Nebraska Public School Advantage News

Nebraska Public School Advantage News

The Christmas Store: Students discover the reason for the season

The Christmas Store: Students discover the reason for the season

December 22, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren Gordon Elementary students walk into their school’s gymnasium, which for a couple December days has been transformed into a holiday-themed winter wonderland called the Christmas Store. It’s amazing how their eyes light up, said principal Casey Slama, then dart from table to table in instant pursuit of the perfect Christmas gift. There’s “Oohs!” and “Aahs!”, a rush of collective...Read More

The Breakfast Club: Lincoln Elementary staff strives to "make kids smile, every day"

The Breakfast Club: Lincoln Elementary staff strives to "make kids smile, every day"

December 19, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren Every student at Lincoln Elementary in Hastings deserves high expectations, and the school’s staff is passionately adamant about providing them. No matter the odds. Principal Cara Kimball and her pack of tight-knit teachers don’t pay any attention to those anyways. With a staggering 93 percent of their student body below the poverty rate, Lincoln’s staff can’t afford to. “We are...Read More

The Winston Way: Fremont therapy dog "makes everybody happy"

The Winston Way: Fremont therapy dog "makes everybody happy"

December 12, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren Almost every morning, Winston trots into his workplace on all fours and becomes overwhelmed with excitement, announcing his presence to his friends at Fremont Middle School with an echoing howl. Anne Echtinaw wishes her four-year-old golden doodle wouldn’t make such a noisy entrance, but the morning ritual isn’t entirely Winston’s fault. You see, Winston is a popular pup. Very,...Read More

Retracing Our Steps: Fall Semester 2017

Retracing Our Steps: Fall Semester 2017

December 4, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren Blink your eyes once and you’re staring directly at the Holiday break. It certainly never seemed that way as a student, but for a guy that darts around the state from district to district telling your stories of public school success, August, September, October and November passed by in one crazy and fun blur. We’re not quite done with 2017 yet, with a handful of visits and...Read More

Springboard to the Future: SENCAP sets students up for success

Springboard to the Future: SENCAP sets students up for success

November 13, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren NCSA Communications Specialist Dr. 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...Read More

From Panhandle to Spotlight: An electronics class, their drones, and national acclaim

From Panhandle to Spotlight: An electronics class, their drones, and national acclaim

November 7, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren The Journey The idea was simple, really. Instead of showering entire fields of crops with pesticides and herbicides, what if a drone could be used to detect the precise location of weeds? The ability to target specific portions of a crop would eliminate the need to blanket spray a field. The ensuing journey, which started with a submission into Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow...Read More

Teacher Feature: The moments that matter

Teacher Feature: The moments that matter

November 3, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren For Stacy Quinteros, gratification often comes from a head nod. An affirmation of understanding from a proud student to their teacher, these moments are simple, and even ordinary in most classroom settings. For Quinteros, an English Language Learner teacher to 50 students in Gibbon, they’re the ones that matter the most. “The most rewarding part of what I do is getting those Aha...Read More

A Lost Creek Dream: Inclusive Playground brings joy to ALL in Columbus

A Lost Creek Dream: Inclusive Playground brings joy to ALL in Columbus

October 25, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren There were magic moments in Columbus last Tuesday night, as a dream more than two and a half years in the making became a heart-warming reality. The grand opening for the Columbus Inclusive Playground drew a large crowd to Lost Creek Elementary School, where students, ALL students, laughed and played under a warm October sun. “It was incredible,” said Megan Johnson, special...Read More

Cultivating Culture: Clarkson aims to "Be the Story"

Cultivating Culture: Clarkson aims to "Be the Story"

October 20, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren Setting the Scene Lee Schneider’s made-for-television movie begins here, at sunset deep in the dunes of the Nebraska Sandhills. The second-year principal’s arms are fully extended to reach his motorcycle’s gorilla ape handlebars. His do-rag flutters in the wind as he drifts down a steep hill, picking up more and more speed with each line of “I Need a Hero” Bonnie Tyler belts out...Read More

Where Seeds are Sown: Committee reaches out, connects with Chadron community

Where Seeds are Sown: Committee reaches out, connects with Chadron community

October 18, 2017
By Tyler Dahlgren The Committee Chadron Public Schools have long leaned on strategic planning, a necessity for similar western Nebraska towns where stakeholder input carries substantial and influential value. Vice President of Chadron’s Board of Education, Sandy Roes speaks candidly about the importance of engagement. “We live and die by collaboration,” Roes said. “We don’t have the resources to...Read More

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