Amendment to the Superintendent Search Timeline

On June 5, 2023, the Board approved an updated superintendent search timeline.

The updated timeline reflects two changes. The first change reflects that Board member interviews occurred May 9-19. In addition, the amount of time for stakeholder engagement increased. It will now happen between Sept. 25 and Oct. 7.

The application will open in Oct. 2023. The Board of Education is scheduled to select our next superintendent by Feb. 2024.

Accountability Committee Update

On June 5, 2023, staff from GR Recruiting, our superintendent search firm, provided an update on the recent superintendent search survey results. A total of 2,068 individuals responded to the survey. The largest response groups were staff and parents of current students.

The top three strengths of our district identified by respondents were:

• Diversity and inclusivity
• Caring and dedicated teachers and staff, as well as an involved community
• Opportunities available for all students, as well as strong curriculum and academics

The top issues identified that a new superintendent should focus on are staff recruitment and retention and academic outcomes.

When asked about the top traits of great leaders, respondents chose these as the top three needed in our next superintendent:

• Is an effective communicator, creating strong school and community relations
• Is accountable and responsible for actions
• Is a trusted leader who values ethics and integrity, by practicing moral authority 

An additional survey will be available for our community in the fall.

We value open communication with the students, staff and families we serve. Your input is an essential part of our superintendent search.

The search timeline and our work so far is explained on the Omaha Public Schools website. We always welcome your feedback, and there are key points during the search to participate in surveys and community meetings.

Our first survey window was May 12-26, 2023. Questions asked about our school district’s strengths, opportunities and the key qualifications of an ideal future superintendent.

We received responses from speakers of each of our top five languages: English, Spanish, Somali, Nepalese and Burmese.

We plan to reopen the survey in September. Based on the Board-approved search timeline, community meetings to gather feedback will be in October. We will share more information about those meetings in the fall.

The latest superintendent search information will always be sent directly to Omaha Public Schools staff and families and posted to www.ops.org/superintendentsearch.

Omaha Public Schools is a local and national leader. That will continue with your support.

The Board of Education approved a timeline for the superintendent search. Development of the timeline was the work of the accountability committee and GR Recruiting, our superintendent search firm.

The timeline and application period will allow the committee and search firm to solicit stakeholder feedback, gather community input, identify key qualifications, and recruit and maximize the number of qualified candidates who submit applications. The accountability committee will regularly review the timeline and may update it throughout the process.

The process will begin with a stakeholder survey that will happen this spring. An additional community survey will be open again in the fall. The application will open in Oct. 2023. The Board of Education is scheduled to select our next superintendent by Feb. 2024.

At its March 20, 2023 meeting, the Board approved a contract with GR Recruiting to assist with the superintendent search.

Our district received six submissions from search firms nationwide. After reviewing the proposals, the Accountability Committee interviewed three firms and recommended GR Recruiting.

GR Recruiting has more than 40 years of experience with superintendent searches. GR Recruiting will organize and manage feedback meetings with families and community members as a part of the superintendent search process.

Board of Education Vice President and Accountability Committee chair Ricky Smith highlighted Omaha Public Schools' commitment to engaging with students, staff, families and community members through the process.

Board President Spencer Head echoed Smith's remarks, adding, "We want feedback from our entire community to make the most informed decision. This will be a thorough search for such an important role."

Once finalized, the dates and times of community engagement opportunities will be emailed directly to staff and families and posted here to ops.org/superintendentsearch.

Interim Superintendent Agreement
We are happy to share that tonight, our Board of Education approved an agreement with Mr. Matthew Ray to serve as interim superintendent of Omaha Public Schools. Mr. Ray will begin in the role on July 1. Also tonight, our Board approved a separate agreement with Mr. Ray for his expanded role and work through the transition. That agreement lasts from April 1 through June 30. Details were posted to our meeting agenda, published on ops.org/superintendentsearch and shared with local news media. We look forward to working with Mr. Ray, delivering on our Strategic Plan of Action. 

On Feb. 22, we communicated with all staff and families that our work is too important to pause for a transition. Omaha Public Schools is Nebraska’s largest school district and one of the largest employers in our state. We owe it our 52,000 students, 9,000 full and part-time staff and the greater Omaha community to lead a comprehensive superintendent search and get it right.

Selecting a Search Firm
At the next Board of Education meeting on March 20, we plan to select a firm to facilitate the comprehensive superintendent search. Six firms submitted proposals and our Accountability Committee has reviewed them and conducted interviews of the top firms. Staff from the selected firm will work with our Board to decide on the search timeline and community engagement opportunities. 

