Get SET Nebraska registration is now open for the 2024-25 school year!
Get SET Nebraska is a grant initiative funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). The program aims to improve retention of early-career special education teachers in Nebraska schools and has already shown significant benefits to administrators and teachers alike.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Nebraska school administrators are eligible for online retention planning support through the Administrative Leadership Academy. Administrators can lead teams of mentors and mentees, who are early career special education teachers, through the Induction and Mentorship program. Working together, these teams learn, grow and plan to help improve the quality of special education in Nebraska schools.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE?
All program materials, including handbooks and learning guides, are accessible online and available on demand. This means that administrators and teachers can participate in the program without needing to leave their buildings. Additionally, the learning guides are paired with instructional videos that provide clear direction and ensure a seamless experience.
HOW DO I ACCESS THE GET SET PROGRAM?
To enroll in the Get SET program for next school year, please visit this link to complete registration.
To maximize your impact, we recommended that you register by no later than July 31, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact us.
How can Get SET Nebraska Benefit Your School or District?
We asked educators who have participated in the program to share some of their thoughts below.
District growth & leadership support
“The Get SET programming has given our team the ability to review and evaluate our current processes and procedures not only to train our new staff but also to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our students as well as documenting the necessary information in the correct format with the necessary content.”
–Mario Chavez, Principal, Gering High School, 2023-24 Administrator
“The Get SET program has been instrumental in guiding our discussions on system improvements. It has provided us with a structured framework within which to explore and implement changes that directly benefit our students and educators alike.”
–Julie Black, Lifelink School Program Coordinator, Educational Service Unit 13, 2023-24 Administrator
“Get SET Nebraska has been a very useful tool for me as an administrator. We have had a mentor program at our school for many years, but it was not structured, and we did not have a framework to use for guiding our mentors and mentees.”
–Mandy Plog, Special Education Director, Hemingford Public Schools, 2022-23 Administrator
Increased staff collaboration & communication
“This program has positively impacted the communication and collaboration within our special education team by providing a valuable framework to structure conversations between mentors and mentees around topics which are relevant to the immediate success of our new educators.”
–Jesse Neugebauer, Principal, Gering Public Schools, 2023-24 Administrator
“This [Get SET Nebraska program] helps to close the gap of stress and miscommunication that accompanies being a new teacher, particularly in special education.”
–Deseree Erpenbach, Special Education Teacher, Grand Island Public Schools, 2022-23 Mentor
Organized, easy to use resources
“I student taught in Elkhorn Public Schools, so I knew a lot of the information prior, but jumping into a new role created new information and resources that I needed to know! I am thrilled that all of these tools were available to me and helped to set me up for success!”
–Emma Jackson, Special Education Teacher, Elkhorn Public Schools, 2023-24 Mentee
“With the program, I was able to deliver the information in an organized method. Other districts should consider being part of the Get SET Nebraska program if you want a well-designed path to lead new and established staff to growth that benefits your district long term.”
–Linda Marshall, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Axtell Public Schools, 2022-23 Mentor