On first day of school, Omaha Public Schools superintendent says focus is on reading

During a press conference at Forest Station Elementary School in Bellevue, Ray said he thinks it's helpful for staff to not have many changes to adapt to so they can continue to work on priorities like the district's "moonshot" goal of having all students read on grade level by 2030. 

"Sometimes what's exciting is just being able to work on the things that you've laid out," he said. 

The district launched the moonshot goal in the fall of 2024. Ray said the last school year was focused on planning the implementation of the goal and this year will focus on action. That will include more professional development specifically for secondary teachers on the science of reading, Ray said. 

Ray said he thinks the district's focus on the moonshot goal is also a driver for the district's improved staffing numbers, as it gives teachers a reason to be excited to join OPS.

"I think what you're seeing is people excited about being part of a mission, and people excited about being involved in mission-driven work and seeing an organization focused on a goal that everybody can see themselves in," he said. 

The district is implementing new physical education, music and alternative education curriculum this school year and Ray said he's also excited to see construction begin on the stadium project at North High School. 

Ray said everything was going smoothly Wednesday morning after the district did some practice runs of bus routes and building checks leading up to the first day, he said. 

Kindergarten students and students starting middle school and high school went back to school on Wednesday. All other students will begin on Thursday. 

In kindergarten teacher Amy Page's class Wednesday morning at Forest Station, around 20 students shared their feelings about starting school after watching a video about the book "The Kissing Hand," in which a raccoon named Chester is nervous about his first day. Students then used crayons to color a picture of Chester. 

Shelly Burghardt, principal at Forest Station, said she and other staff were excited to welcome kindergarten students on Wednesday. The first day is always "pretty thrilling," she said.

Forest Station saw about a 10% increase in enrollment from last school year, according to Burghardt. 

Ray said he thinks the energy from students and parents is part of what makes the first day so exciting. 

"When I was talking to staff the last couple of days, everybody's excited to see kids," he said. "That's what we're here for, and that's what brings energy to us."