Open Communication with our Staff, Families and Community
It is Omaha Public Schools priority to keep you informed through the search process. We value the voices of our students, staff and families. As we plan the search timeline, look for regular updates and opportunities to engage. The latest news and information will always be posted to ops.org/superintendentsearch. Omaha Public Schools will also share updates in direct emails, Inside OPS, staff newsletters, social media and news media.

At its March 6, 2023, meeting the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education will vote on a contract with Mr. Matthew Ray to serve as interim superintendent. Pending approval, the contract and Mr. Ray’s service as interim superintendent will begin July 1, 2023.

Mr. Ray currently serves as deputy superintendent of Omaha Public Schools. At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Board of Education announced plans to select Mr. Ray as interim superintendent through the school district’s comprehensive superintendent search.

A separate agreement covering Mr. Ray’s expanded transition responsibilities between April 1 and June 30, 2023, is also up for consideration on the March 6 meeting agenda.

The complete proposed contract is available here. It includes a $325,000 salary, with transportation, annuity and district benefits similar to past superintendent contracts in Omaha Public Schools.

“We are very happy to work with Mr. Ray in this new role,” said Board of Education President Spencer Head at the Feb. 22 meeting. “He has devoted his entire career to the students, staff and families of Omaha Public Schools. Mr. Ray is uniquely qualified to lead through this time, following the roadmap in our Strategic Plan of Action.”

“Omaha Public Schools offers unmatched opportunities for students. I’ve seen it as a career-long staff member and parent of three district graduates,” said Mr. Ray. “I’m honored and humbled to carry forward our daily service and Strategic Plan of Action. We know the work ahead of us and we’re ready.”

Mr. Ray began teaching at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary. From there, he served in Student Community Services and oversaw the districtwide implementation of a new student information system. Currently, Mr. Ray leads Omaha Public Schools as deputy superintendent and the Board of Education secretary. Mr. Ray recently served as the interim chief officer for the district’s Curriculum and School Improvement divisions. Mr. Ray’s three children all graduated from Omaha Public Schools.

Superintendent Search Firm

At the March 20, 2023, Board of Education meeting, members anticipate selecting a firm to support Omaha Public Schools comprehensive superintendent search. Six firms submitted proposals, which are currently being reviewed by the Board of Education Accountability Committee.

Open Communication with our Community

It is Omaha Public Schools priority to keep community members informed through the search process. The Board of Education and district staff value the voices of students, staff and families. As the Board of Education and its selected search firm plan the search timeline, community members will receive regular updates and information about opportunities to engage. The latest news and information will always be posted to ops.org/superintendentsearch.

At its Wednesday, Feb. 22 meeting, the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education announced plans to select Deputy Superintendent Mr. Matthew Ray as interim superintendent. The official appointment is pending negotiations and Board approval of a contract with Mr. Ray, anticipated in March 2023.

In December 2022, Superintendent Cheryl Logan, Ed.D., announced that the 2022-23 school year would be her last in Omaha. In her letter to staff and families, Dr. Logan committed to a strong finish through June 2023.

“We are grateful for Dr. Logan’s service and her support for a strong transition,” said Board of Education President Spencer Head. “We are very happy to work with Mr. Ray in this new role. He has devoted his entire career to the students, staff and families of Omaha Public Schools. Mr. Ray is uniquely qualified to lead through this time, following the roadmap in our Strategic Plan of Action.”

In a letter to staff and families, President Head and Vice President Ricky Smith outlined Board considerations for interim leadership during a comprehensive superintendent search. Omaha Public Schools is Nebraska’s largest school district and one of the largest employers in our state. “We owe it our 52,000 students, 9,000 full and part-time staff and the greater Omaha community to lead a comprehensive superintendent search and get it right,” they wrote. Members determined that work cannot be paused for a transition during such a critical time for Omaha Public Schools. It is essential to keep moving forward for the success of our students and staff.

“Omaha Public Schools offers unmatched opportunities for students. I’ve seen it as a career-long staff member and parent of three district graduates,” said Mr. Ray. “I’m honored and humbled to carry forward our daily service and Strategic Plan of Action. We know the work ahead of us and we’re ready.”

Mr. Ray began teaching at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary. From there, he served in Student Community Services and oversaw districtwide implementation of a new student information system. Today, Mr. Ray leads our district as Deputy Superintendent and the Board of Education Secretary. Recently, Mr. Ray served as the interim chief officer for district Curriculum and School Improvement divisions. Both drive key strategic goals for students and staff.

