public Schools
Lona Nelson-Milks, ESU #11
NCSA Elects 2019-2020 Leadership In addition, at the April 17, 2019, NCSA Board Meeting, elections were held for the 2019-2020 board leadership positions. We are excited to announce the 2019-2020 Chair and Vice Chair of the NCSA Executive Board: Chair (right) Dr. Terry Houlton Millard Public Schools Vice Chair (left) Mrs. Sheri Chittenden Paxton Consolidated Schools
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SCH OOL S A F ETY & SEC U R I TY
The Day Nothing Bad Happened By DR. JULIE DOWNING, Staff Development Specialist, ESU #13 SGT. MICK DOWNING, Nebraska State Patrol, Troop E DR. JOLENE PALMER, Nebraska Director of School Safety and Security The doorbell rang at 6:15 in the morning. It was a Saturday in mid-September, the house still at slumber, as I made my way to the window to see who was visiting at this very early hour. Through the window shades, a tall man with a backpack stands at my front door. I was immediately overwhelmed by a feeling to flee; however, by the time I found my phone, he was gone. My husband, a state trooper by profession, was up early as well. His phone rang at 7 a.m. with the report from local police of a meeting to plan the death of a trooper as revenge for recent enforcement activities. The meeting happened across the street from my house, and was reported by a tall man with a backpack who attended, but had second thoughts about the outcomes. Within moments, our family was protected by surveillance and we knew the SWAT team was enroute. The children awoke and listened to the unfiltered explanation of potential happenings. At 5 p.m. in the afternoon, we watched through the same window as the SWAT team removed five more people from the house across the street, who confirmed the meeting’s agenda. The world tilted off axis for a bit that day, but in the end, nothing bad happened. The tall man with the backpack revealed his intent to warn us. He stated in the affidavit that he knew our trooper and didn’t want the others at the meeting to hurt him. The man with the backpack was well known to law enforcement as a homeless, strung-out, transient individual….who had twice been contacted by my husband while on duty. Two, very brief, times he had been treated with respect and kindness by my trooper husband and that was enough for him to “tell”. When I judged him, was afraid of him, and didn’t answer the door, he made the decision to walk nine blocks to the local police department and report what he knew. Someone most likely “tells”. Relationships do not just matter, they save lives. It took two more months, more police surveillance of our neighborhood, the purchase of a home security system, and finally an arrest before Thanksgiving to give us peace. My husband and I live a quiet life with our kids in a small rural town. I work with educators in the region and, for most of our lives, our careers have not had much in common; until they did. In the last several years, the news is frequently led by the latest school or mass shooting incident, sometimes followed by the latest murder of a law enforcement officer. The
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NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
names and places of these incidents weigh on me as I stand with one foot in education, and the other in my blue family of law enforcement. As a former kindergarten teacher, Sandy Hook was a tipping point for me. The bitterness grew as nothing seemed to change and it was only when the evil showed up in my neighborhood did I realize saying relationships are important is not enough. The only way to change what are becoming striking, devastating social norms, is to start where you are by connecting with others and building relationships, fiercely. Relationships save lives. A year later, after more school shootings and cop killings on the news, my trooper was invited by some proactive administrators and champions of school safety to stop in and have coffee. This began an effort to engage with local principals to build better relationships with school administrators, secretaries, staffs, and students. This mission brings together two sides of my soul: my educator family and my law enforcement family, the apple and the badge. Building this relationship can save lives, and maybe along the way, we can create schools and communities full of kind, hardworking, and hopeful humans. #NEBadgesInSchool is a movement (not a policy or program) to INVITE, build, and sustain relationships between and among school people, school students, and law enforcement officers. The Nebraska Safety and Security Standard states, “S.S.1.1.a The school system should prepare and communicate with local authorities (e.g. fire, police, rescue, and emergency management) for a wide variety of real-world scenarios.” Data from Nebraska Department of Education security assessments suggest that: • • • • • •
Rural schools have limited resources to dedicate to safety and security. Rural law enforcement agencies have limitations (Time, Geography, Person-Power). Schools in rural areas face challenges related to law enforcement engagement. Schools want to build capabilities with resource limitations in mind. Schools overestimate readiness. We must build on school strengths and local control culture.
S C HO O L S A FE T Y & S ECURI TY •
Rural schools who engage law enforcement on a team within the school have an increased level of safety and security. A team may be the safety team, threat assessment team, school improvement team, etc.
