Chaperone Kearney

04/29/2026

Thank you, Pete.

“I have known Pete for more than 30 years. He is a friend, mentor and someone I deeply respect and admire and a true friend of Kearney,” Alex Straatmann said.

02/17/2026

Kearney Public Schools Announces Leadership Transitions at Kearney High School and Horizon Middle School

Kearney Public Schools (KPS) has announced leadership transitions that will take effect at the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.

• Amber Lewis, currently principal at Horizon Middle School, has been named the next principal of Kearney High School.
• William Schmidt (Bill), currently assistant principal at Horizon Middle School, will step into the role of principal at Horizon.
• Jeff Ganz, currently principal at Kearney High School, will transition to assistant principal at Horizon Middle School.

“Building leadership is the cornerstone of excellence in our schools and these changes will give our leaders new opportunities and challenges,” said Dr. Jason Mundorf, superintendent of Kearney Public Schools. “Amber, Bill, and Jeff each bring unique strengths, deep experience, and a student-first mindset. This thoughtful alignment allows us to support both schools with proven leadership while continuing to build strong teams that serve students, families, and staff at the highest level.”

Amber Lewis has served as principal of Horizon Middle School since the 2022-23 school year, where she has focused on student achievement, staff collaboration, and a positive, supportive school culture. Prior to her role as principal, Lewis was Assistant Principal at Horizon since 2019 and prior to that, served as a Social Studies teacher at Kearney High School for ten years, earning a reputation for her strong relationships with students, staff, and families. As principal of Kearney High School, she will lead one of Nebraska’s largest high schools, supporting a wide range of academic, extracurricular, and student support programs.

“Mrs. Lewis will be an outstanding principal at Kearney High School,” stated Mundorf. “She was a terrific teacher in that building who has a deep understanding of Kearney High School. She has proven herself to be a committed educator with a focus on kids. She excels at building relationships and our KHS students and staff will benefit from her strong leadership skills.”

Bill Schmidt has served as assistant principal at Horizon Middle School since 2022, where he has worked closely with students, teachers, and families to support academic success and student behavior systems. Schmidt brings classroom experience and administrative leadership to the principal role, along with a deep understanding of Horizon’s team-based middle school structure and culture.

“We are excited for Mr. Schmidt to step into the role of principal at Horizon Middle School,” said Mundorf. “He has proven himself to be deeply committed to supporting students as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally, and he brings a strong passion for leading and supporting the outstanding staff at Horizon.”

Jeff Ganz has served as principal of Kearney High School, providing steady leadership for the school’s academic programs, student activities, and overall operations. With extensive experience in secondary education and administration, Ganz will bring valuable perspective to Horizon Middle School as assistant principal, supporting students and staff during a key developmental stage.
Mundorf stated, “Jeff Ganz has a unique ability to connect with students and support them during critical points in their educational journey. Moving Jeff to Horizon Middle School allows us to leverage his strengths where they are most needed, working closely with students, supporting staff, and helping guide young learners through an important and formative stage of development. We appreciate the 5 years of leadership he provided at Kearney High School and we are confident he be an asset to Mr. Schmidt, the Horizon staff, and school community”

Kearney Public Schools is confident these leadership transitions will strengthen both school communities and support continued growth and success across the district.

01/15/2026

🎤 Award-Winning Mental Health Speaker Coming to KPS!

Kearney Public Schools is proud to welcome Brittany Richmond, an award-winning mental health speaker and bestselling author, to speak with our middle school and high school students on January 21–22.

Brittany’s engaging, relatable presentations focus on navigating anxiety, building resilience, fostering connection, and encouraging open conversations about mental health. Drawing from her own lived experience, she empowers students to “Become an Overcomer”—challenging negative self-talk, strengthening relationships, and supporting one another.

💙 Students will learn how to:
• Recognize and manage anxiety
• Build emotional resilience and self-compassion
• Practice supportive peer communication
• Take practical steps toward positive mental well-being

Brittany is the author of Lies My Anxiety Has Told Me and was recently honored with the 2024 Voice for Positive Change Award for her work in youth mental health.

“Her message of resilience, connection, and mental wellness aligns with our commitment to supporting the whole child,” said Superintendent Dr. Jason Mundorf. “We know her authentic approach will resonate deeply with our students.”

Thank you to McKenna’s Rae of Hope Foundation for helping make this impactful experience possible. 💛

01/12/2026

Dear Members of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education,

On behalf of our students, families, staff, and community, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your dedication and service during Board Appreciation Month. Your leadership plays a vital role in shaping the educational experiences and future opportunities of every child in our district, and we are grateful for the countless hours you commit to this responsibility.

Your work often happens behind the scenes—reviewing policies, attending meetings, navigating complex challenges, and making decisions that impact the lives of thousands. Yet your influence is felt daily in our classrooms, hallways, and activities. Because of your vision and support, our schools continue to grow, innovate, and provide safe, engaging, and meaningful learning environments.

We especially want to recognize your efforts with the following:

The support of multiple construction projects throughout the district to enhance and improve educational learning spaces and extracurricular competition venues.

Continued support of our students and their educational pursuits both in and out of the classroom. This support means our students will continue to have the best educational opportunities for developing their learning and understanding through experiential development.

Continued support of the KPS staff in all regards including salary and benefit enhancements, the support of new staff for continued improvement of existing programs and the development of new programs, as well as the support of the professional development opportunities for our educators and support staff to improve their knowledge and skill sets for instructing students.

Again, we are thankful for your continued commitment to student success, staff support, and community collaboration. Your willingness to listen, learn, and lead with integrity reflects the strong values of Kearney Public Schools and strengthens the foundation upon which our district stands.

Please accept our sincere gratitude for your service. We celebrate you this month—and every month—for all you do to ensure that KPS remains a place where students thrive and educators feel valued.

With tremendous appreciation on behalf of the entire Kearney Public Schools community!

Dr. Jason Mundorf
Superintendent

11/18/2025

Chaperone Kearney is committed to championing candidates and causes that reflect our community’s values. With your help, we can continue advocating for school board members who are truly invested in Kearney, the education of our youth, and the well-being of educators.

Your donation directly supports KPS School Board candidates who understand that:
• The superintendent reports to the board.
• The board is accountable to its constituents.
• Teacher and staff retention is essential.
• Every student deserves support and advocacy for their success.

With the 2026 elections around the corner, now is the time to strengthen our foundation for the future. Every dollar you give goes straight to work—supporting campaigns, voter outreach, and media efforts that impact Kearney Public Schools.

How you can help:
Donate by sending a check to:
Chaperone Kearney
P.O. Box 1532
Kearney, NE 68848

10/17/2025

KEARNEY - After receiving our final report from our Fortinet Incident Response Team, the hacking organization,...