Winter 2018 by NCSA

NCSA TODAY A PUBLICATION OF THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

SENCAP: Springboard to the future Teacher Vacancy: Searching for Solutions Return to Learn: Comprehending Concussions

Nebraska Council of School Administrators

Winter 2018

www.NCSA.org

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CONTENTS

2 Springboard to the Future: SENCAP sets students up for success

BY TYLER DAHLGREN

6 Techer Vacancy: Searching for Solutions

BY DR. SHERYL FEINSTEIN & DR. SARA SKRETTA

8 Return to Learn: comprehending

concussions and understanding the law

BY TYLER DAHLGREN

Amid Uncertainty, Lawmakers Have Good Options to Meet Budget and School Funding Challenges

BY TIFFANY SEIBERT JOEKEL

Attorney General visits Fremont Public Schools

BY DR. SHERYL FEINSTEIN & DR. SARA SKRETTA

Superintendent Turnover Remains Low for Fall 2017

BY DR. JAMES OSSIAN

Affiliate Awards

15 The Value of Understanding Health Care BY GREG LONG

National Convention Dates

Caledar of Events - Back Cover 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 ©2016 by NCSA. All rights reserved.

NCSA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2017-2018 Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Mike Sieh Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . Jim Widdifield Immed. Past Chair. . . . . Jeff Schneider NASA Representatives President. . . . . . . . . Dr. John Skretta President Elect. . . . . . . . . . Greg Sjuts Past President . . . . . . . Dr. Mike Sieh NASBO Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Dahl President Elect. . . . Jason Buckingham Past President . . . . . . . . John Brazell NAESP Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . . Jason Calahan President Elect. . . . . . . . Casey Slama Past President . . . . . . . Jim Widdifield NASES Representatives President. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Harris President Elect. . . . . Dr. Terry Houlton Past President . . . . . . . . Missy Dobish NSASSP Representatives President. . . . . . . . Brandon Mowinkel President Elect. . . . . . . Dr. Jay Dostal Past President . . . . . . Steve Adkisson NARSA Representative President. . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Kaslon NCSA STAFF 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 Tyler Dahlgren Communications Specialist Carol Young Executive Administrative Assistant Michelle Lopez 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. WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

FEA TURE

Springboard to the Future: SENCAP sets students up for success BY TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist

r. Randy Nelson was freshly retired, a recovering former school superintendent he jokes, when he was approached with an intriguing opportunity. This was nearly a decade ago, in 2008, and superintendents in the ESU 6 area were beginning to consider methods of combatting complacency from 12th-grade students. In other words, they were looking for a cure for “Senioritis”, a way to ensure student success beyond graduation. “Basically, what was happening is those seniors were getting to their last year with all of their credits taken care of and just kind of floating,” Nelson said. “It was kind of their entitlement year. They were just taking the easy classes.” The group of superintendents set their sights on a program that would be of value to students in the present, as well as the future. They settled on a career academy. Not intended to be punitive, but rather beneficial for students, the academy would serve as a springboard for juniors and seniors into college and beyond. “We wanted it to be meaningful, and we wanted to offer experiences like field trips, where they get hands-on experience and engaged learning,” Nelson said. “We wanted to provide job-shadowing opportunities. We wanted to have presenters come in so the kids could have conversations with real-world people.” So that’s what Nelson gave them. Southeast Nebraska Career Academy Partnership (SENCAP) started in ESU 6, offering five college classes in 2008 in two academies; Health and Education. The initial enrollment in the program was 45. Nine years later, SENCAP had 843 students from 45 southeast Nebraska schools. The program offers 10 different pathways, from agriculture to business to IT to construction, a popular addition in 2016-17. While the program has expanded massively (there have been over 2,500 participants in the last five years), its focus remains the same. “We give hands-on type experiences, and our whole purpose is to get kids focused on what they want to do with the rest of their lives before they get out of high school,” Nelson said. Friend High School graduate Haley Ranae Lawver is one of many SENCAP students that speaks favorably about her experience. “SENCAP was by far one of the most helpful high school experiences I had,” said Lawver. “It helped me decide what major was right for me, gave me a feel for what college work consisted of, and allowed me to get a head start on a career path.” Nelson spent the year after being hired visiting other states, learning as much as he could about career academies, which were very sparse in Nebraska.

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

“We did some surveys to find out what the needs were as far as jobs, and that’s how we came to health and education,” Nelson said. “We developed some dual credit classes and partnered with Southeast Community College, adding more pathways and more opportunities for kids each year, like college courses, job shadowing and hands-on experiences.” Grant money would run out after a few years, but SCC stepped up and invested in the SENCAP program, hiring Nelson and two full-time directors, plus a qualified part-time staff consisting primarily of former school administrators. “The investment Southeast Community College has made is unlike any other community college in the state,” Nelson said. “They put a huge dollar amount into this program. They’ve made a commitment to this not only because they see the value, but they know that this is best for kids.” SCC offers 50 percent off on student tuition, and 75 percent of the 45 schools involved with SENCAP pay the other half of tuition. A majority of SENCAP students are getting a jumpstart on their futures for free or very low costs. “Moms and dads are liking that,” Nelson adds. When a student graduates from high school after taking part in SENCAP, they can already have acquired 12-24 college credits. Cumulatively, those students posted a 3.04 grade point average in their college courses. “Nebraska kids are special,” Nelson said. “They are special because of their work ethic. I can take any of these kids on a field trip and they are always ambassadors for their schools. They are great kids.” SENCAP has five learning centers, spread throughout their 15-county service area, in addition to the three SCC campuses in Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford. The largest academy of the 10 offered is the field of health, which has over 220 kids. Education is another popular pathway. Welding has grown from 15 kids to more than 110 in just five years. “We have companies that would hire our kids right now if they could,” Nelson said. “We had a bunch of our kids go out to Kawasaki for a field trip. They need 200 welders right now. It really gets the kids’ eyes open to what is available out there.” The program is constantly evolving. Students evaluate their experience and Nelson’s staff is eager to take those responses and apply them to SENCAP. Construction, for example, was added this year. Criminal justice was offered for the first time last year. “We have the best and brightest kids in our program,” Nelson said. “As schools, that is truly what we are about, preparing our kids for the future. Even beyond college. Part of that is steering them in the direction of something they are passionate about and

