Dr. Chad Dumas Bachelor of Music Education and Educational Doctorate, 1999, 2010

Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Hastings Public Schools
During Dr. Dumas' tenure at HPS, while focusing on collaboratively building the capacity of staff, student achievement has gone from well below to above the state average. His career started as a vocal music director at a Lincoln, Nebraska middle school, and then he served as a professional developer at ESU 10 in Kearney, Nebraska, followed by being the high school principal at Gibbon, Nebraska. In 2011, his dissertation was honored by Learning Forward (formerly the National Staff Development Council) as Best Research 2011.

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Dr. Chad Dumas


Randy Ernst Ed.D., Educational Studies, 2014

Assistant professor of education and co-director of the master of education program, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Randy's most recent research revolves around the effectiveness of professional learning communities (PLCs). He's also involved in the teaching of skills (resilience, gratitude, many more) that promote emotional well-being. Finally, he often works with a team that helps teachers and school administrators understand the guiding principles behind and the barriers preventing culturally competent thoughts and behaviors.

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Randy Ernst


Jami Holbein Swanson Ed.D., Professional Development, 2015

Professional Development Specialist, World Language Curriculum Specialist, Lincoln Public Schools
Improvement of instruction and life-long learning is my mantra. World language teachers and new hires to our district are the two groups of teachers for whom I provide professional development opportunities. When I miss working directly with students I remind myself of the importance of the work I do with teachers. I do not work with students--I work for students.

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Jami Holbein Swanson


Bridget Hoxmeier B.S., Elementary Education/Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities (K-6), 2013

3rd Grade Teacher, Southern Valley Schools, Oxford, NE

I wanted to inform you that I accepted a 3rd grade teaching position at Southern Valley Elementary School for next year! Southern Valley is a consolidated school near Orleans, NE where I now live. When I spoke with the superintendent and principal the day they offered me the job, they said that they had over 25 applicants for two elementary position openings at the school. They had a wide variety of people apply from several people who just graduated college, a few who have been teaching for a couple years already, and some who had been teaching for 10+ years.

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Bridget Hoxmeier
Bridget Hoxmeier


Rachel Mann B.S., Elementary Education and Teaching, 2011

teacher, Brilla College Prep Public Charter School, New York City
Before moving to the east coast, Mann taught English as a foreign language for a year in Florence, Italy. After living in Europe, her love for food and traveling has grown tremendously. She’s thrilled to be a part of the Brilla team.

In the fall of 2013, Brilla College Prep proudly opened its doors and welcomed our inaugural class of 203 students in kindergarten and first grade. The school will grow one grade per year until we reach K-8. During the 2014-15 school year, Brilla will offer Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. The school is located in the Bronx community of Mott Haven.

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Rachel Mann portrait photo
Rachel Mann


Amy Nebesniak Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, Doctorate 2012

Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

I am an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics and Statistics department where I participate in a variety of teaching, research, and service opportunities. My teaching and research focus is on mathematics education and the preparation of future educators.

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Amy Nebesniak
Amy Nebesniak


Sabrina Quadros Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education; Minor: QQPM, 2013

Assistant Manager for NORAD, ADRA (NGO—Adventist Development Relief Agency)

As an assistant manager, I am involved in tasks such as writing reports, planning teachers’ training sections, dealing with budget for the project, and participating in regional and national meetings with other organizations to discuss about education policies and curriculum reform in Myanmar.

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Sabrina Quadros
Sabrina Quadros


Cassie Seiboldt BS, Secondary Education, 2014

Math teacher, Lincoln Northeast High School, Lincoln Public Schools

I am currently a mathematics teacher for Lincoln Public Schools teaching several math courses at Lincoln Northeast High School. I am also a recipient of the Knowles Science Teaching Foundation fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to pre-service and first year math and science teachers to gain support through their first five years of teaching. The fellowship focuses on developing content knowledge, exemplary teaching practices and qualities of a teacher leader.  

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Cassie Seiboldt


Kim Snyder Ed.D., Formative Assessment and Teacher Professional Learning, 2015

Nebraska NAEP Coordinator, Nebraska Department of Education

I received my master's from UNL in 2007 and, for 6 ½ years, was a reading teacher and the reading facilitator at Lincoln Northeast High School.  It was my reading students at LNE who helped me understand what it meant to truly teach--to treat each student as an individual and to focus on strengths, not weaknesses. During my tenure at LNE, I also provided teaching strategy training sessions for Lincoln Public School staff members, as well as for Nebraska's Out-of-Home Placement educators, who work with students in jails, group homes, and alternative schools across the state.

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Kim Snyder