The Good News Series
Inspiring stories and positive messages about students, clients, and schools in Nebraska.
April 2020 
Good NEWSletter: Inside the New Classroom: Lexi Gardner, Lincoln High School
At first, Lexi Gardner was overwhelmed by the idea of converting her classroom courses to remote learning. “I kept thinking there was no way,” said the Lincoln High School English […]
April 2020 
Good NEWSletter: Columbus Public Schools Join Community in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Production
The idea came from a family member halfway across the country, but its impact, and those who are helping create it, will be felt in Columbus. Just days ago, Behlen […]
February 2020 
Good NEWSletter: Columbus High School Students Discover Job Opportunities with Behlen Manufacturing
For Columbus Public Schools (CPS), “discover” isn’t just a part of its mascot. It’s a highlight of its curriculum. Regardless of the area, students are encouraged to discover their passions, interests, […]
January 2020 
Good NEWSletter: National Recognition for Engineering and Technology Education
Westside Community Schools has been given two International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) for Program Excellence and Teacher Excellence awards. These are the latest highlights in a string of […]
January 2020 
Good NEWSletter: The Ride of a Lifetime
The following article and photos were submitted by Lincoln Southwest High School student journalists McKenna DeRiese, Milana Done’, and Thursey Cook. Lincoln Southwest High School freshman Gregory Burroughs was gifted an […]
December 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Students Repurpose Bar Soap to Give to Victory Place Veterans
The Archipelago at Grand Island Senior High (GISH) and the Indra House have partnered to rework donated hotel and motel soap bars for veterans living at Victory Place. The Archipelago […]
November 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska "Crunches" the Competition
Nebraska “crunched” eight other states in a friendly competition in October. In celebration of National Farm to School month, Nebraska joined Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, […]
September 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Thursdays Local Food for Nebraska Schools
Nebraska Thursdays supports schools statewide in serving and promoting locally-grown or locally-produced foods in school cafeterias on the first Thursday of each month. The Northeast Nebraska Cattlemen and the Wayne […]
August 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Students Leading the Nation
Nebraska students have a strong history of providing leadership at both a state and national level in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). This year five Nebraska students are taking […]
June 2019 
Good NEWSletter: One of a Kind Spanish Competition
Columbus High School hosted a Spanish Competition for the first time this year with 210 students from fourteen schools. Students from around the state showcased their Spanish skills in drama, […]
April 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Materials Matter: Choosing Curriculum
Every day, in classrooms all across the state, students are opening textbooks, logging on to computers, and completing worksheets. But where do all of those materials come from? And how […]
March 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska FCCLA Members Show at Omaha Fashion Week
Imagine walking down a catwalk, all eyes on you, focused on what you are wearing. It’s a dream for an aspiring fashion designer: the bright lights, clicking cameras, and oohs […]
February 2019 
Good NEWSletter: Student Leaders Celebrate Civics on Legislative Day
On a cold day in February, with a snow storm threatening, state senators began debate on a bill that focused on the importance of teaching civic readiness. In the balcony […]
February 2019 
Good NEWSletter: A Student's Best Friend: Therapy Dogs in York Public Schools
Between school, work, and everything else life throws at us, stress can weigh on everyone, including teachers and students. York Public Schools have found relief from that stress with the […]
September 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Adams Central School Expansion
A new school year means new beginnings and nothing beats the excitement of a fresh start like kicking off the year in a brand new school. That was the case for […]
August 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Summer School
While many kids choose to stay at home and relax during the summer, there is an increasing trend of students choosing to attend summer classes throughout the state. Gone are […]
August 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Be Kind
“Kindness costs very little and pays huge dividends.” Those words spoken by Millard Public Schools Superintendent Jim Sutfin resonated with a large crowd of educators, civic leaders, and students at a […]
May 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Columbus Job Fair
Columbus Public Schools knows collaboration is an essential element to student success, especially during the transition from school. A great example of that collaboration is a recent job fair aimed […]
February 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Inside a Milken Classroom
January 11th, 2018 started like any other day for South Sioux City Middle school teacher Jon Pickenpaugh. But in an instant, everything changed. “When they called my name everything went […]
February 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Innovation: ESUCC DE2TAILS Project
Not all work in education happens in the classroom. A lot of important work is done behind the scenes. That work is the focus of an innovation grant awarded to […]
January 2018 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Innovation: Scottsbluff's Career Academy Model
How do you get students excited about learning? How do you let them choose to learn the things that get them excited? That is the goal of Scottsbluff Public Schools’ […]
January 2018 
Imagine a school where every student was learning based on their own personal needs, skills, knowledge, and interests. Westside Community Schools are working to make that vision a reality through an Innovation Grant aimed at their Personalized 21st Century Learning Initiative. The idea is simple: let the students have a hand in their learning and allow them to move at their own pace.
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Innovation, Personalized 21st Century Learning Initiative
Imagine a school where every student was learning based on their own personal needs, skills, knowledge, and interests. Westside Community Schools are working to make that vision a reality through an Innovation Grant aimed at their Personalized 21st Century Learning Initiative. The idea is simple: let the students have a hand in their learning and allow them to move at their own pace.
Imagine a school where every student was learning based on their own personal needs, skills, knowledge, and interests. Westside Community Schools are working to make that vision a reality through […]
November 2017 
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Innovation, Expanded Learning Opportunity
How do you get kids excited to learn? Nebraska’s Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) Design Challenge is eager to find out and the project is starting with robots, art supplies, and imagination. […]
November 2017
Good NEWSletter: Nebraska Innovation: Plattsmouth Career Academies
Students at Plattsmouth High School (PHS) are preparing for the future like never before. Recently, the school was awarded a Nebraska Innovation Grant to refine its Wall-to-Wall Academy program. The […]
July 2017 
Good NEWSletter: Career Academies
Career Academies have been around since 1940 but they are taking on new life in Nebraska. A Career Academy is a sequence of academic and career technical courses which reflect […]
Do you have a story to share? Contact David Jespersen at david.jespersen@nebraska.gov!