FEA TURE

have an interest in, and that’s what we try and do.” One of the main goals of SENCAP is to find opportunities for students within their own communities. Nelson wants students to graduate and go back to work in their hometown, if possible. “That’s all about economic development, and our kids love that,” he said. “They love to be a part of the culture of Nebraska.” The culture is strong, Nelson feels, and the commitment schools show to the success of their students is one of the reasons SENCAP has been so successful. “We’ve got great schools in Nebraska,” Nelson said. “You saw the GPA of kids taking college-level courses (3.04) and it’s a B or better, so we’ve got a lot of kids acing classes. We’ve got kids taking four or five college classes while they’re still in high school. Plus they are doing job shadowing, their activities, and they are working. It makes our state great.” Each spring, SENCAP holds a Professional Day for each of the 10 academies. Students go through mock interviews with professionals in their focus areas, who then critique the interview and offer evaluations. While signing up for his junior year of courses at Waverly High School, Caleb Nielsen came across a Computer Information Technology class in the SENCAP program, something he had been mildly interested in before. Little did he know a career path had just been paved. “I would recommend the program to other students because it gives you the basic knowledge of whatever it is that he or she is looking to go into,” Nielsen who enrolled in Dakota State University as a Cyber Operations major this fall, said. “The program gives students exposure to possible professions, and it’s helpful because once they have really started to focus on their specific career, they already had exposure to it and are able to draw upon some background knowledge. Nelson, in his 10th year of “light retirement”, is busy spreading SENCAP’s message. He is out and about all the time, talking to parent-teacher groups and schools, opening the eyes of sophomore and junior students to the opportunities in front of them. He would love to share the model with other regions of the state. “If other colleges would work with schools throughout the state, it’d be awesome,” he said, stressing the impact career academies can have in a student’s life. “If we are truly going to prepare out students for the workforce and college, we need to be doing it earlier.” SENCAP is a springboard to the future for many high schoolers in the state. If its first decade is any indicator, the future is bright. ■

LaKresha Howe, Seward High School class of 2017

“We give hands-on type experiences, and our whole purpose is to get kids focused on what they want to do with the rest of their lives before they get out of high school,”

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

L EGISLA TURE

Amid Uncertainty, Lawmakers Have Good Options to Meet Budget and School Funding Challenges BY TIFFANY SEIBERT JOEKEL, Policy Director at OpenSky Policy Institute

ebraska enters the upcoming Legislative session faced with tremendous uncertainty regarding funding for our public schools and the children they serve.

Seibert Joekel

Factors contributing to this uncertainty include: • Another significant revenue shortage, which likely will cause some lawmakers to push for cuts to vital services Nebraskans need, including our outstanding public schools; • Continued efforts to enact damaging tax cuts, including income tax cuts, in spite of budget struggles. If enacted, these tax cuts could lead to even deeper cuts to schools and other services that Nebraskans rely on; • A proposal to create tax credits that would divert public dollars toward private schools at a time when Nebraska’s investment in public K-12 education as a share of the economy is at a historic low. As the economy has grown over time, the per dollar state investment in K-12 education is lower today than it was in 2000; and • A potential ballot measure to create a new tax credit that would deplete the state’s general fund of more than $1 billion annually and virtually ensure major cuts to K-12 education funding. Unfortunately, what is relatively certain is that some state leaders will propose reducing state school funding to close the budget gap and to try to lower property and income taxes. Such proposals don’t get to the heart of Nebraska’s tax and budget challenges and will shortchange our children. The good news is there are other options for lawmakers to consider that can help address the budget gap, protect education funding and reduce property taxes. Nebraska’s strong public education system is the foundation of opportunity for our state’s children as it provides them with the skills they need to prosper. By a variety of measures, our public schools rank among the best in the nation, and locally, they serve as important focal points of our communities. As a state, however, we have long been heavily reliant on property taxes to fund K-12 education. Every

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

major study of Nebraska taxes since 1967 has noted this and increasing state aid to schools has long been the top recommendation to help lower property taxes. Increasing state aid takes the pressure off property taxpayers while at the same time protecting funding for K-12 education. But rather than increasing state support for schools to replace property taxes as the primary source of revenue, some feel the solution is to reduce school spending, and they point toward Nebraska’s per-pupil spending – which is just slightly higher than the national average -- as a reason to do so. A recent Legislative Fiscal Office report on school spending in Nebraska, however, reveals that a demographic shift is a key contributor to the state’s level of per-pupil spending. Families and students are gradually moving away from rural areas, but they aren’t doing so at a rate that allows schools to reduce fixed costs such as building maintenance, staff salaries and utilities. Conversely, other districts are seeing an increase in students, which drives up costs by creating the need for more facilities, teachers and other staff members. It is important to remember that school spending is already constrained by state laws that limit the amount of budget growth a school district can enact year-overyear, as well as by levy limits that cap the amount of property taxes that school districts can collect. Proposals to reduce school spending could lower property taxes but would also come with a high price as communities may find themselves without the resources needed to repair and maintain safe, modern school buildings or hire enough teachers to educate Nebraska’s children. One way we can look to balance our budget, lower property taxes and also protect school funding is to examine the various tax breaks and loopholes we offer businesses. In recent years, lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned about whether these tax breaks offer a good return on investment and about the lack of ability to evaluate them. Improving our evaluation of tax breaks can help lawmakers see which ones are working and which can be eliminated or reformed, so that the tax dollars we forgo for ineffective tax breaks can be used in other ways, including increased state support for K-12 education. (continued on page 5)

