Who We Are
Dr. Vann Price
Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Dr. Vann Price assists in the selection process of district administrators. She is responsible for the staff appraisal process, professional growth, staffing allocations, disciplinary action, district Title IX officer and EAP referrals. The Human Resources Division is directly responsible for all personnel functions as well as Risk Management, Staff Development and employee benefits.
(402) 436-1575
vprice@lps.org
Michealla King-Gray
Assistant to the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Assists the Associate Supt. of HR with the hiring of administrators, processing of changes, leaves of absences, transfers and resignations for administrators, Scottish Rite, 25 year recognition, and retirement ceremonies. Processing of all loan forgiveness applications, Responsible for HR board agenda items. (402) 436-1592 mgray@lps.org
Dr. Marco Pedroza
Supervisor of Secondary Personnel Services
Recruit and place secondary teacher transfers, provide support service including promotions and counseling, Leadership Development Program, summer school staffing and Extra Standard assignments. Manage SmartFind staff and substitute teachers.
(402) 436-1596
mpedroz@lps.org
Erik Witt
Director of Recruiting and Supervisor of Special Programs Personnel
Responsible for the recruitment of certificated candidates. Recruit and place special programs (special education and federal programs) certificated transfers, provide support service including promotions and counseling.
(402) 436-1576
ewitt@lps.org
Kristen Finley
Supervisor of Elementary Personnel Services
Recruit and place elementary teacher vacancies, process teacher transfers, provide support service including promotion and counseling, manage the gifted mentor program, coordinate college field placements and tuition credit/professional enhancement.
(402) 436-1577
kfinley@lps.org
Jessi Stilwagon
Human Resources Specialist
Responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, selection and support of office personnel, custodial, and nutrition services staff. Works with staff development on activities benefiting classified personnel.
(402) 436-1597
jstilwa@lps.org
Genelle Moore
Background Investigation/HR Specialist
Conduct thorough background checks on applicants and employees. Responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, selection and support of school based technicians, maintenance, facilities, distribution center staff and transportation drivers/paras.
(402) 436-1573
gmoore@lps.org
Marla Styles
Human Resources Specialist
Responsible for the recruitment, interviewing, selection and support of paraeducators and bilingual interpreters. Coordinates ADA accommodations.
(402) 436-1579
mstyles@lps.org
Brittany Schuster
Office Manager
Supervise front office support staff, coordinate office functions, payroll, prepare board agenda, vacancy bulletin and advertising.
(402) 436-1594
bschust2@lps.org
Grady Blase
Technical Assistant
Responsible for teacher certification, seniority lists, assist with preparation of state and federal reports.
(402) 436-1581
gblase@lps.org
Rachel Mills
Secretary, Secondary Certified Staffing
Assist the Supervisor of Secondary Personnel Services with the hiring of secondary certified staff, process staffing changes, leaves of absence, transfers and resignation of secondary teachers.
(402) 436-1584
rmills2@lps.org
Katie Bender
Secretary, Certified Special Programs
Assist the Director of Recruiting/ Supervisor of Special Programs with the hiring of special education certified staff, process staffing changes, leaves of absence, transfers and resignation of special education teachers.
(402) 436-1482
kbender@lps.org
Jean Clough
District Office Receptionist
Direct incoming District Office calls and direct District Office visitors to departments.
(402) 436-1000
clough@lps.org
Cherry Cornell
Secretary, Classified Staffing
Provide support services for the placement, testing and interviewing of gifted mentors, clerical, custodial, and nutrition services applicants and staff.
(402) 436-1590
ccornell@lps.org
Jerilynn Robinson
Receptionist/Employee Records Secretary
Directs incoming calls and handles onboarding of new employees; maintains employee and applicant files; responsible for scanning HR documents; assists with building and badge access.
(402) 436-1598
jrobinso@lps.org
Gretchen Molina
Secretary, Classified Staffing
Provide support services for the placement and interviewing of paraeducators, bilingual interpreters, and summer school personnel.
(402) 436-1583
gmolina@lps.org
Dianne Kreick
Secretary
Coordinates transcript entry and processes employment verification forms.
(402) 436-1574
dkreick@lps.org
Kren Shellhase
Secretary, Elementary Certified Staffing
Assist the Supervisor of Elementary Personnel Services with the hiring of elementary certified staff, process staffing changes, leaves of absence, transfers and resignation of elementary teachers, coordinate C&I 908 course.
(402) 436-1585
kshellha@lps.org
Nancy Harter
Secretary, Classified Staffing
Provide support services for the placement and interviewing of the following groups: Transportation drivers and paras, school based technicians, maintenance, facilities, distribution and summer crew applicants and staff.
(402) 436-1587
nharter@lps.org
HR Receptionist
Direct incoming calls, greet patrons, coordinate the new employee onboarding process and register teaching certificates. Responsible for scanning HR documents.
(402) 436-1582
humanres@lps.org
Kim Miller
Director, Risk Management
Responsible for the district's self-insured workers' compensation, liability and vehicle insurance programs, unemployment, district safety committee, driver review committee and tort claims.
(402) 436-1759
millerk@lps.org
Michelle Hartley
Claims and Insurance Coordinator
Supervises workers' compensation claims handling and assists the Director of Risk Management with liability and property claims. Conducts ergonomic evaluations, safety checks and training.
