Lovercheck has been in Omaha Public Schools for a little over 17 years. She made her move to Central because she was ready to take on an administrative role and was interested in Central’s vast pathways program.
She started as a school teacher at Miller Park Elementary. She then transitioned into counseling at Burke High School, where she worked for nine years. Lovercheck wanted a higher job title, so she became the counseling director at Northwest High School.
Lovercheck doesn’t plan on staying a dean for long, hoping in the future to become an assistant principal and data administrator. She said her job as a counselor, making schedules and managing behavior, prepared her for an assistant principal role.
Outside of school, Lovercheck is a wife and mother to two kids. In her free time, Lovercheck started getting into Etsy, the online shop for small businesses, by making T-shirts and embroidering.
Though she doesn’t have a system yet, Lovercheck said she’s getting there, taking things as they come and preparing to manage her new position.
Lovercheck admires the attitude of Central students.
“They want to see change; they stand up for what’s right, and they advocate for themselves,” she said.
Griffin is a Central alumnus from the class of 2009. Griffin explained why she felt it was time to come back to Central.
“Being in the place that molded me into the adult I am today was the goal,” she said.
During her time at Central, Griffin was involved in DECA, Student Council, Minority Scholars, basketball and Homecoming Court. She enjoyed her time at Central as a student but is kind of nervous about what to expect as a staff member.
She was also a product of other OPS schools such as Harrison Elementary and Lewis and Clark Middle School.
She started as a paraprofessional (a teacher’s aide) at Benson West Elementary for five years and soon after became a behavioral classroom para. She then took two years off for her undergraduate degree and, after her break, moved to Monroe Middle School as a math and STEAM teacher.
In her free time, Griffin likes to spend time with her family. She likes shopping, traveling and watching trending shows on Netflix.
Griffin is still learning balance in her new position and looks forward to connecting with students. She plans on staying in the dean position as long as she needs to, and said that Central is where she’s supposed to be; she doesn’t want to disappoint anyone.
Griffin likes how she can have deeper, more mature conversations and connections with high school students compared to middle and elementary schoolers. For high school students who haven’t matured yet, Griffin wants to connect with them to encourage better choices.
Christine Smith has been in OPS for 20 years. She applied to Central because of the school’s rich history in the district and historic community. When she saw an opening, she jumped for it.
She started at McMillan Middle School as an English teacher, instructional facilitator and Title I coordinator. She then moved over to Bryan Middle School as a reading teacher.
Though she didn’t attend an OPS school herself, Smith went local for college. She graduated from Creighton University with an undergraduate degree in English and Secondary Education. She got her master’s degree in Reading and ESL (English as a Second Language) from Concordia University and an Educational Leadership degree from Midland University.
Smith is married and has a son, and she spends most of her time driving him to his activities. In her free time, she loves to travel and plan vacations with family and friends.
Now, as a dean, Smith finds it hard to interact with students outside of a classroom setting but is most looking forward to working with students and preparing them for life after high school.
Smith is not sure where her career will take her, nor if she’ll stay in her new position long, but she’s enjoying the challenge and new adventures.
Smith likes the atmosphere of Central. She enjoys connecting with both the staff and the students.
