State Principals Conference

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
12:30       Registration and Exhibits Open

1:00         Welcome
                Legislative Update with Dr. Mike Dulaney and Tim Heckenlively, NCSA
                #PrincipalRodeo 
This participant-driven session provides current development for the unique needs of principals.  Registrants will be contacted ahead of time for topic ideas. Join us at the #PrincipalRodeo to learn about the hottest topics and developments in the principalship! 

2:30         Break and Exhibit Visit

3:00         Concurrent Legal Sessions:

                When IDEA Met Title IX: The Odd Couple Principals Need to Understand with Haleigh Carlson (Perry Law Firm)

                Just like When Harry Met Sally asked whether two people with very different expectations can build a functional relationship, school principals often wonder how two very different laws -IDEA and Title IX-can coexist without conflict In this compliance rom-com, showing how Title IX obligations interact with FAPE, behavior plans, and disciplinary protections; what to do when the complainant or respondent is a student with a disability; how IEP and 504 teams must coordinate with the Title IX coordinator; and the documentation pitfalls that can quickly lead to complaints and hearings. 

                You Can Call Me PAL: Updates and Refreshers for K-12 Principals with Karen Haase and Bobby Truhe (KSB School Law)

                This presentation will be a rapid-fire roundup of some timely refreshers, what's trending now, and some things you should keep in mind fro the near future.               

4:30         Social at HopCat (6th and P Streets) in the Haymarket.  Please join us for appetizers and beverages over casual conversation with colleagues.

6:00         Dinner on your own

Thursday, December 4, 2025 
8:00         Continental Breakfast and Exhibits Open
8:30         Welcome
                The Leadership Mindset: Improve the Way you Think and Lead with Seven Principles
                with Brett Hoogeveen

In the modern world of work, organizations understand value of "culture."  Culture drive stalent; talent drive quality; quality drivers customers; and customers drive revenue. But what does it take to drive culture? In this keynote, particpants will learn a mental model of "mindset" for leadership, based around BetterCulture's Seven Principles of Leadership, that has a proven track record of creating award-winning workplace cultures. Along the way, we'll explore current data and trends, time-tested leadership best practices, and a handful of easy to implement, practical skills and tactics that will equip any leader to develop their treams and strengthen their workplace culture.

9:45         Break and Exhibit Visit

10:15       Select-a-Session I

Culture Shaping Workshop: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Workplace – Ballroom A
Brett Hoogeveen – BetterCulture LLC
Building on the keynote introduction to BetterCulture’s Seven Principles of Leadership, this interactive workshop will give school leaders the chance to move from ideas to action. Together, we’ll explore practical, school-specific strategies that administrators can use to shape culture, strengthen staff engagement, and foster healthier, higher-performing teams. Participants will walk away with concrete tools and action steps they can immediately apply in their schools to create a stronger, more positive workplace culture.

Career Pathways: National Guard Jobs Aligning with Civilian Education Sectors – Ballroom B

LTC Daniel E. Fritz - Nebraska Army National Guard

We believe this session will demonstrate the value of National Guard service by highlighting the alignment between Guard occupations and successful careers in fields such as Law, Military Intelligence, Firefighting, Medicine, Law Enforcement, and Aviation. This will help the public understand how the National Guard can contribute to individual professional development and advancement.

Introducing the Next Iteration of the State Classification System – Ballroom C (Handout)

Derek Ippensen – Nebraska Department of Education

In this session, participants will learn about the next iteration of the statewide classification system and how it works. Attendees will be introduced to the indicators, calculation methods, and provided with an example of how state classifications will be determined beginning in 2026.

It Should Be Easier Than This: Improving Classroom Management Skills for Teachers – Garrat Room
Matt McNiff – ESU #5
Behavior management is hard.  As an administrator, not only do you have to have a plan to manage the behaviors of the students, but training the teachers is not much easier.  Just like the students in the teachers’ classrooms, you too have teachers who need assistance in improving their skills.  As an administrator, it is imperative that you have a plan to help teachers improve their classroom management skills for the sake of the students in your building.  This session will discuss topics such as quick solutions and strategies, assessment of skills, energizing and inspiring staff, perspective analysis and conflict resolution.

     11:00      Break and Exhibit Visit

11:15       Select-a-Session II 

School Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident - Ballroom A

Jay Martin – Nebraska Department of Education
Children who feel SAFE will take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow! The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) School Safety Team has built guidance and resource tools for schools in the safety & security requirements and best practices. The NDE Safety Team operates under the four pillars of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery while using acronyms like EOP, SRP, SRM, PFA-S, and TA. Additionally, State Statutes implemented or introduced must also be adhered to. Schools who learn the acronyms, state statutes, and how to apply these concepts, toolkits, presentations, videos, and trainings are those recognized by NDE & their community to Place School Safety First. Join the NDE School Safety Director to make sure your school community is earning their Badge in safety and security. 

