As superintendents of the 11 school districts that make up the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, we want to take full advantage of the awe-inspiring early years when children’s brains develop most rapidly.

We want young children, especially those living in poverty, to receive quality early childhood services from birth to Grade 3. We want families to feel welcome at our schools. And for the last 11 years, we’ve achieved that in the Omaha area under an ambitious initiative: the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan.

So, in March, when a national early childhood expert spoke in Omaha about the importance of forging strong relationships between schools and families, several current and former superintendents found ourselves nodding in agreement and recognition.

The plan was developed by superintendents and school staff, alongside the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, to ensure all children are ready to learn and excel. Eleven superintendents endorsed it unanimously in July 2014.

It is funded through the vision and leadership of the Learning Community and stands as an example of collaboration that extends beyond school boundaries. Our support remains steadfast to this day, as the plan serves more than 2,800 children at the more intensive School as Hub sites.

That number climbs to 15,000 students affected when you consider school administrators and staff who receive professional development, coaching and other services.

National Perspective

At the March 27 Superintendents’ Plan gathering, we listened as speaker Edward Manuszak, the executive director of early childhood at Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Michigan and a former superintendent himself, talked about early childhood education’s return on investment and the path that Omaha-area school districts have blazed.

Influenced by the Superintendents’ Plan, Manuszak encouraged school districts to adopt a similar model in Monroe County, Michigan. “You’re leading the nation with this work,” he said.

The event was attended by dozens of education partners, including superintendents, principals, school staff, community and nonprofit leaders, and members of the Learning Community Coordinating Council. Improving outcomes for children in our community requires a communitywide response.

Under the plan, there are now 10 School as Hub schools providing comprehensive services to families in the Bellevue, Douglas County West, Millard, Omaha, Ralston, and Westside districts. Bennington, Elkhorn, Gretna, and Papillion-La Vista receive consulting to meet district-specific early childhood goals.

Local Progress

Here’s what this looks like in practice:

Home visitors show new parents how to read and talk to their infants to spark brain development. Families can enroll their child in high-quality preschools. Teachers and principals receive training on the best early learning practices.

And we know one key fact—it is working. Principals at School as Hub schools report 100% of Kindergarten classrooms met growth goals for math and reading. These schools also found improvements in teacher-child interactions and instruction through 3rd Grade. Participating families note increased connection with school staff and reduced stress.

Schools are engaging families in new and meaningful ways:

In addition to home visits and family engagement, Omaha Public Schools is leveraging staff to build a community and child care network through training and a collective focus on early childhood success. That includes new community facilitators who connect North and South Omaha schools with community child care programs serving future Omaha students.

In Millard, where deeper parent and guardian engagement has been a priority, Sandoz Elementary celebrates students’ family history and stories at its school events.

At Westbrook Elementary in Westside, an after-school “park and play” program allows babies and toddlers to play together while parents pick up their school-age siblings.

This kind of work is slow and deliberate. Success does not happen overnight. But we are honored to participate in an innovative program helping children learn long before they enter our school doors.

These early years matter so much. Let’s continue to make the most of this crucial time so all children have the opportunity to succeed.

The co-authors are the 11 superintendents leading the school districts in Sarpy and Douglas Counties in Nebraska and Terry Haack, the executive director of the Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium and the former superintendent of Bennington Public Schools.

Who Is Participating

The Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium

includes the following superintendents:

Jason Buckingham, Ralston Public Schools

Bary Habrock, Elkhorn Public Schools

Travis Lightle, Gretna Public Schools

Mike Lucas, Westside Community Schools

Aaron Plas, Bennington Public Schools

Melissa Poloncic, Douglas County West Community Schools

Matthew Ray, Omaha Public Schools

Andrew Rikli, Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Jeff Rippe, Bellevue Public Schools

Ryan Saunders, Springfield Platteview Community Schools

John Schwartz, Millard Public Schools.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/25/superintendents-early-childhood-plan-a-decade-of-omaha-metro-success/

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