If you are already doing this work or find it compelling, below is a list of how to enhance this movement. ■
This movement is about building relationships. Building relationships between law enforcement and students, staff, administrators, schools, and communities. It does not diminish the real, important, and necessary work law enforcement officers do in regard to investigations, programs or guest speakers, interviews, drug enforcement/drug dog, or attempting to supplant a School Resource Officer (SRO), but is not about those duties in this purpose. Rather #NEBadgesInSchool is an attempt to humanize and integrate officers to protect and serve by making them a regular, approachable, expected relationship at school. Some ideas include inviting Law Enforcement Officers (LEO’s) to: • • • • • •
Invite them to eat lunch at school. Invite them to sit in the staff room and complete paperwork. Invite them to use the weight room/exercise equipment. Invite them to walk the hall during a passing period. Invite them to be mentors (i.e. TeamMates). Invite them to complete paperwork in the school parking lot, study hall, or at a table in the commons area.
TO DO for Administrators e thoughtful about how this looks in your school sk for input and advice from the LEO evelop connections between and among the humans rab a cop’s favorite drink and thank them for coming xpand the movement…Share a photo using#NEBadgesinSchool on social media
Nebraska School Safety and Security Summit
October 9-10, 2019 Younes Conference Center - Kearney, NE
Mark your calendar to attend this statewide event that will build on last year's information. Carly Posey, Mission Director of the "I Love You Guys" Foundation will provide meaningful education on prevention, preparedness, and standard response protocol
Safer Schools Together will provide information and hands-on training about the roles that social media and content play in cyberbullying.
We have extended to a second day this year for more in-depth training on digital threat assessment and cyberbullying. Registration will include a one-day or two-day attendance option.
Summit Highlights
3Presentation by Carley Posey 3Hands-on cyberbullying training with Safe Schools Together 3One or Two-Day Option
Look for more information and registration to open at the end of summer. SUMMER 2019 NCSA TODAY
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS JULY Jul 31 – Aug 2
Administrators' Days – Younes Conference Center – Kearney
SEPTEMBER September 11 – 12
Labor Relations – Cornhusker Marriott – Lincoln
September 25
School Law Update – Holiday Inn – Kearney
September 28
NCSA Tailgate – NCSA – Lincoln (Purdue –kickoff TBD)
OCTOBER October 9 – 10
Safety and Security Conference – Younes Conf Center – Kearney
Oct 31 – Nov 1
NE Fall Ed Tech Conference – Younes Conf Center – Kearney
NOVEMBER November 6
Safety and Security Conference – Younes Conf Center – Kearney
November 20 – 22 State Education Conference – CHI Center – Omaha DECEMBER December 4
Legislative Preview – Cornhusker Marriott – Lincoln
December 12 – 13
State Principals Conference – Cornhusker Marriott – Lincoln
*Region meeting dates can be found on the NCSA website.
NATIONAL CONVENTION DATES NAESP – July 10-12, 2019 – Spokane, WA
AASA – February 13-15, 2020 – San Diego, CA
NSASSP – July 18-20, 2019 – Boston, MA
ASCD – March 14-16, 2020 – Los Angeles, CA
ASBO – October 25-28, 2019 – National Harbor, MD
2019 ADMINISTRATORS’ DAYS Social Events - Thursday, August 1, 2019 Administrators in Action
5:00 pm - Betty’s Trail
Get moving and donate to Food Bank of the Heartland all at the same time by joining Administrators in Action. The BackPack Program alone delivers 8,040 packs to children in need each week in 247 schools across the state. BCBSNE will make a donation for each participant so sign up to get walking.
Social at Cunningham’s
6:00 pm - Cunningham’s on the Lake
Just walk across the parking lot to join your colleagues for great food and drinks. Your registration this year includes endless pizza, salad, two drink tickets and fun at this convenient, gorgeous location. The first 100 registrants will receive a commemorative glass. Space is limited and pre-registration is required at $25 per person.
NCSA Trivia Night
8:00 pm - Holiday Inn
The oh-so-popular NCSA Trivia Night is back! You don’t need to be a Jeopardy champion to join in on the fun. You’re sure to have a great time, even if your table doesn’t win the grand prize. The game will kickoff at 8:30, so don’t be late.
