Outgoing State Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt speaks during an interview with Journal Star in December.
Four finalists will vie to be the next leader of the Nebraska Department of Education, including a current in-state superintendent and two others with close ties to the Cornhusker State.
The Nebraska State Board of Education on Tuesday released its list of finalists to be the next state Commissioner of Education. An ad hoc committee in charge of the search ultimately named four candidates out of the nine that applied, Nebraska Department of Education spokesperson David Jespersen said.
Matt Blomstedt stepped down as commissioner in January after nine years.
The finalists are:
Lisa Coons
* Lisa Coons, chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education in Nashville.
* Brian Maher, CEO and executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents in Pierre, South Dakota.
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* Melissa Poloncic, superintendent of DC West Community Schools in Valley.
* Summer Stephens, superintendent of Churchill County School District in Fallon, Nevada.
The Nebraska Board of Education will interview the finalists March 30. Finalists will also spend the day meeting with various groups, including NDE staff. The state board plans to make its choice the next day.
Brian Maher
“The board received a strong slate of applicants and while choosing finalists was not an easy task, we feel very confident in our selections,” Board President Patti Gubbels said in a news release. “Each finalist brings a unique perspective and extensive experience that will benefit our state.”
The state is paying McPherson and Jacobson, an Omaha-based superintendent consulting firm, to assist with the search.
In January, the board released its profile for the position based on a work session and feedback from the public. Applicants were not required to be superintendents, despite board members indicating they wanted that as a requirement.
Board member Kirk Penner had previously indicated that he wanted a superintendent from within the state.
While only one candidate fits that mold -- Poloncic -- Maher and Stephens are also native Nebraskans with educational ties to the state.
Maher was appointed in June 2020 to lead South Dakota's six public universities as the Board of Regents' executive director. Previously he was a superintendent in Kearney and Centennial before a stint leading schools in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Summer Stephens
Maher has also held administrative roles in other Nebraska districts, including Waverly, Elkhorn and Johnson-Brock. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Poloncic is the only finalist currently working in the state. She has been the superintendent of DC West since 2014 and was previously a principal in Millard.
Poloncic was also a teacher in Kearney and Sutherland and a consultant for Educational Service Unit 16 based in Ogallala. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from UNL and a master's from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Stephens has been the superintendent and career and technical education administrator at Churchill County School District in Nevada since 2018. She was previously a superintendent in Wyoming and the director of curriculum in Beatrice.
She started her teaching career at Bellevue East High School and later was the secondary English curriculum coordinator at Norris Public Schools. She also holds a doctorate in educational administration from UNL and got her bachelor's and master's at Doane University.
Stephens was also a finalist for the superintendent opening at Bennington Public Schools.
Coons, who appears to be the lone outsider to Nebraska, has been the chief academic officer of Tennessee's education department since 2019, overseeing pre-K-12 academic programming. The chief academic officer reports to the commissioner.
Before that, she was an executive at Metro Nashville Public Schools after serving as the executive director of instructional leadership at the state level.
Blomstedt served as the Commissioner of Education for nine years before stepping down at the beginning of the year to work for an education policy consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.
Deputy Commissioner Deb Frisson has served as interim commissioner in the meantime.
Top Journal Star photos for March 2023
Christ Lincoln Schools fourth grader Hudson Parr (right) rides the metal pig statue named Petunia as Gov. Jim Pillen watches on Wednesday.
Millard North's Avril Smith (right) and Kayla Preston (back) fight for a rebound against Lincoln North Star's Aleviah Anderson (left) during a Class A girls state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A bank employee was taken by ambulance to a local hospital after a woman drove her car through a window of LincOne Federal Credit Union near 48th and Vine streets on Wednesday.