Also at the meeting, the Board of Education Accountability Committee announced that six superintendent search firms submitted proposals to assist Omaha Public Schools in its comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent. Accountability Committee members are currently reviewing proposals and plan to select one firm in March 2023. Details of the search timeline and community engagement will be developed with the search firm. The Board of Education plans to allow all qualified individuals to apply for the permanent superintendent position. Because of that, the Interim Superintendent will not be part of the working group that manages the superintendent search.

It is Omaha Public Schools’ priority to keep community members informed through the search process. We value the voices of our students, staff and families. As our Board of Education and its search firm partners plan the search timeline, look for regular updates and opportunities to engage. The latest news and information will always be posted to ops.org/superintendentsearch. Omaha Public Schools will also share updates in direct emails, Inside OPS, staff newsletters, social media and news media.

Board action at the Jan. 5, 2023, Board of Education meeting took the first step in a comprehensive search process.

Agenda item I.19 requests qualifications from firms interested in supporting Omaha Public Schools' superintendent search.

Proposals from interested firms will be due in February 2023. After careful review, the Board of Education anticipates selecting a search firm in March 2023.

From there, the Board of Education will finalize the search process structure and timeline.

Past Board President Shavonna Holman, Ed.D. discussed the work ahead. Watch her comments below.

Dear Omaha Public Schools Community, 

It has been a joy to serve as your Superintendent. The leadership Omaha Public Schools has exemplified at the state and national level amongst large, urban school districts is something we should all be proud of. We have a caring, committed staff and we serve the best students.

With deep gratitude for the time we’ve spent together, I notified our Board of Education that this will be my final school year with our school district. I will step away from my position at the end of June 2023. I am forever grateful for, and honored by, the friendships and partnerships we’ve built together. Alas, it is time for me to return home to my family. It is time for me to have tea with my sisters on Saturdays, to watch my nephew play soccer and to spend quality time with my husband and daughter, located close to my native home and both of our families. 

From the time the Board of Education offered me this opportunity in 2018, we have accomplished much through our Strategic Plan of Action. We’ve elevated learning through hard work, new materials and expanded programs. With the support of the voters, we’ve built five new schools on time and on budget and renovated several more. We have positioned the long-term financial health of our school district to ensure we can deliver a quality education for all children. We’ve navigated three school years amid global pandemic disruptions.

It takes everyone – staff, families and our community – to make our system “go.” We have important work ahead in the second semester of our 2022-23 school year. Even through challenging times, our service to students, families, community and our investment in the future generation remains at the center of our work.  

Thank you for supporting me along the journey of meeting the challenges and opportunities that have come our way. We worked diligently to support our 52,000 students. I look forward to a strong finish.

Cordially yours,

Cheryl J. Logan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Omaha Public Schools

Dear Omaha Public Schools Community,

Today, Superintendent Cheryl Logan, Ed.D., shared with our community that this will be her final school year in our district. We are extremely thankful to have worked with Dr. Logan. Her expertise, energy and heartfelt care for our children is exceptional. The joy she finds in preparing young people for success in college, career and life is unmistakable.

In our time together, we have accomplished a great deal for students and staff. Omaha Public Schools:

• launched a future-focused Strategic Plan of Action
• adopted organizational values to guide our service to the Omaha community
• navigated the pandemic with health and safety at the forefront
• deployed 1-to-1 technology for all 52,000 students
• implemented a new elementary reading and literacy curriculum
• designed a district turnaround model of supports for selected schools to maximize student growth and achievement
• evolved how we provide high-quality high school programming, expanding access and elevating expectations for students
• built immediate and long-term staffing supports and pipelines
• invested in the immediate and long-term strength of the Omaha School Employees Retirement System (OSERS), including the Legislature’s approval of a bill to transfer OSERS management to the Nebraska Public Employee Retirement Board (PERB) in 2024
• constructed five new schools through our bond program, delivering each building to our community on schedule and on budget
• developed plans to maximize our one-time ESSER funds through the coming years

There is important work ahead. Our Strategic Plan of Action focuses on academics, staff, financial accountability and our ethic of care. Omaha Public Schools’ mission, vision and values guide how we achieve those strategic priorities. We have extraordinary staff throughout our district, and the best students and families. Our district is well-positioned to continue its leadership on a local and national level.

Our Board of Education will prepare for a comprehensive search for a new Superintendent. We are committed to keeping you informed. Omaha Public Schools will provide regular updates by email and on our website. Look for more communication and opportunities to engage through the months to come.

Thank you for your support,

Shavonna Holman, Ed.D.
Board of Education President