PRINCIPAL

Mr. Brian Begley is the first principal of Bluestem Middle School.  Mr. Begley worked for the Millard Public Schools for 30 years before moving over to the Omaha Public Schools.  He served as an English teacher at Millard North High School, Assistant Principal (Data/Registrar) at Kiewit Middle School, Principal at Russell Middle School, and Principal at Millard North High School for 15 years before taking over at Bluestem in August 2022.  He feels honored and privileged to open the new OPS middle school.

Assistant Principal/ Data Processor

Mrs. Mariana Cruz is the Assistant Principal for Data at Bluestem Middle School. Mrs. Cruz has had experience serving, teaching, and leading as a PK-16 educator.  Most recently, Mrs. Cruz served as the Assistant Principal at Forest Station Elementary and Gomez Elementary.  Prior to becoming an Assistant principal, Mrs. Cruz served as the Dean of Students at Central High School and was an Adjunct Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Mrs. Cruz began her teaching career at South High School and Marrs Middle School in the Dual Language program. Mrs. Cruz proudly lives and serves in the community she currently serves, South Omaha.  She is excited about all of the upcoming opportunities and growth for our Bluestem students, families, and staff! 

Athletic/Activities Director

Mr. Dan Wilson is the Athletic/Activities Director at Bluestem Middle School. He taught 7^th Grade Social Studies at King Science and Technology Magnet and English at Central High School. After three years as the Dean of Students at Central High School, he returned to King Science and Technology Magnet as the Athletic/Activities director for four years. He is excited to serve the students of South Omaha and is looking forward to building a tradition of excellence at Bluestem!

Dean of Students

Mrs. Ashley Bunce is the Dean of Students at Bluestem Middle School. Mrs. Bunce graduated from Wayne State College with her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and her master’s in Educational Leadership from Midland University. Prior to coming to Bluestem, Mrs. Bunce taught at Indian Hill Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and, most recently, Lewis and Clark Middle School.  Mrs. Bunce began her OPS career teaching in South Omaha and cannot wait to continue to serve the community through collaboration and positive experiences with students and families.

Instructional Facilitator

Kelsy Schmidt is our Instructional Facilitator at Bluestem Middle School. Her passion for instructional improvement was fueled by her own experiences as a literacy teacher in Aurora and Denver, Colorado. She graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a master's in Teaching & Learning and an emphasis on instructional leadership while being in the roles of teacher, senior team lead, and then Dean of Instruction at a network of middle schools in Denver, Colorado.