Given a continued focus on the mental health and overall well-being of students and staff, Elkhorn Public Schools is proud to partner with Lutheran Family Services – SmartGen Society to host “Safeguarding Your Child’s Digital Well-Being”. Parents of children of all ages and students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to attend this free event being held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Elkhorn North High School.
The event will include panel discussions featuring experts in the fields of mental health and youth digital well-being, as well as EPS high school students and school administrators from all levels, followed by a live Q+A.
Expert panelists will include:
Leia Baez, Douglas County
Leia Baez is a communications director, former journalist, award-winning author, and keynote speaker based in Omaha, Nebraska. She leads strategic communications in government and helps organizations and leaders strengthen their voice, visibility, and credibility. She was recently featured on the Oprah Podcast, where she discussed the impact of social media and smartphones on identity and family life.
As the mother of a teenage daughter, Leia brings both professional expertise and personal conviction to conversations about digital culture, resilience, and raising confident young people in a hyperconnected world. Learn more about her at leiabaez.com.
Nicholle Bruhn, Omaha Childrens Clinic
Nicholle Bruhn, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC, IBCLC, SANE is a pediatric nurse practitioner and the owner of Omaha Childrens Clinic, a private pediatric office in Omaha, Nebraska. She was raised in Alliance, Nebraska and moved to Omaha for college. She earned degrees from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and spent 17 years working in multiple Emergency Departments across the metro caring for children and families in high-acuity settings before making the switch to primary care in 2017 as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Nicholle is passionate about evidence-based, relationship-centered care, with a special interest in supporting adolescents and teens through today’s physical, emotional, and social challenges. She believes the key to success in medicine is communication: listening to families, valuing parental intuition, and partnering with families so the whole family can thrive. Nicholle is married, has two children, and is a resident of the Elkhorn community.
Theresa Hamer, Smart GEN Society
Theresa Hamer is a dedicated professional with a passion for education and adolescent mental health. With an undergraduate degree in Biology Education and a Master of Arts in Counseling, she has worked as both a teacher and a school counselor in high schools in Colorado and North Carolina. Theresa continues to serve as an Instructor in Wake Forest University’s Master’s in Counseling online program.
For the past two years, Theresa has helped Smart Gen Society forward its mission to keep our children safe online and help families navigate the world of technology and social media. She uses her experience in mental health and education to inform programming and presentations for schools, other professional groups, and caregivers. As the mom of two teenage daughters, Theresa understands the importance of Smart Gen’s mission and can empathize with parents and caregivers as they work to keep their children safe online.
Michele Neily, MAMA
Michele Neily holds an MS in Correctional Psychology, and is a retired FBI Agent,mom of three teenage boys, and an Omaha Chapter Leader of MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction). MAMA is a grassroots movement of parents fighting back against media addiction and creating a world in which real-life experiences and interactions remain the heart of a healthy childhood.
Amy Schmidtke, Buffett Early Childhood Institute
Amy Schmidtke, Ed.D., is Director of Educational Practice at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska and an expert in early childhood teaching and learning. With nearly 30 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and education leader, her work focuses on how young children learn and how educators and families can create environments that support healthy development and joyful learning.
Dr. Schmidtke bridges research and practice, helping schools and communities apply evidence-based approaches that support children from birth through the early elementary years. Her scholarship explores guided play, early literacy, professional learning for educators, and family–school partnerships that strengthen children’s learning and well-being.
She is editor of The Intentional Teacher (3rd ed., NAEYC) and author of publications on developmentally appropriate teaching and learning. Dr. Schmidtke regularly speaks with educators and families about how to support young children’s learning, including how technology can be used thoughtfully in ways that complement play, interaction, and real-world exploration.
Sean Schrader, NoSo
Sean Schrader, a lifelong resident of Tampa Bay, Florida, believes community engagement drives meaningful change. A two-time University of South Florida (USF) graduate (MBA ’24, B.S. ’22), his leadership spans local, national, and global arenas. Locally, he served on the Noise Abatement Task Force at St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and other civic boards, earning the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2019. As District Office Manager for now-former US Congressman Charlie Crist, he led constituent outreach and operations. At USF in St. Petersburg, Florida, he was the Campus Governor, a Millennium Fellow, and student board member to the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Nationally, he served as President of the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students and as USA Country Coordinator for the Hult Prize Foundation. Internationally, he taught English in Japan and represented the U.S. at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka as a Youth Ambassador. A TEDx speaker, Sean has been featured on CNN and U.S. News and World Report. Including today’s esteemed event, Sean has been fortunate to speak on subjects like mental health, community engagement, and youth leadership more broadly at the United Nations, NATO, and the World Bank.
Leia Baez is a communications director, former journalist, award-winning author, and keynote speaker based in Omaha, Nebraska. She leads strategic communications in government and helps organizations and leaders strengthen their voice, visibility, and credibility. She was recently featured on the Oprah Podcast, where she discussed the impact of social media and smartphones on identity and family life.
All EPS buildings will observe a Thanksgiving and Winter Break schedule to include the following no-school days:
The 2025-26 calendar, which includes all important EPS dates, can be viewed here.
All Elkhorn Public Schools buildings host Back to School events to kick off the new school year. For additional information about Back to School events at individual buildings, please contact the school directly.
Nebraska state law requires all 7th grade students to receive a health physical and a Tdap booster prior to the first day of school. If you have not yet scheduled your child’s appointment to complete these tasks, please do so as soon as possible. Proof of a school physical and an updated immunization record stating a Tdap Booster has been received will be required in order to begin the 2025-26 school year.
If you have questions regarding this requirement, please contact studentservices@epsne.org.
Health Examination (School Physical) Form
(Must be dated February 12, 2025 or later)
Athletics Physical Form
(Must be dated May 1, 2025 or later)
EPS Families,
Due to weather conditions, all classes for Wednesday, February 12, 2025 will be canceled. Additionally, parent-teacher conferences scheduled for tomorrow night (2/12/25) will also be canceled. Notably, parent-teacher conference schedules for tonight (2/11/2025) remain unchanged.
EPS is committed to ensuring that parents receive the information that was planned to be shared during these conferences. Therefore, if you were planning to attend tomorrow night, please see the information below for guidance.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility.
Stay safe and warm!