The chairs around the conference room table fill up quickly. There is much to discuss with the superintendent of Nebraska's largest school district, Matthew Ray.

The unfiltered conversation begins with Mr. Ray and 12 high school students who are all part of the Superintendent's Advisory Council. They are working to improve Omaha Public Schools. 

"Collaborating with other students across our district is nice," said Michael Rieger Hydar, a North High senior. "We're like a community that discusses problems and finds solutions to fix them."

The Superintendent's Advisory Council engages students in meaningful discussions about their schools. Students gather information, ask questions and provide feedback on district initiatives.

"This club brings together students from different schools to share our voices," said Central High junior Claudia Mauwa. "I love connecting with my peers from different schools. We all have a common goal." 

The group's design allows in-depth conversations and strong connections between the students and district leadership. For Mr. Ray, it's about lifting student voices within our district. 

"When you talk to students, you hear the unfiltered experience," he said. "What I get out of this is how involved our students are in Omaha Public Schools and how they want our district to be better so that the generation that follows them, or the grade that follows them, may have a better experience."

The Superintendent's Advisory Council meets throughout the month. They discuss academics, extracurriculars and even facility needs. "With a district of this size, it's so important that every student's voice is heard," said Rieger Hydar. "Because if it's not, not every student will feel like they have the right environment to be successful at their schools."

Throughout the school year, the group identified one major topic to bring to Mr. Ray. They researched funding for school clubs, collecting data from their peers and staff. After months of preparation, they presented their findings to the superintendent, which sparked a conversation about how he could help address the issue.

"We want them to advocate, research and collaborate," said Ray. "I've learned from the students how engaged and involved they are in their schools and how they're trying to look at it as a district." 

Monica Green, Ph.D., facilitates the meetings as part of her work at Omaha Public Schools. She encourages students to lead the discussions and share their ideas and opinions.

"It gives me goosebumps to see them lead their learning about what they want to change," said Dr. Green. "[It] also gives them a way to develop leadership and elevate their voices."

Students interested in participating in the Superintendent's Advisory Council can apply through their school.

April 2025

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