Wise Elected President

“I am honored. It is a privilege for me to serve,” stated Rachel Wise of Oakland, the newly elected President of the Nebraska State Board of Education.

Rachel was elected to the Board of Education in November of 2012 and began serving a four-year term in January of 2013. “I was voted in as President at the January 7^th 2014 board meeting,” Rachel said. The term is for one year. There are a total of eight members on the board, each of who represent a geographic area of the state. “I will preside over the meetings, serve as a primary spokesperson for some of the issues on the board, establish the agenda for the year and for each meeting, with input from other board members and the commissioner, assign committees,” Rachel stated.

Rachel retired from full-time employment in June of 2012 with an extensive career in education. “I wanted to stay engaged in some capacity with education, which was the primary reason I ran for office,” Rachel said.

Some of Rachel’s goals are to continue to work with the legislature and Nebraska educators in developing an accountability system for Nebraska that meets the needs of the students and communities. “The continued work on the revision of Nebraska standards for language arts and math is also a priority for this year,” Rachel stated. “Other areas of interest include special education, gifted education, career and technical education as well as early childhood.”

Rachel looks at challenges as opportunities. “The board has an opportunity to work with a new commissioner in developing the vision for education and for the Nebraska Department of Education that meets the needs of Nebraska’s children,” Rachel said.

She will continue to submit monthly articles to Kat Country Hub, keeping the citizens of Nebraska apprised of the board’s activities.

Rachel and her husband Gordon Nelson are rural Oakland residents.

Rachel Wise