Mr. Spencer Head
Subdistrict 5
3215 Cuming Street
Omaha, NE 68131
H: (402) 689-0374
spencer.head@ops.org

Committees:
Budget & Audit
Student Assignment Plan
Legislative

Biography:

Spencer Head is the CEO of EZPolitix LLC, serving political, government, and association clients across the country. He earned a bachelor's degree from Hastings College in political science and criminal justice. Spencer returned to Omaha to begin serving our community as an outreach liaison to the education and medical communities for Congressman Lee Terry while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Spencer then served as the Policy Advisor for Speaker of the Legislature, Jim Scheer, in the Nebraska Legislature. While serving the Speaker, Spencer played a key role in passing meaningful education reforms such as: implementing the ACT as the state’s standard test, updating high school civics standards, and ensuring that the state could take over investment of OPS’s pension fund.

Spencer serves on the Board of Directors for the Victory Boxing Club and Community Center and volunteers with Omaha area non-profit organizations. Spencer decided to run for the board because he believes in the mission and vision of OPS and the unending talent and potential of OPS students, teachers, and staff. Serving on the board is a way to give back to the Omaha community and ensure that every student is provided with the knowledge to be successful in life after leaving OPS.

Spencer lives in Northwest Omaha with his daughter, Reagan and son, Theodore.

Mr. Ricky Smith
Subdistrict 1
3215 Cuming Street 68131
O: (531) 299-0222 
ricky.smith@ops.org

Committees:
Accountability
American Civics
Student Assignment Plan

Biography:
Ricky Smith is a native of Omaha, and is a proud graduate of South High School (1993) and earned a degree in sociology with a concentration in counseling and a coaching endorsement from Midland University. He has worked in youth services and education for 25 years.

Mr. Smith is passionate about educating students and is a strong advocate for youth and the community. Currently, he serves as the Director of Omaha 360, is a motivational speaker, collegiate lecturer, and coach.

Smith ran for a seat on the Omaha Public Schools’ Board of Education to have a greater impact on education and provide students in our community with outstanding educational growth and career opportunities upon graduation. As a member of the school board, he hopes to help the district increase the number of students who graduate college and career ready enroll in four-year institutions, explore trades and law enforcement, and improve attendance. He believes by raising expectations in education, you increase students’ potential for long-term success.

Smith has two sons: Darrick, also a graduate of Omaha South High Magnet and Damari, a 10th-grader at Omaha Burke High School.

Ms. Tracy Casady
Subdistrict 9
2121 Castelar Street
Omaha, NE 68108
O: (531) 299-0222
tracy.casady@ops.org

 

Committees:
Student Assignment Plan
Legislative

Biography:
Tracy Casady is currently a Human Resource Specialist for the Federal government here in Omaha. Ms. Casady attended R.M. Marrs Elementary school from kindergarten through eighth grade and continued to Omaha South High, where she is a proud Packer graduate. Ms. Casady received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations from Creighton University and her Master of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Ms. Casady has lived in South Omaha all of her life and is busy raising her three children there, as well. She loves her community and its rich diversity and culture! Her children all participate in OPS’s “Dual Language Program” at their schools and have been since kindergarten, becoming bilingual - learning to speak Spanish!

Ms. Casady wanted to be a part of the OPS Board of Education to be able to ensure that all students, just like her own children, continue to receive the high quality of education she feels she received. She hopes to support OPS in continuing the positive strides it has achieved with regard to student diversity through programs such as Dual Language, ESL and expanding early childhood education into more schools. In addition, Ms. Casady is concerned about classroom size and expanding populations at many OPS schools throughout the district. She is excited to be a part of the progress the district has ahead with the building of five much need new schools - two new high schools, a middle school and two new elementary schools. She believes that teachers cannot be effective at their profession while facing daily overcrowding obstacles.

Ms. Casady joined the Board of Education in 2017 representing Subdistrict 9 and continues to enjoy working with her fellow board members on important issues for OPS. She strives to always be an ambassador for students, parents, teachers and her community and to be a logical and fair voice for those she represents.

Ms. Jane Erdenberger 
Subdistrict 7
3215 Cuming Street
Omaha, NE 68131
O: (531) 299-0222
jane.erdenberger@ops.org

Committees:
Policy & Board Governance
Claims
American Civics
Legislative

Biography:
Jane Erdenberger is a life-long resident of Omaha. She graduated from Westside High School in 1971, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1975 and from the George Washington National Law Center in Washington DC in 1978. She returned to Omaha to join the Kutak Rock national law firm where she was a public finance lawyer for 22 years. She earned a second Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in education, retired from Kutak Rock, and taught African American History, Ethnic Studies and Honors Geography at Omaha North High Magnet School for 16 years and then taught at The Omaha Home for Boys for two-and-a-half additional years. Her husband, Mark Hoeger, is the sole proprietor of a video production company, teaches Film Language and History at the University of Nebraska – Omaha, and serves on the Learning Community Board. They have two daughters; Christian has a Master’s Degree in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University and a private practice in Omaha and Eleanor has a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University and is a collections specialist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Jane is determined to address issues of educational inequity, identify non-college based career paths and recruit, reward and retain the excellent teaching and support staff enjoyed by Omaha Public Schools.

