LPS: Changes to administration, principal of Standing Bear High School announced
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Lincoln Public Schools on Friday announced four administrators moving to new positions.
The announcement included the naming of the first president of LPS’s new high school, Standing Bear.
Standing Bear High School will open in the fall of 2023 near 70th Street and Saltillo Road.
“We are fortunate to have talented and experienced leaders in our district excited and willing to take on new challenges,” said LPS Associate Superintendent for Instruction Matt Larson. “Each of these instructional leaders have proven through their tenure to be dedicated to the success of each and every student at Lincoln Public Schools.”
The following administrators will finish the school year with their current schools and start their new duties on July 1:
Standing Bear High School: Lincoln East High School Principal Sue Cassata will have the opportunity to work over the next school year toward opening the new high school in the fall of 2023.
Leading East since 2008, and named Nebraska Principal of the Year in 2020, she has also been at Lincoln North Star High School as an associate principal and an educational coordinator and teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School.
Cassata earned her Bachelor of Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University and Master of Education in educational leadership from Doane College.
Pershing Elementary School: Annette Bushaw is the principal at Saratoga Elementary School and has served in that role since 2017. She was the coordinator at Randolph Elementary School from 2011 to 2017 and was previously a resource teacher at Clinton Elementary School.
Bushaw earned her Master of Educational Leadership from Doane College, her Master of Elementary Special Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Bachelor of Science from Peru State College. Bushaw replaces Jamie Cook, who LPS announced last week was moving to Humann Elementary School.
Director of Secondary Education: Jessie Fries has served Lefler Middle School staff and families as principal since 2013. Fries replaces Pat Hunter-Pirtle, who will retire after 36 years with LPS.
While at Lefler, Fries implemented a strategic plan focused on equitable practices, effective and engaging instruction, and multitiered systems of support. Previously, Fries was an associate principal and instructional coordinator at Lincoln High School.
She earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Education in educational leadership and a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from Doane College.
Director of Student Services: Lincoln North Star Principal Ryan Zabawa has been chosen to lead the LPS Student Services Department.
Zabawa has been the principal at North Star since 2018. Previously, he was the associate principal there from 2002 to 2009.
Zabawa was also the physical education curriculum facilitator for LPS and started teaching at Goodrich Middle School in 1998.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a master’s in educational leadership from Doane University. Zabawa will replace Russ Uhing, who is retiring after 37 years in education.
