Dr. Kendra Schneider Named New Director of Special Education
Gretna, NE – December 9, 2025
Gretna Public Schools is thrilled to announce Dr. Kendra Schneider as the new Director of Special Education, effective July 1, 2026, following Paul Duin’s retirement. Dr. Schneider has served as Assistant Director since 2021, leading program supervision, compliance, and professional learning initiatives.
“I’m extremely excited to serve as the Director of Special Education for Gretna Public Schools,” Dr. Schneider said. “Paul Duin has been an incredible mentor, and I’m honored to build upon the strong foundation and high-quality programs established by him and Deb Siemers, the previous Director of Special Education. I look forward to working alongside our talented special education team, collaborating with families, and ensuring every student receives the support they need. Gretna Public Schools’ commitment to excellence in special education is evident, and I’m eager to contribute to our continued growth and success.”
Superintendent Travis Lightle added, “We are excited to announce Dr. Schneider as our new Director of Special Education. Her leadership over the last five years has led to positive changes in our district, and our department’s retention rate remains the envy of the state because of it. Dr. Schneider’s experience and genuine dedication to Gretna Public Schools make her the ideal person to continue advancing our programs.”
Dr. Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in special education and also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She holds a Doctorate and two Master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska and is actively involved in statewide initiatives advancing special education.
Gretna, NE – December 9, 2025
Gretna Public Schools is thrilled to announce Dr. Kendra Schneider as the new Director of Special Education, effective July 1, 2026, following Paul Duin’s retirement. Dr. Schneider has served as Assistant Director since 2021, leading program supervision, compliance, and professional learning initiatives.
“I’m extremely excited to serve as the Director of Special Education for Gretna Public Schools,” Dr. Schneider said. “Paul Duin has been an incredible mentor, and I’m honored to build upon the strong foundation and high-quality programs established by him and Deb Siemers, the previous Director of Special Education. I look forward to working alongside our talented special education team, collaborating with families, and ensuring every student receives the support they need. Gretna Public Schools’ commitment to excellence in special education is evident, and I’m eager to contribute to our continued growth and success.”
Superintendent Travis Lightle added, “We are excited to announce Dr. Schneider as our new Director of Special Education. Her leadership over the last five years has led to positive changes in our district, and our department’s retention rate remains the envy of the state because of it. Dr. Schneider’s experience and genuine dedication to Gretna Public Schools make her the ideal person to continue advancing our programs.”
Dr. Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in special education and also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She holds a Doctorate and two Master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska and is actively involved in statewide initiatives advancing special education.
Mrs. Martin's 4th grade class practiced empathy and conflict resolution by creating posters with partners.
This morning we had our Student of the Month assembly. We wrapped up gratitude and learned about empathy. We will be looking for students who exemplify empathy in the month of December.
This morning we recognized our November Students of the Month who exemplified the character trait of Gratitude. We are so proud of you, Guardians! Way to go!
First graders are enjoying the snow at recess! ❄️⛄️
Miss Clark’s 4th grade class is practicing their multi-step math skills by planning and budgeting for a Thanksgiving meal!
Gretna Public Schools Board of Education Attends 2025 NASB State Education Conference
The Gretna Public Schools Board of Education spent two days at the 2025 NASB State Education Conference—Nebraska’s largest annual gathering for school board leaders. The event provides valuable training and collaboration on key topics such as legislative updates, emerging educational trends, student well-being, school safety, school finance, and effective district governance.
By participating, board members bring back insights that support informed decision-making and strengthen the long-term success of Gretna Public Schools. We appreciate their dedication to professional growth and continued service to our students, staff, and community.
Students enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal prepare by our amazing kitchen staff. We even had decorated tables, dim lighting and music. We have a lot to be thankful for at Falling Waters! 🦃
This morning we started our day with Guardian Groups. These mixed grade-level groups focused on Gratitude. We thought about how to show gratitude in different situations and made some gratitude lists.
Today students got to play Glow Golf during specials as a Fun Run reward. ⛳️Thanks, Falling Waters PTO! We had a blast!
The Annual Community Report is Here!
Our school district’s Annual Community Report is now available on our website! It showcases our achievements, financial stewardship, and goals for the year ahead. We encourage all staff to take a few moments to review this important update and stay informed about our district’s progress.
View full report on our website https://tinyurl.com/5n8u3jk5
Our school district’s Annual Community Report is now available on our website! It showcases our achievements, financial stewardship, and goals for the year ahead. We encourage all staff to take a few moments to review this important update and stay informed about our district’s progress.
View full report on our website https://tinyurl.com/5n8u3jk5
On Fridays in the library Mrs. Gibbons incorporates our Character Strong trait of the month. These are the books that students will engage with in the month of November that focus on gratitude.
This morning during our Student of the Month assembly, we reviewed the October trait of Responsibility and then got introduced to our new trait of Gratitude. Students were challenged to think of something they were grateful for when they wake up in the morning and when they go to bed at night. We will focus on this trait throughout the month of November.
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month. These students exemplified our Character Strong trait of Responsibility. Way to go, Guardians! We are proud of you.
What Students Wish Adults Knew — Tonight at Gretna High!
Join Gretna Public Schools for an evening with Stephen Mackey, co-author of The Locker Room.
Exhibits begin at 6:00 PM and the presentation starts at 7:00 PM.
Come listen, learn, and connect with your community.
Tonight’s the conversation you don’t want to miss.
Mrs. Martin’s 4th grade class practiced reframing negative self-talk to positive self-talk during SEL today!
Tonight our fourth graders had a chance to honor veterans at their program. We had an amazing turnout of veterans connected to our fourth graders. Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸
This afternoon Falling Waters got to preview the 4th grade program. During our school performance three veterans presented the colors and four 5th graders shared their essays about Veteran's Day and the veteran they interviewed.
Mrs. Myers's students got to carve a pumpkin today. It turned out amazing and they had a great time!
This week Mrs. Myer's students painted pumpkins. Stay tuned for their carved pumpkins on Friday.