OUTREA CH

Attorney General visits Fremont Public Schools BY TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist

ebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson started his morning November 9th speaking to an auditorium full of Fremont High School social studies students. His message ranged from the Attorney General office’s duties to drug awareness and human trafficking prevention. He answered questions submitted by students, and in all spent about 30 minutes at Fremont High School. Afterwards, Peterson ventured to the west side of town, where a near-capacity Fremont Middle School gymnasium awaited. After an introduction and an opening address, students took turns asking the Attorney General questions such as “What is the most stressful part of your job?”, “How did you become the Attorney General?”, and “What is the craziest case you’ve seen?”. “Today is a good day,” Peterson answered the first question. “The outcome of the decisions we make are pretty significant and drastic for those who are effected by our decisions. I work with a lot of really good people, though, and that helps us make good decisions.” The Fremont Public Schools visit was one of 34 the Attorney General’s office has made in 2017 alone, which includes more than 60 presentations by Peterson or Outreach Coordinator Ryan Sothan. The Fall 2016 edition of NCSA Today featured an article from Peterson focused on safely navigating the information superhighway, and that message was echoed to Fremont students throughout the day. “In schools specifically, the message that we are carrying is one that is under the very broad umbrella of digital citizenship,” Sothan said. “Digital citizenship deals with the safe, responsible and respectful use of today’s information technology.” With great power comes great responsibility, Sothan said. Students are handed smart phones and tablets and cut loose, often unaware of the full power at their disposal. “They are routinely colliding with one another, cyber-bullying, sexting, and most of that is because the students don’t differen-

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson spoke to students at Fremont High School before crossing town and fielding questions from a sharp group of middle school students on November 9th.

Ryan Sothan (right), Outreach Coordinator with the Office of the Attorney General, visits schools throughout the state spreading the message of internet safety with students. tiate between their physical self and their digital selves,” Sothan said. “They do perceive, digitally, that they are invisible when they go online. So we teach them that they are not.” ■

Amid Uncertainty…(continued from page 4) We also can look to expand our sales tax to more services. Nebraska presently taxes less than half of the 168 services that are taxed in at least one other state and this causes us to annually forgo hundreds of millions in revenue that could be used to fund K-12 education and reduce our reliance on property taxes. Collecting the millions in sales tax Nebraskans owe for online purchases also would help the state meet fiscal challenges and maintain important services.

While we do indeed face tremendous uncertainty as a state heading into the next session, Nebraskans can take heart in the fact that our leaders have options to address tax and budget challenges in a way that protects funding for public schools. Maintaining our strong investments in public education will, in turn, benefit the state for years to come. That much is certain. ■

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

PRO GRA M SP OTLIGHT

Teacher Vacancy – Searching for Solutions

DR. SHERYL FEINSTEIN, Dean, College of Education, UNK DR. SARA SKRETTA, Certification Officer, College of Education & Human Sciences, UNL

T Feinstein

Skretta

eacher vacancy is not a new issue in the United States. However, it has now reached a level of concern that could accurately be classified as critical in the state of Nebraska. Such vacancies clearly threaten the integrity of our excellent K-12 schools, something that has historically been a priority and source of pride in Nebraska. The Nebraska Department of Education teacher vacancy comparison report from 2016-2017 shows a 71% increase in the number of unfilled positions from 2014-15 with a 74% increase in the number of districts left with unfilled positions. This means the majority of districts are dealing with this reality and challenge and the increase in vacancies is startling. A 2016 report by the Learning Policy Institute related to teacher preparation programs further illustrates the teacher vacancy plight. Enrollment in teacher preparation programs decreased 35% across the nation. Combined with the departure of more than 8% of teachers from the workforce annually, it becomes clear why states and districts are becoming creative in finding solutions. It also creates a strong case for the need to partner and take action to ensure the continuation of properly certified teachers in our classrooms That same report found that among the 5 key influences on whether someone enters the teaching profession, one of the elements is cost of entry to a program. This is but one of the reasons that UNK and UNL are embarking on an initiative to partner with Nebraska communities and schools to attract educators, assist with decreasing the teacher vacancy issue and possibly decrease the financial burden during student teaching along the way. University of Nebraska partnerships already exist with school districts in numerous areas. From partnering on para-to-teacher programs, providing professional development, and working together on research initiatives, the PK-20 partnerships in Nebraska are strong and plentiful. UNK’s The Transitional Certification Program (TCP), is one of the current methods to assist with teacher vacancy issues. In the TCP, districts hire individuals who have a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in a content area, such as Biology, Family &

Consumer Science, or English but do not have teacher certification. Concurrent with being hired by a district these individuals begin a two-year online plan of study in pedagogy at UNK culminating in an endorsement. The integrity of this program is maintained through the requirement of NDE & ESU Jump-Start workshops. The first UNK courses are practical, including instruction on lesson planning, proactive and reactive classroom management, and other skills that are required on the first day of school. Much of the philosophy and theory behind education is done the second semester. There is an increased number of supervision visits in the first semester, and detailed expectations for teacher mentors and administrators to ensure the rigor and quality of the program. The University is also serving as a pipeline for teachers in other states through partnership programs. UNK and UNL send multiple students to Alief Independent School District in Houston, Texas each semester, who essentially hires the student teachers as employees, and as a result, is able to pay them an hourly rate for the duration of the placement. Their approach is that student teachers are serving classrooms in a co-teaching/para-type role which justifies their employment. Students teachers who complete their placement at Alief will make about $7500 during the semester….and while that won’t make anyone rich, it does help offset living costs or provide money for some fun! UNK has a similar agreement with Garden City, Kansas. Because they were experiencing severe teacher vacancies, Garden City approached the College of Education and offered to pay $6000 to student teachers. If student teachers are offered a position they must stay at Garden City for two years to forgive the loan (if they are not offered a position the loan is also forgiven). In both Houston and Garden City the student teachers are district employees which makes them eligible receive financial compensation. Partnerships between teacher preparation programs and school districts are not new, but the current teacher vacancy environment means creative thought must be employed. UNK and UNL are committed to being more focused, strategic, as well as exploring new partnerships (continued on page 7)