Visit ncsa.org for more information and to register or add any of these events. 26
NCSA TODAY SUMMER 2019
GOLD SPONSORSHIP
SILVER SPONSORSHIP
Ameritas Investment Corp. Marc Munford mmunford@ameritas.com 390 N. Cotner Blvd., P.O. Box 5949 Lincoln, NE 68505 402-467-6909 ameritas.com
Horace Mann Keith Jorgensen keith.jorgensen@horacemann.com 617 Stolley Park Rd. Grand Island, NE 68801 402-290-3116 horacemann.com
OnToCollege John Baylor john@ontocollege.com P.O. Box 30792 Lincoln, NE 68503 402-475-7737 ontocollege.com
Awards Unlimited Tim Moravec tmoravec@awardsunlimited.com 360 SW 27th Street Lincoln, NE 68522 800-950-3553 www.awardsunlimited.com
Boyd Jones Construction Emily Bannick ebannick@boydjones.biz 950 So. 10th Street, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68108 402-553-1804 boydjones.biz
Humanex Ventures Angelina Cunning angelina.cunning@humanexventures. com 2900 So. 70th Street, Ste. 100 Lincoln, NE 68506 402-486-1102 humanexventures.com
TeamMates Mentoring Program DeMoine Adams dadams@teammates.org 6801 “O” Street Lincoln, NE 68510 877-531-8326 www.teammates.org
Johnson Controls Jason Peck 14238 Hillsdale Circle Omaha, NE 68137 308-708-9479 Jason.peck@jci.com www.johnsoncontrols.com
Compass Financial Resources Brian Luther brian@compassfr.us 500 Central Park Drive, Ste. 204 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-467-0531 www.compassnebr.com D.A. Davidson & Co. Paul Grieger pgrieger@dadco.com 1111 No. 102nd Court, Ste. 300 Omaha, NE 68114 800-942-7557 davidsoncompanies.com/ficm DLR Group Curtis Johnson cjohnson@dlrgroup.com 6457 Frances Street, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68106 402-393-4100 dlrgroup.com ESUCC Dave Ludwig dludwig@esucc.org 6949 So. 110th Street Omaha, NE 68128 402-597-4866 esucc.org First National Capital Markets Craig Jones craigjones@fnni.com 1620 Dodge Street, Ste. 1104 Omaha, NE 68197 402-598-1218 fncapitalmarkets.com
Modern Images Bradley Cooper brad@champshots.com 13436 So. 217th Street Gretna, NE 68028 402-991-7786 misportsphotography.com National Insurance Steve Ott sott@nisbenefits.com 9202 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 302 Omaha, NE 68114 800-627-3660 nisbenefits.com
TRANE Dave Raymond dave.raymond@trane.com 11937 Portal Road La Vista, NE 68128 402-452-7762 trane.com/omaha UNANIMOUS Matt O'Gorman matt@beunanimous.com 8600 Executive Woods, Ste. 300 Lincoln, NE 68512 402-423-5447 beunanimous.com
Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund Barry Ballou balloub@pfm.com 455 So. 11th Street Lincoln, NE 68508 402-705-0350 nlafpool.org Nebraska Safety Center Mick Anderson andersonmd@unk.edu West Center, 220E Kearney, NE 68849 308-865-9393 www.unk.edu/offices/ safety_center
NE Public Agency Investment Trust Becky Ferguson P.O. Box 82529 Lincoln, NE 68501 402-323-1334 Becky.Ferguson@ubt.com www.ubt.com Renaissance Heather Mills 2911 Peach Street Wisconsin Rapids, WI 55494 800-338-4204 ext. 4712 heather.mills@renaissance.com www.renaissance.com Software Unlimited, Inc. Corey Atkinson caa@su-inc.com 5015 S. Broadband Lane Sioux Falls, SD 57108 605-361-2073 su.inc.com
BRONZE SPONSORSHIP BVH Architecture Cleveland Reeves creeves@bvh.com 440 N. 8th St. Lincoln, NE 68508 402.475.4551 bvh.com Kearney Visitors Bureau Sarah Focke sfocke@visitkearney.org PO Box 607 Kearney, NE 68848 800-652-9435 visitkearney.org
University of Nebraska High School Charlotte Seewald cseewald@nebraska.edu 206 South 13th Street, Suite 800 P.O. Box 880226 Lincoln, NE 68588 402-472-1922 highschool.nebraska.edu
INTERESTED IN A SPONSORSHIP? CALL 402-476-8055
PRSRT STD. U. S. POSTAGE PAID LINCOLN, NE PERMIT NO. 951
Nebraska Council of School Administrators 455 So. 11th Street, Suite A • Lincoln, NE 68508-2105 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Accredited. College-Prep. Online.
Proudly supporting Nebraska schools and their students by helping: • • • •
Provide additional courses Accelerate students Address teacher shortages Solve scheduling conflicts
highschool.nebraska.edu/ncsa (402) 472-3388
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