Ms. Bri Full
Subdistrict 2
3215 Cuming Street
Omaha, NE 68131
C: 531-215-7494
brianna.full@ops.org

Committees:


Biography:

Bri graduated from Boys Town High School in 2014 and received a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Public Health at the University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2020. She currently works as an Advocacy Coordinator at Spark, a non-profit organization in Omaha. In her free time, she volunteers with several organizations such as Elevate Omaha, the Gifford Park Neighborhood Association, Healing Roots African Diaspora Garden, Juneteenth Joyfest, Women’s March of Omaha, and 75-North. She ran for school board to help fix systemic issues at the school level to ensure each student has access to a high-quality education. She believes the school board’s top priorities should be addressing learning inequities, the staffing shortage, and the school-to-prison pipeline. She hopes to make tangible changes to the school system that will help students, teachers, and staff succeed and thrive at school.

Dr. Shavonna Holman
Subdistrict 4
8269 Girard Street
Omaha, NE 68122
O: (531) 299-0222
shavonna.holman@ops.org

Committees:
Accountability
Budget & Audit
Claims
American Civics
Student Assignment Plan
Legislative

Biography: 
Dr. Shavonna Holman is an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Educational Administration Department of the College of Education and Human Sciences where she serves as the coordinator of the MEd program and prepares future district and school leaders. She was both a teacher and an assistant principal for the Omaha Public Schools and has over 20 years of experience in education. Dr. Holman received her doctoral degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2011, with a focus on Race, Class, Access, Equity, and Gender and conducted her research on student success and high-poverty schools. She is currently the chair-elect for Council of Urban Boards of Education and serves on the board of directors for multiple committees dedicated to student achievement and outcomes.

Ms. Margo Juarez
Subdistrict 8
3215 Cuming Street
Omaha, NE 68131
C: 402-650-5841
margo.juarez@ops.org

Biography:

Margo is a proud alum of South High School, class of 1976. After high school, Margo attended the University of Nebraska Omaha and achieved both a bachelor and master’s degree in business administration. Margo was a Goodrich Scholarship recipient during her undergraduate program. She accepted an internship with Social Security Administration during her fourth year in college. Her federal career began after graduation. Margo remained in Omaha until 1991. Then, she ventured to the western United States and began working for the Internal Revenue Service. Margo loved working for the federal government. The work was always challenging.  

Margo raised two children and now is blessed with three grandchildren. Upon retirement in 2014, she returned to Omaha to care for her parents. Margo works part-time in service jobs where she interacts with the public. She is a huge fan of the College World Series and UNO Maverick hockey. Margo also serves her community as co-secretary for the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance and acting, co-president of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association. She is a firm believer in neighbors working together to get issues resolved. Margo is very excited and honored to serve on the Omaha Public Schools board for subdistrict eight. She believes that she can be a strong advocate for the students. Margo will continue to support the strategic plan. Her primary goal is to encourage respect for your school and your community. Margo wants to be an excellent role model of what education can do for your life. The doors just keep opening. 

Mrs. Nancy Kratky
Subdistrict 6
1204 N. 101 Cir.
Omaha NE 68114
H: (402) 390-0956
nancy.kratky@ops.org

Committees:
Accountability
American Civics

Biography:
Nancy Kratky has always resided in Omaha. She graduated from South High School and continued her education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education.

Her two children also attended and graduated from the Omaha Public Schools.

Kratky is an active member of the community and serves on the Salvation Army Auxiliary Board. She has also served as President of Metropolitan Board of Education and as a member of the High Ability Learner Education Committee and the Nebraska Mental Health Planning Evaluation Council.

During her prior tenure on the Board of Education, she received the Nebraska Association of School Boards Level X award and the Nebraska PTA Life Membership award.

She chose to run for the OPS Board of Education because she wishes to see the district, its students and the community be successful. She believes her knowledge of the District and her experience as a former educator will positively impact the Board of Education and help it provide the best education possible for all OPS students.

Kratky believes the foremost goals of the OPS Board should be to improve student performance and graduation rates by acknowledging and addressing differences and providing enhancement where needed. Additionally, she would like to see frequent updates to safety procedures, ensure financial responsibility, raise community awareness of strengths and challenges OPS faces and implement a “Plan for Every Graduate” program.

During her tenure on the Board, she hopes to achieve improved confidence and trust from the community and other metro area school districts.

Mr. Nick Thielen
Subdistrict 3
3215 Cuming Street
Omaha, NE 68131
H: (402) 732-7400
nick.thielen@ops.org

Committees:
Budget and Audit
Policy & Board Governance

Biography:
Nick Thielen is General Counsel for Lozier Corporation. Previously, Nick clerked for Federal District Court Judge Lyle Strom and worked as a litigation associate at Kutak Rock. Nick is an active member of the Omaha Inns of Court and sits on the Nebraska Bar Association’s House of Delegates and Professional Enhancement Committee.  

Nick received a B.A. in Economics from Colgate University and a J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Nick and his wife, Jennifer, have three young daughters.