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

AFFILIA TE A WA RD S

NASA Honors Superintendent of the Year

r. John Skretta, Superintendent at Norris School District 160, was awarded Nebraska’s 2017-2018 Superintendent of the Year at November’s State Education Conference. Dr. Skretta has been a member of the Norris leadership team since 2004, starting as High School Principal, then moved into the Assistant Superintendent position before becoming Superintendent in 2010. John is active in many educational and community organizations including his current position of President-Elect of NASA. He has a passion for healthy living, which led him to an event at the White House in 2012 with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and earned him an award as one of ten national heroes featured by Fitness Magazine for outstanding leadership in healthy living. Patty Bentzinger, Norris Board President says, “John approaches his position with positivity, pragmatism, and humor. He models leadership in interactions with Norris staff, board members, and colleagues beyond the Norris district. He is clearly the educational leader, working with his administrative team to provide learning opportunities and learning strategies for staff and students alike. He represents the best of his profession.” Norris High School student council leader shares in the praise of Dr. Skretta in support of Norris students. He writes, “Outside of school, Dr. Skretta is a visible and involved community leader. It is clear he wants every Norris student to succeed

Dr. Mike Sieh presents Dr. Skretta’s award. and takes great pride in student success no matter how big or small that might be.” Congratulations to Dr. John Skretta, 2017-2018 Nebraska Superintendent of the Year! ■

Teacher Vacancy…(continued from page 6) that will result in more teachers moving directly to your districts and filling teacher vacancies. Specific involvement of Nebraska communities and other partner agencies will be vital to the success of this initiative. We must provide University students with specific information on your districts, your schools and your communities. University students are often unaware of the amenities many Nebraska communities have to offer nor are they aware of the high performing schools offering tremendous employment opportunities outside of where they have previously lived. Introducing that information to a pre-service teacher during their third year of school will allow them to consider other locations to complete their student teaching. Involving communities to creatively participate in the recruiting effort will serve only to enhance the attractiveness of a district. The sky’s the limit – community foundations or groups might consider offering anything from discounted housing during

student teaching semester, to a scholarship for a students’ senior year to a stipend or other incentives students would find attractive. Schools could provide job guarantees individually or in groups of districts to ensure that quality candidates remain in their classrooms as teachers. Both UNK and UNL look forward to working with your districts, schools and communities to decrease teacher vacancies, increase teacher candidates and ultimately ensure high quality educators are in front of each Nebraska student. If you are interested in being a part of the steering committee or partnering in this initiative, please contact Dr. Skretta at sskretta2@unl.edu or Dr. Feinstein at feinsteinsg@unk.edu. Nebraska educators and their communities have great potential for creatively addressing the teacher vacancy issue. Our children deserve our best efforts to move quickly in addressing vacancies and we look forward to achieving that end. Together we are stronger! ■

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

PA RTNERSHIP

Return to Learn: Comprehending concussions and understanding the law BY TYLER DAHLGREN, NCSA Communications Specialist

haron Royers was bent over, searching for a file on one of her Indian Hills Elementary students. The cabinet door above her, meanwhile, had swung open. The principal found what she was looking for, and stood up quickly. Her head violently collided with the corner of the door, one of those obnoxious every-day mishaps that are followed by some wincing and a four-letter word or two. This wasn’t a stubbed toe, or a jammed finger, however. It was a brain injury, impossible to see with the human eye, and it would change Royers’ life forever. “I knew I hit hard, but I did not realize that I had a concussion,” said Royers, who visited the school nurse but returned to work for a week before finally seeing a doctor. “I was diagnosed with a concussion, and was off work for a few days before becoming symptom free.” It was just a mild concussion. No big deal, she thought. Royers was advised to ease back into work, but there were things that needed to get done, and the life of a school administrator doesn’t slow down because of a knock on the noggin’. “I didn’t realize that things could get worse than a mild concussion,” Royers admits. “It became very serious. I became very sensitive to light and sound. I had to receive physical and occupational therapy to restore my balance and ocular motor skills.” She returned to Indian Hills two months later in a part time role, and, with the help of a retired principal that had been hired additionally, made it another month. Royers was able to do her job, but the energy to do it to the level she had throughout her career never returned. “After a year and a half of trying to work on a concussed brain, I had to retire,” Royers said. “It’s been over three years since my original concussion, and I am mostly symptom-free and can mostly do what I used to be able to do. I still have to be careful about not overdoing it. I can still get headaches and become overwhelmed and my brain can still become very tired.” Royers has to be mindful of all those things, but her injury inspired a new mission and purpose for the retired elementary principal. “My message is, and the lesson that I took away from this, is the importance of not returning to school or work too soon on even a mildly concussed brain,” Royers said. “It is a very dangerous thing to do. It can steal years of your life if you do it. That’s what I’ve learned.” Concussions are very real. Their symptoms are very real, and

