Nebraska Afterschool Conference

A block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn has been set up for both Wednesday (9/23) and Thursday (9/24) nights. The group rate is $144.00/night, plus tax (when applicable). The Fairfield Inn offers a suite of amenities, including:

• Indoor pool and whirlpool
• Fitness Center
• On-site restaurant
• On-site laundry
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free buffet & hot breakfast

Reservations can be made by contacting the Fairfield Inn at +1 (308) 236-4200. Make sure to let them know you are with the GetConnected Conference to secure the group rate.

*Note: The group rate is only available for the reserved block of rooms. Once all the rooms in the block are reserved, standard rates and fees will apply.

View the digital conference program here, or read below for a high-level overview.

The following is a simple conference schedule. See the “Workshops” tab for a list of workshops offered during each session!

Registration/Check-In/Breakfast: 7:00-8:30 am (on-site registration will be available but does not guarantee a meal)

Workshop I: 8:30-9:20 am

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 9:20-9:40 am

Workshop II: 9:40-10:30 am

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 10:30-10:50 am

Workshop III: 10:50-11:40 am

Lunch and Keynote: 11:45 am-1:00 pm

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 1:00-1:20 pm

Workshop IV: 1:20-2:10 pm

Awards: 2:15-3:15 pm

Conference ends at 3:15 pm.

Monica Dixon, Senior Director of Solutions- Search Institute

Behavior is a Signal: Reframing Student Behavior Through Developmental Relationships

As Senior Director of Solutions, Monica Dixon leads the design and continuous improvement teams who are dedicated to cultivating and inspiring the youth support ecosystem that provides young people with more equitable access to the relationships and resources they need to thrive. In her role she is focused on creating and improving Search Institute’s solutions portfolio including resources, tools, professional learning experiences, measurement tools and continuous improvement that empowers organizations to make meaningful change in their programs and practices.

Prior to joining Search Institute, Monica led statewide, district and school planning, professional learning, and implementation and evaluation of an Equity-based Multi-Tiered System of Support (EBMTSS) with the SWIFT Education Center. Her passion for youth development began over two decades ago, while working with an out of school time program, supporting youth in under-resourced communities, which led her to become a high school social studies teacher for 17 years, furthering her dedication to improving outcomes for young people.

She spent more than 20 years in a large urban school district as a youth driven and justice focused classroom teacher, school, and district leader, working to close the gap with historically marginalized students in AP and Honors Courses.

Monica has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and an MS in Secondary Education from University of Nebraska at Omaha, and an Ed.S. in K-12 Superintendency from Northwest Missouri State University. As a practitioner with decades of experience serving youth in and out of school, Monica believes that true expertise rests with listening, learning and using systems thinking and implementation science to organize adults and communities to prioritize a true sense of belonging for youth.

Congratulations to the 2026 awardee, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer!

Bob Whitehouse ELO Policy Champion Award

Regent Bob Whitehouse (1944-2022) was a lifelong champion of education. He was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2006, was reelected in 2012 and served as Chairman of the Board in 2011 and 2017. Throughout his long career, Bob also worked as a teacher and coach at Omaha Central High school, Principal at Bryan Senior High School, Adjunct Professor at UNO, Coordinator of the Educational Leadership Institute, Education Consultant for OPS. Later in his career, Bob shifted his focus to expanded learning opportunities, serving as the first Coordinator of the Middle School Learning Initiative, Board Chair of Collective for Youth and on the leadership team for Beyond School Bells. Nebraska would be hard-pressed to find another person in this state who has dedicated their life so fully to supporting educational excellence and expanded learning opportunities.

Because of his outstanding leadership, the conference committee created the ELO Policy Champion award in his name in 2018. The Bob Whitehouse ELO Policy Champion award honors organizations or individuals who exhibit an exceptional commitment to ELO policy, reflective of the life and work of Bob Whitehouse.

Past Awardees

2022 Awardee- Nicole Vint, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

The 2022 Bob Whitehouse Policy Champion award was presented to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. During the COVID-19 crisis, DHHS utilized Federal CARES Act funding to provide millions of dollars of direct support to Nebraska childcare providers, including school-based afterschool and summer programs. The timely support allowed countless providers across the state to keep the lights on in these vital programs that are meeting the needs of youth, families, and communities across Nebraska.

2019 Awardee- Former Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler

The 2019 Bob Whitehouse Policy Champion award was presented to Chris Beutler. Beutler grew up in Omaha. He attended Yale, was inspired by President John F. Kennedy to serve in the Peace Corps, then got drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. He attended law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and he eventually settled back in Lincoln. He always wanted a career in public service, so when a legislative seat opened up in the district where he lived, he ran and won in 1978. Chris served in the legislature until 2007. That’s the same year he was elected mayor of Lincoln. In his twelve-year service as mayor, Chris placed a heavy emphasis on partnerships with companies, nonprofits and other governmental entities, which were key to many of the major positive changes to Lincoln in the past 12 years, including the construction of Pinnacle Bank Arena. His championing of afterschool education, arts infrastructure and parks and recreation helped lead Lincoln to its vibrancy today. Chris is married to wife Judy Beutler and five grown children plus grandchildren that keep him busy in this next chapter of his life.

2018 Awardee- State Sen. Merv Riepe

The inaugural 2018 Bob Whitehouse Policy Champion award was presented to Nebraska state Senator Merv Riepe. Riepe graduated from Griswold High School in 1960, then served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1963. In 1968, he received a B.S. in finance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; in 1970, an M.A. in health policy and management from the University of Iowa. After leaving the Navy, Riepe worked in the field of health-care management. In 1964, he was named director of the Respiratory Therapy Department at Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha. He eventually served, at various times, as chief operating officer and interim CEO of Bergan Mercy; as president of Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa; and as president of Children’s Physicians, a joint venture of Omaha’s Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Creighton University. After retiring from Children’s Health Network in 2008, he worked as a health-care consultant. In 2013, Riepe ran for the Nebraska Legislature in the 12th district, where he currently continues to serve the people of Nebraska.

To get credit for the CEUs earned by attending the conference:

1. Download the fillable certificate (linked to the left).
2. Use the drop down to select how many hours you attended the conference for.
3. Fill in your name on the top line.
4. On the second page, select which sessions you attended.
5. Save your changes and submit to the appropriate entities to receive your CEUs!