Reaping What We Sow: A Bountiful and Rewarding Harvest - Ballroom B

Brandon Mowinkel – Milford Public Schools
The principalship is full of responsibilities that can often take us away from what is most important in our jobs: our students. How do you ensure that you are not only meeting all of the “have-tos” of the job, getting students across the finish line of graduation, while also filling your own bucket? Using the philosophical approach of the DuFour’s in the book “Whatever It Takes,” and being intentional in your responsibilities as a building leader, learn how you can combine your purpose and personal passions to reap a bountiful harvest come graduation each May.

From Core to Individualized: The Administrator’s Role in Supporting Students with Autism - Ballroom C Handout 1 Handout 2

Marci Haight – Nebraska ASD Network
Brooke Gebers – NeMTSS Regional Lead 
This session will equip school leaders with practical strategies to strengthen implementation of the NeMTSS essential elements, specifically by embedding evidence-based practices at every tier of support. Participants will explore how NeMTSS can support the integration of Universal Design for Learning at Tier 1 Core in the general education classroom, examine the administrator’s role in meaningful IEP participation, and identify ways to ensure the layered continuum of supports is effectively delivered for students with Autism.

How to Prepare Communication When the Unexpected Happens! - Garrat Room
Annette Eyman - Kordica Communications
When the unexpected happens — a student’s controversial social media post, a threat on the bathroom wall, or a school evacuation due to a gas leak — school administrators must be ready to communicate swiftly and effectively. This session offers essential strategies and best practices for managing crisis communications. Participants will learn practical communication techniques, including tips and tricks for clear, compassionate, and impactful messaging during challenging times. Strengthen your crisis communication skills and ensure your school remains a trusted source of support and stability.

12:00       Awards Lunch

1:30         Break and Exhibit Visit

1:45         Select-a-Session III

Networking with New Principals Huddle and Fierce Conversations - Ballroom A
Dr Troy Loeffelholz– NCSA
A breakout session designed for any administrator in their first five years. Come be a part of a conversation with our team of practicing administrator mentors of over 90 new administrators across the state.  Come and share your experiences, ask the tough questions, problem solve, and connect with other administrators in this interactive session designed for job embedded information.

Walkthrough Forms Made Simple Through Google Sheet Formulas - Ballroom B

Dr. Aaron Bearinger – Millard
Do you want to simplify classroom walkthroughs using Google Sheets and just a few formulas?  This presentation will show you how to set up a tracking system for each teacher and the ability for the teacher to see your comments but only the comments you wrote about them.  It is a whole system of sheets and formulas to make your life more efficient.  Come learn how and walk away with a template you can customize.

The Principal’s Playbook: Building Trust, Retaining Teachers, and Driving Change - Ballroom C Handout 1

Jeff Linden – Hastings Public Schools

Today’s principals face complex challenges, supporting students, retaining teachers, navigating change, and driving school improvement, all while building a culture where staff and students thrive. This interactive session will provide principals with practical, field-tested leadership strategies for building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating sustainable systems of improvement. Drawing from experience in rural, suburban, and urban schools, this session will highlight real examples, lessons learned, and actionable practices that participants can take back to their own schools.  Participants will leave with a toolkit of leadership strategies designed to:  Strengthen school culture through trust and collaboration. Empower staff to drive meaningful and lasting school improvement. Support and retain quality teachers in today’s challenging educational climate. Navigate change with clarity, confidence, and consistency. 

Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: Effective Strategies and Tools for Improving Student Attendance - Garrat Room
Dr. Terry Haack – Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC)

Kari Hubbard – Omaha Public Schools 

Patrick Parizek-Ralston Middle School
This session focuses on addressing the rise in student absences since the pandemic, with data showing a doubling of absences since 2020. Learn about an NDE/MOEC grant-funded program where attendance teams from 30 schools in eight metro-Omaha districts formed two cohorts that convened multiple times over the course of two years to establish a community of practice centered on improving attendance throughout the metro. Educators participated in sessions led by national experts where they learned to build effective teams, analyze attendance data, implement prevention-focused interventions, use communication strategies, foster relationships, and collaborate with local partners to support attendance initiatives. Presenters will share best practices and lessons learned from this important work. Representatives from Omaha Public Schools and Ralston Public Schools will share specific initiatives and tools they have implemented to reduce chronic absenteeism by as much as 15% to 25% over the past two years.

2:30         Adjourn

Brett Hoogeveen
Brett Hoogeveen, CSP is the co-founder of BetterCulture and Mindset LLC, two prominent leadership development and consulting firms with clients spanning from entrepreneurial startups to Fortune 500 companies. In the past 10+ years, Brett has trained thousands of leaders and worked hands-on with hundreds of organizations and executive teams focused on creating stronger businesses by building better leaders, teams, and workplacecultures. Following a fateful early career change, Brett became the youngest person to serve on the executive team at the nationally renowned healthcare company QLI, the only organization in its metropolitan area to be voted the “#1 Best Place to Work” - FIVE consecutive times! An international speaker and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®), Brett focuses on providing practical and actionable advice on leadership and culture. In recent years, Brett has built upon lessons learned from working with world-class leaders and organizations to help audiences learn the secrets of becoming more personally happy and successful.