Nebraska National Alternative Education Association (NeNAEA)
New statewide organization brings together alternative education leaders to strengthen
collaboration, professional learning, advocacy, and opportunities for Nebraska students
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Alternative education leaders from across Nebraska have established the Nebraska State Chapter of the National Alternative Education Association (NeNAEA), creating a statewide professional organization dedicated to strengthening alternative education and supporting the educators and students it serves.
“I founded NeNAEA because Nebraska has dedicated alternative educators doing extraordinary work, and we needed a way to bring those people together,” said Dr. Derek Peil, ESU 13 Director of Alternative Education. “When we share ideas, learn from one another, and speak with a collective voice, we strengthen what we can offer students. My goal was to build a statewide community where educators feel supported and connected, and where that collaboration leads to more opportunities for students to succeed.”
Peil brought together leaders from across the state to establish the organization’s mission, priorities, and foundation for future growth. That founding group includes Dr. Emili Brosnan of Millard Public Schools; Jason Owens of Kearney Public Schools; Kyle King, Stephan Sanchez, and Kenna Urwiller of Scottsbluff Public Schools; Sara Colford of Columbus Public Schools; and Denise Craig of Lincoln Public Schools, along with Peil of ESU 13.
Together, these educators have helped transform an idea into a growing statewide organization. NeNAEA has already grown to more than 46 members across Nebraska, with new educators continuing to join each month.
Stronger Together
At the heart of NeNAEA is a simple concept: connecting Nebraska’s alternative educators strengthens their ability to serve students.
Alternative education programs support students with a wide range of needs, circumstances, strengths, and educational experiences. Although programs vary from one community to another, their educators often encounter similar challenges and share a commitment to helping students succeed. NeNAEA creates a statewide forum where those professionals can build relationships, exchange resources, and develop solutions together.
“I am excited to be part of NeNAEA. I’ve never had regular collaboration with other alternative educators around the state before,” said Denise Craig of Lincoln Public Schools. “Sharing ideas and resources has already been helpful, after just a few months.”
Members have already shared strategies related to attendance, family engagement, student confidence, individualized supports, positive behavioral interventions, and program development. These exchanges give educators practical ideas they can bring back to their schools while creating ongoing connections with colleagues who understand their work.
Building on What Works for Students
For Brosnan, helping build NeNAEA extends the work of her team at Keith Lutz Horizon High School in Millard Public Schools. Horizon serves approximately 140–170 students each academic quarter in a high school of choice designed for students who need additional support while pursuing their diplomas.
The school’s relationship-first approach combines small class sizes and individualized attention with academic, behavioral, and emotional supports, credit recovery, and opportunities to help students become future-ready.
“At Horizon, we see every day what can happen when we put relationships first, maintain high expectations, and create opportunities that respond to what students actually need,” Brosnan said. “We have built a community where we believe in our students, we care about their individual paths, and we work together to help them shine.”
NeNAEA provides a way for educators to share those experiences and learn from approaches being used in other communities.
“When we connect our educators, share what works, and advocate together, we create more opportunities for students across our state to experience success and become future-ready,” Brosnan said.
A Statewide Organization Built by Educators
NeNAEA’s founding board represents different Nebraska communities, school systems, professional experiences, and perspectives. That breadth helps keep the organization grounded in the daily work of serving students while addressing needs across the state.
Its mission is to support and advance high-quality alternative education opportunities for students and educators. Its priorities include promoting equitable access, supporting research and evidence-based practices, encouraging innovation, strengthening professional learning and leadership development, and providing a unified voice for alternative education in policy discussions.
The organization welcomes educators, administrators, service providers, advocates, community members, and other stakeholders who share that mission. By creating a structure for identifying and sharing promising practices, NeNAEA aims to extend its impact beyond its membership to the students, families, and communities its members serve.
Connecting Nebraska to a National Network
As Nebraska’s state chapter of the National Alternative Education Association, NeNAEA connects members to a broader network of professionals committed to alternative education.
That affiliation creates opportunities to learn from programs and leaders across the country while bringing Nebraska’s experiences, ideas, and perspectives into national conversations. It also connects educators with research, resources, practices, and professional learning opportunities that can inform their work locally.
Growing Across Nebraska
As membership grows, NeNAEA will continue developing opportunities for collaboration, professional learning, leadership development, networking, and advocacy.
The founding board’s long-term vision is a connected community of educators who can strengthen alternative education across Nebraska together. By building relationships across programs and communities, the organization is working to ensure educators have the knowledge, resources, and collective voice they need to better serve students.
NeNAEA is an organization created by Nebraska educators, for Nebraska educators, with the shared purpose of creating better opportunities and outcomes for students.
About NeNAEA
The Nebraska State Chapter of the National Alternative Education Association (NeNAEA) is Nebraska’s professional state affiliate organization dedicated to supporting and advancing high-quality alternative education opportunities for students and educators. NeNAEA promotes statewide collaboration, equitable access, research and evidence-based practices, innovation, professional learning, leadership development, advocacy, and a unified voice for Nebraska’s alternative education community.
