Together, we will get through this

As we sit on the cusp of opening our schools after more than five months of relative closure, I feel confident we have developed an excellent plan that is designed to mitigate risk of spread and provide choices to students and parents. This plan is far from perfect and we …

Challenging times but light ahead

Well, we made it through April and May with mixed results regarding our conversion to remote learning. Despite gargantuan efforts by teachers and administrators to connect with each student, we averaged around 70 percent engagement through fourth quarter. Some of that was due to the manner in which courses were …

Student success reminds us of our mission in 2020

I abhor shopping and I will do almost anything to avoid having to do it. However, it seems that each time I venture out to shop in Lincoln I come home with another heart-warming story from a Lincoln Public Schools student or alum. Just recently I heard from a University …

Proud to be a part of the public education system in America

Following graduation from MacArthur High School in Levittown, N.Y., I accepted an athletic scholarship to Doane College in Crete. (Actually, my father accepted to get me out of New York post-Vietnam.) It was an interesting venture, as my family had never been west of New Jersey. It was an incredibly …

Visiting the past to appreciate the present

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I attended a wedding in New York.  We always enjoy visiting the place where we both were raised – reminiscing about our childhoods and soaking in the memories. Long Island, New York in the 1960s was a wonderful place to grow up …

LPS believes in developing “whole” child

Football season has arrived and once again I am reminded, I really enjoy the game. In fact, I have always felt athletics offered kids incredible opportunities to experience what it was like to be on a team working toward a common goal – as a participant through my college years, …

Welcoming students to the new year with respect and kindness

We are fast approaching the excitement of the beginning of another school year and the first day of classes for Lincoln Public Schools – Monday, August 12 – and we are ready to welcome more than 42,000 eager-to-learn students arriving for 2019-2020. The first days are always filled with bliss …

A newspaper junkie laments challenges of misinformation

There are days when I feel like I am the last person around who actually reads a physical newspaper – as I lament their ultimate demise with a “what will I do now” reaction.  I grew up reading and believing in newspapers – in fact, I looked forward to my …

An unexpected reunion, a surprise reminder of gratitude

This is always one of the best times of the year for celebratory events, and student and staff acknowledgements, as we are finishing fast to put another year into the books. With about five weeks left, there is much work yet to accomplish and everyone is focused, yet we still …