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Reisher (left) and Royers (right) are advocates for concussion awareness. Reisher is the Executive Director for Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska, while Royers was principal of Indian Hills Elementary in Omaha before a debilitating brain injury forced her into retirement. every day the world is learning more about the long-lasting effects of injuries to the brain. Ignorance is a thing of the past, but there’s still a long ways to go. “For the most part, people understand, or at least hear the word ‘concussion’ and think they understand what it means,” said Peggy Reisher, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. “If you were to ask them, however, to define ‘concussion’ and ask them to recognize signs and symptoms, I think that is where we are falling short.” The Nebraska State Legislature enacted the Concussion Awareness Act in 2012, with three main components: 1. Concussion education training must be made available to all coaches on how to recognize symptoms of a concussion and how to seek proper medical treatment. 2. Youth athletes and parents must be provided with information about concussions prior to an athlete’s participation in sanctioned sports on an annual basis. 3. A youth athlete suspected of having a concussion must be removed from participation and may not return until evaluated by an appropriate licensed health care professional. In 2014, the Act was amended, requiring schools to

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implement a “Return to Learn” protocol for students that had suffered a concussion. Reisher worries that administrators sometimes don’t realize that Return to Learn is in the law. A policy needs to be put in place. “Their schools are very much in jeopardy if they don’t have a policy set,” Reisher said. “More importantly, if they do have a policy in place, that it’s just not on the shelf, but that they are actually enacting those policies when injuries occur. It takes their leadership to drive that down through the administration.” Royers’ injury could just have easily happened to one of her students. In fact, data shows that nearly 1/3 of student concussions occur off the playing field. Car accidents, gym class, falling on the ice. Life happens, and people injure their heads. Royers advocates alongside Reisher now. As a former administrator, she understands the importance of communication when it comes to properly managing a student concussion. “Communication is very key and unfortunately right now in the state of Nebraska we don’t have a defined communication avenue in our school systems that is consistent across the state,” she said. “I’d like to see our administrators develop a defined avenue, because you cannot rely on the student who has a concussion to communicate for themselves. You simply can’t do that.” Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska, along with Children’s Hospital, University of Nebraska Medical Center, school representatives and others, is a part of the Nebraska Concussion Coalition. The coalition encourages anyone interested in the matter to get involved. There has been an extensive effort to spread the Return to Learn message, an important plight considering over 95 percent of schools reported having between 1 and 20 Return to Learn cases per school year in a 2016 survey conducted by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“We are really just trying to change the culture of concussions,” Reisher said. “I think we have done a good job creating a greater awareness. Now it comes down to the management and recognition of it. We have to get to the point where people aren’t just saying ‘Oh, that’s a concussion. That’s too bad’, but to where they’re equipped with the knowledge of proper management.” Reisher, a social worker by trade with more than 20 years of experience in the brain injury field, and Royers are focused on the management after diagnosis, particularly in the classroom. It sounds dramatic. We hear the word ‘Concussion’ and put it in the same class as the common cold. It’s not. “A concussion, hopefully, is a temporary condition that a student can move on from, returning to full capabilities, physically and mentally, within a few weeks,” Royers said. “If not managed properly, even a mild concussion can be debilitating for years, and in some cases, for life.” Reisher and Royers have made concussion management, and educating schools on the importance of Return to Learn their mission. They’ve seen progress. In 2016, about 84 percent of schools reported having a written Return to Learn policy established, up from 70.8 percent in 2015. Again, that statistic is good, but by the letter of the law, the figure should be 100 percent. No excuses. When it comes to the well-being of students, schools can’t afford to make them, and it starts from the top. “Teachers and students rely on the administration to define the process for concussion management,” Royers said. “We need administrators to define the safest process for the teachers, parents and students to use once a concussion occurs. We need to safeguard our students, until they are absolutely ready to return to the classroom.” ■

Save the Date! Emerging Administrators Workshop January 27 and February 3, 2018 NCSA Offices - Lincoln, NE

NASES Legislative Conference Feburary 1-2, 2018 The Graduate - Lincoln, NE

Book your Hotel room by January 11: 402-475-4011 Be sure to mention you are with NASES.

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

TRENDS I N SUP ERINTEND ENCY

Superintendent Turnover Remains Low for Fall 2017 BY DR. JAMES E. OSSIAN, Wayne State College

I Ossian

ntroduction The 49th Annual Gallup Poll is published in the September 2017 edition of the Phi Delta Kappan. Per usual, it is a good read. A majority of parents with public school children still rate their local schools with an A or B. However, they are less confident about the country’s public schools outside their home districts. Moreover, they are not fond of vouchers and place little value in standardized testing. The public strongly endorses career preparation and interpersonal development. In addition, poll respondents were solidly in favor of providing after school programs and mental health services. Racial and ethnic diversity was not judged highly important by whites, but Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to consider this issue as important. For the third consecutive year, respondents identified the lack of funding as the biggest problem for public schools. Marc Brackett, Director of Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, authored an interesting article that appeared in the March 2017 Kappan. He provides research showing that an emphasis on emotional intelligence does produce improved student academic performance. This finding meshes nicely with the Gallup Poll respondents’ support of interpersonal development. If administrators can find more time for my suggested readings, I highly recommend a powerful speech by NEA President, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, presented to the National Press Club on September 8, 2017. It can be found online and there is a You Tube video. She is not bashful about criticizing the Trump administration’s attacks on public education, particularly the machinations of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Several of DeVos’s actions were cited. One of the more alarming examples was the president’s proposed budget that slashes $10 billion from special education, Title One, after-school programs, and college work-study. Garcia pledges that NEA’s mission will be to make every public school as good as the best public schools. She closes defiantly with “We don’t intend to let anything stop us.” The New Year At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, there will be 33 school districts with a new executive leader, one more than a year ago. In all, there will be 240 individuals in the superintendent role for