(402) 436-1591
mhartle@lps.org
Elizabeth Svoboda
Work Comp Case Management Nurse
Provides medical management of workers’ compensation claims involving lost days and/or surgeries and assists the employee in returning to pre-injury/pre-illness status.
(402) 436-1768
esvoboda@lps.org
Audra Cotton
Work Comp Claims Handler
Responsible for the processing of workers' compensation claims.
(402) 436-1761
acotton@lps.org
Sanda Navratil
Risk Management Technician
Provide accounting support services to the Risk Management Office. Assist Director of Risk Management.
(402) 436-1767
snavrat@lps.org
Jennifer Bahr
Secretary, Risk Management
Provide support services to the Risk Management Office.
(402) 436-1760
jbahr@lps.org
Brian O'Neill
Risk Management HRIS Technician
Responsible for data collection management and assisting with transmission of data between information systems. Assists Human Resources with testing, running reports, and performing data analysis within the HRIS.
(402) 436-1582
boneill@lps.org
Blake Simpson
Director of Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel
Leads the Employee Relations and Benefits Departments, serves as the chief negotiator with the district’s nine employee groups and coordinates human resources personnel operations. Drafts and updates employee contracts, board policies and personnel handbooks. Trains and advises district leaders on all aspects of state and federal law as well as compliance with the district’s policies and procedures. Finally, manages the recruitment, interviewing, selection and support for the district’s technicians.
(402) 436-1571
bsimpso3@lps.org
Laurie Oxley
Employee Benefits Specialist – Classified Personnel
Coordinates the successful administration of benefits plans for all classified benefit eligible staff and dependents. Employee benefit plans include health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible benefit plans, critical illness and accident insurance, as well as the district’s 403(b) plans and school retirement. Conducts Family & Medical Leave Act, maternity and disability conferences for classified staff.
(402) 436-1593
loxley@lps.org
Nancy Hoppe
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND HRIS SPECIALIST
Work with the Director of Employee Relations and Personnel regarding negotiations for all employee groups, including data collection and analysis of proposals/counterproposals. Coordinate the district's compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Collaborate with the Computing Services department in the planning, review, testing, and implementation of HRIS system upgrades or enhancements.
(402) 436-1572
nhoppe@lps.org
Julie McAndrew
Lead Employee Benefits Specialist – Administrators/Certificated Personnel
Coordinates the successful administration of benefits plans for all certificated benefit eligible staff and dependents. Employee benefit plans include health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flexible benefit plans, critical illness and accident insurance, as well as the district’s 403(b) plans and school retirement. Conducts Family & Medical Leave Act, maternity and disability conferences for certificated staff.
(402) 436-1595
jmcandre@lps.org
Kelli Hopkins
Benefits Technician
Manages the communications of the department, including the benefits email account, all benefits marketing materials, critical benefits reports and NPERS verifications, the accounting/reconciliation for various benefits offerings, the borrowed/donated leave program, military orders process, and coordinating the communication with many of our third-party insurance providers. Provides important clerical functions for the department.
(402) 436-1578
khopkin2@lps.org
Employee Relations, Benefits, and Personnel Technician
Manages the COBRA processing for the district, the accounting/reconciliation for various benefits offerings, posted work calendars for the district, compensation comparability studies, supply orders for the Employee Relations and Benefits Departments, and all Employee Relations documentation for new leader training. Provides support services to the Director of Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel, including but not limited to the placement and interviewing of technicians.
Darbi Umholtz
SmartFind Operator
Responsible for the SmartFind system and substitute placements. Processes emergency and civic leaves and UNL tuition credit. Assists with college field placements.
(402) 436-1589
dumholtz@lps.org
Lisa Kasik
SmartFind Secretary
Assists with substitute placements. Responsible for professional leaves and local substitutes.
(402) 436-1588
lkasik@lps.org
Blake Simpson
Director of Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel
Leads the Employee Relations and Benefits Departments, serves as the chief negotiator with the district’s nine employee groups and coordinates human resources personnel operations. Drafts and updates employee contracts, board policies and personnel handbooks. Trains and advises district leaders on all aspects of state and federal law as well as compliance with the district’s policies and procedures. Finally, manages the recruitment, interviewing, selection and support for the district’s technicians.
(402) 436-1571
bsimpso3@lps.org
Nancy Hoppe
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND HRIS SPECIALIST
Work with the Director of Employee Relations and Personnel regarding negotiations for all employee groups, including data collection and analysis of proposals/counterproposals. Coordinate the district's compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Collaborate with the Computing Services department in the planning, review, testing, and implementation of HRIS system upgrades or enhancements.
(402) 436-1572
nhoppe@lps.org
Kaley Brewer
Technical Coordinator
Preparation of state and federal reports/surveys. Assist Director of Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel and HR Specialist for Employee Relations, Compensation and Benefits. Manage building and badge access.
(402) 436-1599
kbrewer2@lps.org
Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel Technician
Manages the COBRA processing for the district, the accounting/reconciliation for various benefits offerings, posted work calendars for the district, compensation comparability studies, supply orders for the Employee Relations and Benefits Departments, and all Employee Relations documentation for new leader training. Provides support services to the Director of Employee Relations, Benefits and Personnel, including but not limited to the placement and interviewing of technicians.
