Clinical Practice in Omaha Public Schools

• Student teaching is the most anticipated and important step for aspiring educators to step into the classroom and apply their knowledge in a real-world setting. It allows students to bridge the gap between theory and practice, gaining hands-on experience while receiving mentorship from seasoned teachers.
• In the Omaha Public Schools, we value the opportunity to grow future colleagues by building confidence, cultivating essential skills, and forming relationships. Our cooperating teachers help build a solid foundation in classroom management, lesson planning, and student engagement to ensure a successful and rewarding career in education.

Why Omaha Public Schools?

• The Omaha Public Schools mission is to prepare all students for success in college, career and life.
• Our community is dedicated to the educational success of our students.
• We serve over 51,000 students with a rich diversity in both education and student backgrounds.
• All district staff members are committed to ensuring the success of our staff and students.
• Every student, every day, prepared for success! 

“I enjoyed getting to share the things I’ve learned with another teacher. My kids loved having two teachers, and I feel they were benefitted by having a student teacher.”

– Lauren Hazel 

While Student Teaching in Omaha Public Schools, you will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best teachers in the industry. In Omaha Public Schools, over 63% of teachers have an advanced degree, have, on average, 11 years of teaching experience, and 19 are nationally board certified. We invest in our staff so they can invest in our students (and you!). We champion the growth and success of every member of the Omaha Public Schools community, driving forward progress and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement. Our Office of Professional Learning and Development, in partnership with Educational Service Unit 19, offers transformative learning experiences and innovative programs that refine the skills of our educators, ensuring you will learn from the best.

Omaha is a vibrant, prosperous city with a low unemployment rate and cost of living. We pride ourselves on unique attractions and consistently find ourselves on “Best Places to Live” lists. We have a growing population and attract newcomers from around the world.

We welcome student teachers from around the country to complete their clinical practice with our district. We recognize basic living needs and want future educators to be able to focus their time on learning as much as possible during the clinical practice experience. That’s why we offer a $9,000 stipend to clinical practice students when placed with us.

When you complete your clinical practice in the Omaha Public Schools, you will receive a multitude of benefits ensuring your experience will set you up for future success. We want all future colleagues to receive:

• Hands-On Experience: Directly apply educational theories and techniques in a real classroom.
• Mentorship: Receive guidance and feedback from experienced teachers.
• Skill Development: Improve classroom management, lesson planning, and student engagement skills.
• Confidence Building: Gain confidence in teaching abilities through practical experience.
• Professional Networking: Establish connections with educators and school administrators.
• Career Preparation: Get a realistic understanding of the teaching profession and school environment.
• Resume Enhancement: Strengthen your resume with practical teaching experience.
• Student Interaction: Develop a deeper understanding of diverse student needs and learning styles.
• Adaptability: Learn to adjust teaching methods to different classroom dynamics.
• Job Readiness: Increase job prospects with real-world teaching experience.

Behind every teacher (and student teacher) is a team of dedicated OPS professionals determined to support you.

“I loved watching my student teacher grow from someone who was a bit unsure at first, to someone finding her voice as an educator. She flourished and it was an honor to witness that process.” – Mary Royers

Human Resources welcomes student teachers from across the country to complete their clinical practice experience in a district where our educational offerings are just as diverse as the students we serve.

Working in partnership with university representatives, we welcome placement requests from student teachers who want to experience the Omaha Public Schools. You will follow your university placement process. We encourage you to provide placement requests including grade level, specific schools, or regions in Omaha. We review all requests and do our best to match you with a cooperating teacher who is an expert in their field. We only match student teachers with current teachers who are strong instructional coaches, great at lesson planning, demonstrate excellent classroom management, and most of all, want to mentor a potential future colleague!

Please contact Brandi Rossman for all placement requests.

Our district encompasses 95 schools and locations throughout the Omaha community. As our community grows, so does our district. We have opened five new state-of-the-art schools since Fall 2022. We have recently completed two phases of capital improvements across our district, totaling $838.9 million in renovations, additions, and safety updates improving every location. District Map / District Maps (ops.org)

• 65 elementary schools
• 13 middle schools
• 9 high schools
• 1 K-12 virtual school
• 8 additional programs

From concerts and festivals to sporting events and art shows, there are many exciting events happening in Omaha every weekend! Check out the links below to learn more. 

Omaha Events Calendar | Festivals, Sporting Events & Live Music (visitomaha.com) 

Greater Omaha Chamber | We Don't Coast

Results: Meeting standards and goals for students across their Omaha Public Schools experience.

Equity: Making sure every student has the support they need to be successful.

Accountability: Allows us to report and focus on local and school accountability, as well as district-wide results.

Leadership: District staff are empowered with skills to recognize what we must change in our work and in our schools.

JOY: When we celebrate the authentic successes of children, we create joyful schools.

“I loved seeing her confidence in her own abilities grow. It was also so validating to see her implement some of the strategies I use on a regular basis on her own as she watched me model them. Additionally, I felt like I was able to continue learning from her as she implemented her own strategies and resources.” – Courtney Runge