Lincoln Southwest head coach Tim Barada hugs Brinly Christensen as the final seconds of the fourth quarter come to a close in the Hawks' loss to Millard South in a Class A girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Malcolm celebrates after defeating Wahoo in a Class C-1 girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Millard West's Maddie Wallor hits Lincoln High's Briauna Robinson in the face while she scores a basket during a Class A girls state basketball tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Elkhorn North's Britt Prince (2) walks onto court before facing Norris in a Class B girls state tournament first-round game Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Centura (left) greets Cedar Catholic before a Class D-1 girls state tournament semifinal Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Elkhorn North's Sydney Stodden (left) and Mallory Hansen celebrate the win against York during a Class B girls state tournament semifinal game on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Adams Central's Gracie Weichman (far right) embraces teammate Megyn Scott as the overtime draws to a close to win a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
North Bend Central's Kaitlyn Emanuel (23) and McKrae Muller (40) celebrate after defeating Adams Central in the Class C-1 girls state championship Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Elkhorn North celebrates after defeating Omaha Skutt in the Class B girls championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Skutt's Molly Ladwig scores a layup over Waverly defenders in the first half during a Class B state girls basketball tournament first-round game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Pender's Maya Dolliver (center) hugs Madalyn Dolliver as their team celebrates their win over Oakland-Craig in the the Class C-2 state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Oakland-Craig player huddle up for a pregame prayer before taking on Pender in the Class C-2 state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Millard South's Khloe Lemon (left) embraces Mya Babbitt (center) after defeating Lincoln High during the Class A state girls basketball tournament championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Westside's Joshua Evans (10) and Rickey Loftin (1) holds up "W"s after defeating Lincoln East in a Class A state tournament first-round game on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Using an in camera double exposure, A cheerleader's pom-pom is used to frame Millard North's Neal Mosser as he blocks a layup attempt by Elkhorn South's Evan Werner in the first half during a Class A state tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Paraeducator Neldy Fernandez (left) helps kindergarten student Roselie Horton pick a crayon color at Elliott Elementary School on Thursday. Fernandez also works with many other students as part of a program through Lincoln Literacy, including those with special needs.
Crete's Benjamin Ehlers (center) dives into the crowd after defeating Elkhorn during a Class B state tournament game Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Thomas James adjust the Native American regalia of his grandson, Bird James, in the hallway before players take the court during a Class D-2 state tournament game Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center
Omaha Skutt's Jack Healey celebrates after making a game-ending block against Crete in the final seconds of the game, during a Class B state semifinal tournament game, Friday, March 10, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
SEM's Colt Schroeder (right) attempts to score three-points over Wynot's Dylan Heine (first right) in the second half during a Class D-2 state semifinal tournament game Friday, March 10, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Ashland-Greenwood head coach Jacob Mohs (right) smiles after leading the Bluejays to back-to-back state titles as Ty Carey (left) smiles after defeating Auburn in a Class C-1 state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Skutt Catholic celebrates and holds up ones with their fingers after defeating Platteview in the Class B state tournament championship game on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Bellevue West celebrates their 64-41 win over Millard North's at the ceneter of the court following the Class A state championship on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Piper Hayes, (pink) leads dancers through a short course called 'Time for Heelz,' as part of the American College Dance Association North-Central Conference on Tuesday at UNL's Temple Building. More than 330 people from 22 universities registered to attend the conference hosted by UNL. The conference included classes, feedback, presentations and meetings, along with the four adjudication concerts. The American College Dance Association supports dance in higher education through regional conferences like the one hosted by UNL.
Pius X senior and North Texas soccer commit Bree Korta poses for a portrait using multiple exposures to highlight one journey of her life at Pius with the "bolt" hand symbol to the start of her next journey at North Texas with the "eagle claw", taken at Pius X on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.
A car fire at 620 S 17th St. blazes on through a snow storm as Lincoln Fire and Rescue circle the vehicle to assess the best way to put out the flames on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Delaney Gove of Ogallala, 13, (center) hides her face in embarrassment after family and friends, including Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Shirey (center right) and Capt. Rachell Rowley (right), singing her a birthday song during a send-off ceremony for Army National Guard's 1-134th Cavalry, Friday, March 17, 2023, at Atlas Readiness Center in Yutan. Shirey is one of the 13 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers being deployed to Europe in the coming days.
Roman Asaro eats beer-soaked cereal during the annual Lucky Charms eating contest at Mckinney's Irish Pub as part of St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Friday, March 17, 2023.
A Bluejay hops along the branch of a pine tree on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Holmes Lake. Blustery conditions and overcast skies made for a drowsy Tuesday in Lincoln. Days ahead will see much of the same, with a chance of rain dotted throughout the week.
Opponents of LB371, a bill that would make it a crime for anyone under the age of 19 to attend drag shows, hold up signs in support of transgender rights during a rally at the Nebraska State Capitol on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Kansas' Chandler Prater (25) and Nebraska's Alexis Markowski (bottom center) scramble for the ball as it is picked up by Isabelle Bourne in the first half during a WNIT game Thursday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
Nebraska defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher (72) pushes practice equipment during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
Nebraska's Billie Andrews (left) tags out Iowa State's Milaysia Ochoa as she attempts to steal second base in the fifth inning on Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium.
