
How Meals and a Fresh Start Keep OPS Kids Ready to Learn
Long before the first bell, the kitchen is cooking and the building is ready. Two OPS staff on how a full belly and a fresh start help kids learn.
Episodes
20
Latest episode
Sep 2026
Language
EN
Omaha Public School's "More Than Hashtags - The OPSProud Podcast" With host - Superintendent Matthew Ray

Long before the first bell, the kitchen is cooking and the building is ready. Two OPS staff on how a full belly and a fresh start help kids learn.

Superintendent Matt Ray discusses how Omega Psi Phi Fraternity has built lasting partnerships with Omaha Public Schools through decades of mentorship and a national commitment to literacy, and how that work directly supports the district's Moonshot goal of every student reading on grade level by 2030.

In this episode you will hear a few of the many incredible speeches given at the Top Seniors 2026 Recognition Event. Top Seniors celebrates two seniors from each high school and one senior from each program, selected by school leaders for their leadership, academic performance, role modeling for other students and community service. Members of the Board of Education, Omaha Public Schools Foundation, district leadership, high school principals and program directors attend, along with students’ family members, to honor their accomplishments throughout their career at Omaha Public Schools.

In this episode of More Than Hashtags, Omaha Public Schools celebrates 25 years of its Dual Language program. Serving about 4,000 students across ten schools, the program provides instruction in both English and Spanish while supporting strong academic outcomes. Hear from district leaders and educators as they discuss how the program works, the benefits of bilingual learning, and the impact it has had on students, families, and the community over the past 25 years.

In this episode, leaders from Omaha Public Schools discuss the development of the district’s new strategic plan and the shared work behind it. They talk about why strategic planning matters, how a singular focus on literacy guides decision making, and the importance of belonging for both students and staff. The conversation highlights collaboration across the district and a long-term commitment to ensuring all students are reading on grade level by 2030.

Two OPS JROTC cadets share what it means to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross and how the program has guided their growth and future plans.

In this episode of "More Than Hashtags - the OPSProud Podcast" Omaha Public School's Superintendent Matthew Ray talks with 2nd Grade Teacher Keairra Watson. Keairra shares how the "Science of Reading" shapes her approach to literacy in the classroom setting. Additionally how this method connects to the wider OPS Moonshot for all students to be reading at grade level by the year 2030.

Gearing up for back to school! In this episode, of More Than Hashtags - The OPSProud Podcast, Superintendent Matthew Ray speaks with Kama Konda-Varilek the OPS Family Engagement Coordinator about crucial, informative, back to school resources for families and students. We also hear from Principal Ayesha Station and the ways her team at Boyd Elementary are engaging families and students to bring literacy initiatives to life through personal connection.

Every year, the Omaha Public Schools foundation hosts the “Top Seniors” event. Over 20 students shared their story. These reflections are honest and real. They show us what it means to grow as a person and what it looks like when a school system supports the whole student.

The OPS "Moonshot" - A conversation on how ALL educators and ALL student success starts with and is shaped by, literacy.
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