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

244 districts, including four who will be serving as superintendents in two different districts. There was one merger; Lynch and Boyd County Unified joined to form the Boyd County Schools. Turnover for this fall left the 39-year average at 40.2 per year. Accordingly, the 13.5% turnover rate from last year rose slightly to 14.2% for fall 2017. The median tenure-in-position figure increased from 4.50 years to 4.68 years, and the average tenure-in-position grew from 5.95 years to 6.14. National publications that focus on the school superintendency agree that the average superintendent tenure across the country is approximately six years. Obviously, the Nebraska numbers reflect that trend. Of the 29 individuals who left a Nebraska Superintendency last year, 16 retired, eight moved to another in-state superintendent or ESU administrator position, one accepted an out-of-state superintendency, four left the profession at least for the time being, and Bob Uhing moved from ESU 1 to a professorship at Wayne State College. Fourteen of the superintendents in year one are assuming the top executive post for the first time, and 90 of 24 (37.5%) superintendent positions will involve three years or less tenure in the same district, including the 2017-2018 school year. The Veterans For the past 39 years, the number of Nebraska superintendents with 20 or more year’s tenure in the same school district has averaged 13.6, with the high-water mark being 28 in the fall of 1991. Again, there are only four with 20-plus years to begin the 2017-2018 school year. Pending retirements, this figure will probably be about the same over the next few years. Most likely, double-digit numbers will not return in the near future. The four 20-plus veterans are Jon Cerny, 25 years at Bancroft-Rosalie; Jack Moles, 22 years at Johnson County Central; and Jay Bellar, Battle Creek, and Dan Bird, Burwell, at 20 years. Those who have been on the job between 15 and 19 years in the same district include: Kevin Riley, Gretna (19); Bob Hanzlik, Stuart (18); Jeff Anderson, Fullerton; Brad Buller, Syracuse; Mike Sieh, Stanton; and Mike Teahon, Gothenburg, all at 16 years; and Greg Sjuts, Humphrey (15). The numbers for other superintendents with double-digit tenure are seven with 14 years, four with 13 years, five with 12 years, nine with 11 years, and 11 with 10 years.

TRENDS I N SUP ERINTEND ENCY

The Super Supes There are still three experienced superintendents and one service-unit director who have chalked up at least 25 years of administrative service. Once more, please inform me if you know of any individuals who are approaching the 25-year mark in total tenure as a school superintendent and/or service-unit director. Wayne Bell: Grant, Gothenburg, and ESU 10, 39 years; Dale Rawson: Benkelman, Kansas Schools, and Mead, 36 years; Tom Sandberg, Axtell and Wallace, 26 years; and Jon Cerny, 25 years. Best wishes to these veterans for continuing their productive careers. Service Unit Directors This is the seventh year in which ESU administrators are being recognized in this annual article. They are an experienced and capable group of educators, whose organizations provide invaluable assistance, ranging from staff development to technology, for the P-12 districts in their service areas. Wayne Bell, ESU 10 in Kearney, tops the tenure list with 24 years. Other ESU directors and their years at the helm include: Dan Shoemake, ESU 6 at Milford (12); Jeff West, ESU 13 at Scottsbluff and Paul Calvert, ESU 15 at Trenton (9); Kraig Lofquist, ESU 9 at Hastings (7); Bill Mowinkel, ESU 8 at Neligh (5); Ted DeTurk, ESU 2 at Fremont; Larianne Polk, ESU 7 at Columbus; Dan Schnoes, ESU 3 in suburban Omaha; and Liz Standish, ESU 18 in Lincoln (4); Brenda McNiff, ESU 5 in Beatrice; Deb Paulman, ESU 16 in Ogallala and Geraldine Erickson, ESU 17 at Ainsworth (2); Bill Heimann, ESU 1 in Wakefield; Greg Robke, ESU 4 in Auburn; Greg Barnes, ESU 11 in Holdrege; and Connie Wickham, ESU 19 in Omaha (1). Women Superintendents The total number of women superintendents is 33 for the fall of 2017, one less than the 34 from last year. That number was the highest figure recorded in Nebraska since the end of WWII. Tenure leaders are Jamie Isom at Valentine and Lana Sides at Banner County, both with 14 years at the helm. Entering year 11 are Holly Herzberg, Hampton; Margaret Sandoz, Niobrara; Amy Shane, O’Neill; and Paula Sissel, Garden County. Trudy Clark, Bruning-Davenport; Melissa Wheelock, Minden; and Dana Wiseman, Sutton, are beginning their 10th year. Women in year one of the Superintendency are Kari Daniels, Santee; Nicole Hardwick, Boone Central (4 years at Loomis previously); Dottie Heusman, Sterling; and Stephanie Peterson, Leigh (2 years at Creighton previously). For fall 2017, 33 of 240 (13.7%) Nebraska superintendents are women. The number of female Nebraska school executives is gradually increasing but still considerably short of the national average. AASA’s Decennial Report, authored by Ted Kowalski in 2010, indicated that the national percentage of female superintendents was 24%. A five-year update of that report in 2015 showed that the percentage had grown to 27%.

Other Nebraska women in the fall 2017 group are as follows: Lynn Johnson, Arlington (9 yrs.); Joan Carraher, Cedar Rapids/ Spalding, Amy Malander, Central Valley, and Caroline Winchester, Chadron (8 yrs.); Ginger Meyer, Scribner-Snyder and Julie Otero, Centura (7 yrs.); Beth Johnsen, Conestoga (6 yrs.); Jane Davis, Hershey, and Jami Jo Thompson, Norfolk (5 yrs.); Melissa Poloncic, Douglas County West, and Kate Urbanek, Mitchell (4 yrs.); Candace Conradt, Franklin, Sherrie Edmundson, Humboldt-TR, Stacie Hardy, Omaha Nation, Dawn Lewis, Arnold and Callaway, Lori Liggett, Gordon-Rushville, and Lorrie Miller, McPherson CO. (3 yrs.); Lindsey Burback, Emerson-Hubbard; Tawana Grover, Grand Island; and Cindy Huff, Maywood (2 yrs.). Nebraska Public School District Supt. Data, Fall 1979, 2000, 2017 Item

