My Views Are My Own By Lisa Schonhoff, Ed.S. 1/27/2026 As a veteran educator with 25 years dedicated to studying and implementing best practices in reading instruction, I am encouraged by the ongoing focus among lawmakers on early literacy. Literacy remains the cornerstone of a productive society, equipping individuals to thrive academically, professionally, and civically. In Nebraska, where reading proficiency rates have continued to decline in recent years—mirroring nationa

My Views Are My Own By Lisa Schonhoff, Ed.S. 1/25/2025 Legislation Legislative Bill 1024  would require each Nebraska school district, starting with the 2027-28 school year, to teach the history of communism — worldwide and in the U.S. Current Nebraska statute 79-724  states the following: (i) Administration of a written test that is identical to the entire civics portion of the naturalization test used by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services prior to the comple

My Views Are My Own By Lisa Schonhoff, Ed.S. 1/21/2025 Picture This:  You are about to tour an elementary school where your five-year-old will attend during the next school year.  You ring the doorbell to be let into the office.  While signing in, you hear blood-curdling screams and pounding on a wall.  You notice an adult holding a door to a small room shut while a six-year-old child is screaming and punching the door.  The other adults go about their business, unfazed, as