MAKING AN IMPACT

Nebraska’s success depends on people who can adapt to challenges, seize new opportunities, and spur innovation. These people don’t appear overnight – they are in molded in K-12 classrooms big and small across the state by teachers who are empowered to give tomorrow’s leaders the tools and inspiration they need to succeed today.

In this month’s edition of The Impact Statement we will explore how the University of Nebraska at Omaha is vital to the state’s future as a leading producer of our state’s teachers and what the university is doing to stay on the cutting edge of teacher education.

Governor Ricketts Recognizes Omaha STEM Ecosystem, Community Partners for STEM Education Efforts

The Omaha STEM Ecosystem (OSE) is comprised of numerous community partners, including UNO and the UNO STEM Teaching, Research, and Inquiry-based Learning (TRAIL) Center.

'Raise Me To Read' Recognized for Supporting Early School Success

Metro-Omaha Raise Me to Read is a program supported by UNO's Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC), a collaborative organization dedicated to public education and bringing together Omaha-area educators together to meet education commitments.

Dept. of Navy Grant Sparks Development of Cybersecurity Curriculum for Middle, High School Students

A new and engaging resource is now in development at UNO to help educate the next generation on staying safe from online hackers and scammers. The full curriculum will first be rolled out to about 20 programming sites across Nebraska then expand.

The Omaha World-Herald

"Editorial: Team Effort Can Help UNO's New Chancellor Succeed on Key Goals”

The Omaha World-Herald published an editorial that discusses the university’s growth, community and institutional partnerships, and increasingly diverse student population. It also talks about some of Chancellor Li’s achievements at her prior institution and what her track record could mean for the future of UNO.

KIOS

"UNO's Goodrich Scholarship Program More Than Money, It Also Mentors, Troy Romero Explains on KIOS-FM”

KIOS interviewed Troy Romero, Chair of the Goodrich Program at UNO, about the program’s role in providing mentorship and financial assistance to UNO students.

The Conversation

"Teaching Kids Social Responsibility – Like How to Settle Fights and Ask for Help – Can Reduce School Bullying”

The Conversation published an article by Jonathan B. Santo, Ph.D., Associate Director of the UNO Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and Associate Professor of Psychology, on the importance of equipping children with the skills necessary to care for their classmates' feelings, peacefully resolve conflicts, and in turn lower incidents of bullying.

Access the Experts is an innovative partnership between the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and News Channel Nebraska (NCN), where viewers submit their questions to be answered by UNO faculty members.

Question:

“What progress has been made in growing our STEM workforce in Nebraska?”

Answered by Christine Cutucache, Ph.D.

By Nancy Edick, Ed.D.

Lois G. Roskens Dean

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

Everyone has a story about an educator who inspired us and changed the trajectory of our lives. Ask a friend or family member to name a teacher who made an impact in their lives, and they will likely be able to explain, in great detail, how that person helped make breakthroughs in the classroom, opened their eyes to career paths, or even provided emotional support when things got tough at home.

Whether or not you realized it at the time, there is a good chance that educator who came into your life at a pivotal moment is a Maverick. Today, more than half of all teachers in the Omaha metro area and more than one third of teachers across the state have at least one degree from UNO.

As the dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS), the product of the college’s Bachelor of Science in elementary education and Master of Science in supervision and administration programs, and a former classroom teacher in Omaha Public Schools, I have seen firsthand how we prepare our teachers to do more than teach. We prepare our teachers to change lives.

In 2020 our Teacher Education Department was recognized by University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter with the University-Wide Departmental Teaching Award. “At the University of Nebraska, everything we do is about students – the young people who are the future leaders of our state,” Carter said. “UNO’s Teacher Education Department truly embodies that principle.”

In addition to this prestigious NU System honor, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), selected CEHHS’ Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders as one of eleven programs nationwide to help lead the development and implementation of improved special education teacher recruitment and retention, including shortages and a lack of diversity in the field.

These statewide and national recognitions underscore the incredible work our faculty do to equip the next generation of Maverick educators with the knowledge they need to succeed. But most important, they highlight the incredible responsibility we have to be on the cutting-edge of teacher preparation in order to change lives in classrooms across the state.

To learn more about how CEHHS is helping shape our state’s future, I invite you to explore our website and our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

POLL QUESTION:

In next month’s issue of The Impact Statement, what would you like to learn more about?

Want to visit campus to better understand UNO, our impact on the state, and our faculty's varied areas of expertise? Schedule a visit.