1979

2000

2017

School Districts

317

275

244

Number of Superintendents

317

261

240

Median Tenure in Position

3.97

3.74

4.68

Average Tenure in Position

6.16

6.36

6.14

Supt. with 1-Year Tenure

Percent Turnover

17.7

18.9

14.2

Supt. with 20+ Years Tenure

Women Superintendents

Looking Ahead Every year I attempt to identify consistent trends in the annual superintendent turnover data. The increase in female superintendents and the dwindling number of school districts are usually the featured trends. The trend for female leaders is holding; however, school reorganization has not seen much activity. For whatever reasons, the dual Superintendency is losing favor as a popular option. While the number of school leaders serving more than one district over the past decade has been as high as 14, normally in the low teens, the figure now stands at four. Declining population in the rural areas of the state might spur more decisions in this regard. Nebraska educational leaders continue to have a full plate. NDE mandates have not been reduced; however, the total pot of state money for schools is shrinking. Nebraska school superintendents are a competent and creative group. Those talents will serve them well in the challenging years ahead. Vincit Qui Patitur“He who endures conquers” Many colleagues assist in the production of this annual report, including Dr. Craig Pease and Dr. Bob Uhing at Wayne State College and Dr. Dan Ernst, Associate Director of NCSA. ■

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

AFFILIA TE A W A RD S

NAESP Announces National Distinguished Principal From Nebraska

he Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals is pleased to announce that Mrs. Mary Derby, Principal at Eisenhower Elementary within the North Platte Public Schools, has been named the 2018 National Distinguished Principal from Nebraska. Mary has served as a principal in North Platte Public Schools for the past 19 years, during which she has been principal at four elementary buildings and associate principal at one middle school. Mary demonstrates much pride and passion as an elementary principal and noted three significant accomplishments in her career as a principal. These accomplishments include maintaining a focus on what makes a difference for student success; leadership in curriculum development and assessment; and implementation of a school-wide discipline plan, bullying plan of action, and PBiS implementation. Denise DiGiovanni, North Platte Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning writes, “Throughout her tenure in our district, Mrs. Derby has distinguished herself as a caring, conscientious, and committed educator. She has a passion for serving

others, as well as a resolute desire to learn and to develop as a leader. No matter the situation, her focus is always to make the school and community a successful place for students and staff to learn and grow.” NAESP is extremely proud to have Mary represent Nebraska in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2018 as NDP. Congratulations, Mary! ■

NAESP Announces Outstanding New Principal of the Year

issy Friend, Principal at Maxwell Elementary School, has been named Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals, New Principal of the Year for 2017-

2018. Missy taught for seventeen years in Maxwell Public Schools before becoming the first full-time elementary principal at Maxwell Elementary in 2014. Todd Rhodes, Superintendent of Maxwell Public Schools writes “In whatever role Mrs. Friend has assumed she has been insightful and works diligently to understand the big picture. She has approached her duties with a high-level of professionalism, high expectations, and a strong feel for working with all people. Her working relationship with fellow teachers, administrators, and parents is excellent. Mrs. Friend is a professional who can make a difference.” Missy has been involved in many organizations including the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, and member of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Missy was also honored in 2015 with America’s Farmers Grow Rural

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

Education Monsanto Fund Grant. Congratulations to Missy Friend for great work in her first years as a principal and the honor of being 2017-2018 NAESP New Principal of the Year. ■

AFFILIA TE A W A RD S

NSASSP Announces 2018 Assistant Principal of the Year

ill Johnson of Seward High School has been recognized by the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals as the 2018 Assistant Principal of the Year. Mrs. Johnson has been involved in education since 1991 and for the past two years has served as the Assistant Principal at Seward High School. Prior to that she was the Professional Development Consultant for ESU 6 in Milford as well as an Adjunct Professor for Doane College and Southeast Community College. Mrs. Johnson is a active member of many associations including the National and State Associations of Secondary School Principals, Nebraska Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and Nebraska Council of School Administrators. In her community Mrs. Johnson serves on the Board of Regents for Concordia University. She is also a TeamMates Program Mentor and an active member of St. John Lutheran Church. Mrs. Johnson has been a presenter at numerous state and national conferences. Mrs. Johnson shared, “I strive to bring energy and enthusiasm to everything I do in order to highlight the best in others and ensure all feel honored and important. Surrounded by an

exceptional staff and outstanding students, I feel blessed to come to work every day.” Scott Axt, Principal of Seward High School, states, “Mrs. Johnson is honest, trustworthy, loyal and unafraid to do what is best for students. Her work ethic, creativity, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and her passion for education are incredible and inspiring. Mrs. Johnson is an outstanding educator and a kind, compassionate, giving human being. She is someone that epitomizes an award such as this.” Congratulations to Jill Johnson, NSASSP Assistant Principal of the Year! ■

NSASSP Announces 2018 Outstanding New Principal of the Year

he Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals has selected Johnnie Ostermeyer as the 2018 Outstanding New Principal of the Year. Mr. Ostermeyer has been in education since 2003 and has been the Principal at Crofton Jr./Sr. High School since 2015. Mr. Ostermeyer 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 three years amongst other memberships. Under Mr. Ostermeyer’s leadership, Crofton Jr./Sr. High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School for the 2016-17 school year. While in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ostermeyer lead a round-table discussion on interventions for all students, with a focus on at-risk, struggling students. Corey Dahl, Superintendent of Crofton Community School, praised Mr. Ostermeyer, noting, “Mr. Ostermeyer holds high expectations for all students. He is very consistent and fair regarding student discipline. By being consistent and fair the students have also gained respect for his expectations.”

