Built by Member Voices

The voices of NSEA members guide the work of the Association, helping shape its priorities as Nebraska’s public schools, classrooms and the challenges facing educators and students continue to change.

Last fall, NSEA’s annual all-member survey generated more than 8,000 comments from educators across Nebraska. Members shared concerns about working conditions, student behavior and absenteeism, school safety, plan time, paid family and medical leave, workplace issues and student needs. They also weighed in on whether elected officials understand the realities of their work and whether Nebraska is doing enough to encourage educators to remain in public education. Those responses helped NSEA identify the issues members most want addressed and turn them into priorities for advocacy and action.

Looking Closely at Literacy
In July, NSEA invited members to participate in open forums with state senators and Nebraska Department of Education representatives on two legislative resolutions.

LR440 grew directly from member advocacy during the 2026 legislative session. NSEA member and reading interventionist Rosey Krauel raised concerns about LB1050, which would have required third graders who did not meet reading benchmarks to repeat the grade. Her conversations with lawmakers helped shift the focus toward whether Nebraska should first improve reading screening and intervention. Sen. Jana Hughes introduced LR440 to study that question.

That conversation continued at NSEA’s July forum, where members discussed testing demands, lost instructional time and the training, staffing and resources needed to effectively support struggling readers.

A second forum focused on LR455, which examines educator recruitment, retention and professional recognition. Members raised concerns about pay, plan time, working conditions, student behavior, support staff shortages and the need for educators to feel respected and heard.

Both forums put educators directly at the table with policymakers and education leaders working on issues affecting Nebraska classrooms.

Senators in the Classroom
NSEA has also worked to bring policymakers directly into members’ workplaces.

In November, a collaborative initiative led by NSEA and other education organizations brought 15 state senators into Nebraska public schools. Senators observed instruction, shadowed educators and spoke directly with teachers, administrators and students.

The goal was simple: give policymakers a firsthand look at the schools affected by the decisions they make in Lincoln. Lawmakers visited schools in their own districts, and NSEA hopes to make classroom visits a regular part of how elected leaders learn about public education.

Together, these efforts show what can happen when members complete a survey, attend a meeting, share a workplace concern or speak up about an issue affecting their students. NSEA listens, identifies common concerns and works to put those concerns in front of the people who can help make change.

Now, We Need to Hear From You
This year’s all-member survey will be arriving in your email this fall.

The questions may take only a few minutes to answer, but the information members provide helps guide NSEA’s work throughout the year. It helps determine where the Association focuses its advocacy, what issues need greater attention and what conversations NSEA needs to bring to policymakers. This year, we want to hear from you again.

Take the survey. Tell us what is working, what is not and what you need to better serve your students and remain in the profession.

Your experiences shape our priorities. Your voice moves our Association forward.