Nebraska group focusing on successes as fights over public schools grow

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Fights over everything from masks to sex education have dominated headlines and school board meetings for years now, but one group is looking to shift the spotlight.

The Nebraska State Education Association is focusing on success stories with a newly launched campaign called Public School Proud.

It highlights how public schools provide opportunities for all students, which the group says helps create a more inclusive and fair society.

The campaign includes graduates from all over Nebraska who share how teachers supported them.

It also covers how that investment is paying off today, by providing a look at what these graduates are now doing to benefit their communities.

Lincoln’s own Mindy Diller is one of the people featured in this new campaign.

She’s a family and consumer science teacher who was inspired by one of her own teacher’s growing up.

Diller says, “Without a doubt, all of the teachers that I have taught with in my 18-year career have put kids first, and they want to do everything for the betterment of kids. They want you know to make sure your student is a lifelong learner. And they want to make sure your student is well rounded. I think it’s great to have students around different types of students that don’t look like them, that didn’t grow up the same way as them.”

The NSEA tells Channel 8 it wants to advance a culture of racial and social justice by improving educational opportunities for everyone.

It believes that can be achieved by building respect for the worth, dignity and equality of every person in our community.