Lou Ann Goding of Omaha, a 2026 candidate for District 8 on the State Board of Education. (Candidate photo courtesy of Hutcherson campaign | School bus photo by Rebecca Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA — A former school board president for Omaha Public Schools announced her bid Tuesday for an open seat on the Nebraska State Board of Education.

Lou Ann Goding, who served on the OPS board between 2013 and 2020, including as president in 2015 and 2016, said her statewide service would mirror her local service. Goding said she championed student achievement, increased teacher pay, safeguarded tax dollars and prioritized school safety for OPS. Goding ran for the Legislature in 2022.

In a Tuesday campaign announcement, Goding said she is running “to bring proven leadership and a results-driven approach to improving education for all Nebraska students.” 

The eight members of the State Board of Education generally oversee the Nebraska Department of Education.

Goding noted Nebraska had an 88% high school graduation rate in the 2023-24 school year, yet 42% of high school juniors statewide tested as proficient in math and 45% of high school juniors tested as proficient in reading. The State Board of Education has prioritized those foundational skills, particularly literacy, with a goal to improve third-grade literacy rates to 75% by 2030.

“I will fight to close this ‘graduation vs. proficiency gap’ — to ensure our students aren’t just graduating with a piece of paper, but with the math, reading and critical thinking skills they will need for life and careers beyond the classroom,” Goding said in a statement.

District 8 on the State Board of Education covers central Douglas County. Incumbent Deb Neary, board vice president, has announced that she will not seek a third four-year term.

Goding, a native of Loup City and an Omaha resident since 1986, said she has five priorities for her campaign — success, safety, skills, support and stewardship — with multiple goals:

• Improve student achievement through rigorous academic standards that better prepare students for careers after graduation.

• Prioritize school safety with appropriate security systems and personnel and increased access to school psychologists.

• Increase student proficiency in math and reading, ensure students are ready for the next grade level and highlight career and technical education.

• Ensure teachers have the resources and support needed to successfully educate students.

• Safeguard tax dollars, increase transparency and protect parental rights in education.

With uncertainty over what will happen to the U.S. Department of Education and possibly diverting tax dollars to states, Goding told the Nebraska Examiner that her background in financial consulting could be beneficial on the State Board of Education.

While on the OPS board, Goding said the board implemented a tool to allow constituents to better review and analyze the district’s budget and see how money is spent. 

Her OPS tenure also coincided with the Legislature’s 2019 approval of transferring management of a retirement system specific to Omaha school employees to the state. The state oversees retirement for all other schools, state employees and more.

Goding testified in favor of the legislation from former State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who had been chair of the Legislature’s Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee and led the legislation following reporting about mismanagement in the OPS account. Kolterman is among those endorsing Goding’s 2026 campaign.

“I think that sets me up to be able to effectively look at and help guide and direct the funding which will be most effectively supporting our students and teachers and ultimately the taxpayer,” Goding told the Examiner.

Other early endorsements for Goding include U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.; former Gov. Dave Heineman; Attorney General Mike Hilgers; Omaha State Sens. Kathleen Kauth and Christy Armendariz and current State Board of Education member Lisa Schonhoff.

Goding joins the officially nonpartisan race for the education board with Sherrye Hutcherson, an executive vice president of Bellevue University.

The State Board of Education is currently split 4-4 between Republicans and Democrats. Neary is a registered Democrat and won a close reelection in 2022 against a conservative challenger. Goding is a registered Republican. Hutcherson is a registered nonpartisan. 

During Goding’s tenure on the OPS board, she said she also helped the district work on a strategic plan that set students and teachers up for success. The board’s work included a specialized program at a North Omaha elementary school that mirrored a program in Atlanta to replace one section of a student’s “special” courses — such as for music or art — with a small group session for students struggling with core skills.

Goding said she recalls a young boy struggling in math who asked his teacher what would happen if he passed his math test, which would allow him to go to art in addition to his music course. However, he purposefully failed the test because he enjoyed the extra support.

A successful four years in office, Goding said, would mean improved test scores through long-term and lasting strategies. She said this focus could mean keeping a student in a grade level for another year to give them extra support.

“When you implement with consistency and you allow your staff to do what’s best for the students in the building, then you actually see success,” Goding said.

The top two vote-getters in the May 2026 primary will advance to the November 2026 election.

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