Congratulations to Johnnie Ostermeyer for his outstanding start as a Secondary School Principal. We appreciate his early contributions to our profession and are proud to name him New Principal of the Year. ■

WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

I Love Public Schools Day. A day devoted to celebrating our teachers, students, and public school communities.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Wednesday, January 24 Share why you love public schools with #ilovepublicschools

EHA UP D A TE

The Value of Understanding Health Care BY GREG LONG, EHA Field Representative

A Long

s the EHA Field Representative I hear all the comments, “I wish I knew before this happened.” or “Why didn’t I do this earlier?” My favorite quote as of today is, “There has to be a catch! This is too good to be true!” Do you know the deductible amount that you have for your healthcare? After the deductible is reached, what is the next step? Do you know your out-of-pocket maximum for both an individual and family? Can you differentiate between the PPO plan and the High Deductible HSA healthcare plan? Are you utilizing your healthcare to its maximum? If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, you may not be controlling your healthcare, therefore not maximizing your benefits. Benefits you pay for. Knowing the answers to the latter questions can make a huge difference. Educating yourself on your benefits may save you thousands in out of pocket costs. In addition may add thousands of dollars into your Health Savings Account. The difference between the $900.00 PPO plan and the $3500.00 could be staggering in both directions. What can you do? Know your needs is first and foremost. Are you a high utilizer? Is your family or one family member maxing out on the PPO plan? This all can be found at www.MYBLUE.com on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska’s website. It is essential that before you know your healthcare you also must know your needs. Being on ANY of the Educator’s Health Alliance PPO plans is a great option. Our deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums beat the national average. Knowing your deductible and maximum spending is crucial, but that only tells half the story. What about the nuts and bolts of the plan? First of all copays do not go towards your deductible but do go towards your maximum outof-pocket. All claims after the copays do go towards your deductible. Once you hit the deductible mark your coinsurance kicks in, meaning Blue Cross Blue Shield pays 80% and you pay 20%. In a family plan one per-

son may be at the 20% threshold leaving the rest of the family on the other deductible combined. A family maximum before BCBS covers all at 80/20 depends on your PPO plan. The general rule is the family deductible is double of the individual and the family maximum is double the individual maximum. All of the above information can be overwhelming! The Educators Health Alliance is committed to assisting in the learning process for all our members so that every individual and every family is on the best plan that fits their individual needs. To schedule your learning session for your district please call Greg Long of the EHA at 402-440-9633 to schedule a Know Your Healthcare session. ■

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WINTER 2018 NCSA TODAY

NCSA REP ORT

NCSA held its annual Nebraska football tailgate prior to the Wisconsin game on October 7, complete with great food, people, and tunes provided by the Big Red Alumni Band.

Commissioner of Education Dr. Matt Blomstedt stopped by the NCSA tailgate on October 7.

Steve Munch with CashWa helps serve one of the younger attendees at this year’s event.

National Convention Dates AASA– February 15-17, 2018 – Nashville, TN ASCD – March 24-26, 2018 – Boston, MA NAESP – July 9-11, 2018 – Orlando, FL NASSP – July 11-13, 2018 – Chicago, IL ASBO – September 21-24, 2018 – Kissimmee, FL CASE – November 8-10, 2018 – Biloxi, MS

NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

Gold Sponsorships Ameritas Investment Corp. Dallas Watkins dallas.watkins@ameritas.com 5900 O Street, 1st Floor Lincoln, NE 68510 800-700-2362 ameritas.com

Boyd Jones Construction Lissa Marshall LMarshall@boydjones.biz 333 So. 9th Street Lincoln, NE 68508 402-318-4794 boydjones.biz

Compass Fiancial 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

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Mick Anderson andersonmd@unk.edu Rm 220E WSTCâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;UNK Campus 1917 W. 24th Street Kearney, NE 68849 308-865-8258 www.greatplainssafety.com

EHA Wellness

Horace Mann

DLR Group

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Ty Christensen tchristensen@insuringsuccess.com 19016 Costanzo Circle Elkhorn, NE 68022 402-960-5387 insuringsuccess.com

John Baylor Prep

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Johnson Controls

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John Baylor john@johnbaylorprep.com P.O. Box 30792 Lincoln, NE 68503 402-475-7737 johnbaylorprep.com

Corey Atkinson caa@su-inc.com 5015 S. Broadband Lane Sioux Falls, SD 57108 605-361-2073 su.inc.com

Becky Ferguson P.O. Box 82529 Lincoln, NE 68501 402-323-1334 Becky.Ferguson@ubt.com www.ubt.com NCSA TODAY WINTER 2018

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

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NE Public Agency Investment Trust

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ESUCC

Silver Sponsorships Tim Moravec tmoravec@awardsunlimited.com 360 SW 27th Street Lincoln, NE 68522 800-950-3553 www.awardsunlimited.com

Great Plains Safety and Health Organization

Bronze Sponsorships K12itc., Inc.

Fred Helmink Fred.Helmink@k12itc.com 63rd Terrace Kansas City, MO 64151 816-533-5998 | www.k12it.com

Kearney Visitors Bureau

Sarah Focke sfocke@visitkearney.org POâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;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

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Nebraska Council of School Administrators 455 So. 11th Street, Suite A â&#x20AC;¢ Lincoln, NE 68508-2105 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

C ALE ND A R OF EVENTS JANUARY January 27

Emerging Administrators, Day 1 of 2

NCSA

Lincoln

February 1-2

NASES Legislative Conference

Graduate

Lincoln

February 3

Emerging Administrators, Day 2 of 2

NCSA

Lincoln

February 21-22

Education Forum

Younes Conf. Center

Kearney

FEBRUARY

MARCH March 14 GRIT Cornhusker Marriott Lincoln

APRIL April 11-13

NASBO State Convention

Cornhusker Marriott

Lincoln

April 16-17 AQuESTT Younes Conf Center Kearney

MAY May 3-4 NASES Spring Conference Ramada Inn Columbus Region Meeting dates can be found on the NCSA website.