Office of Special Education

09/11/2026

NDE/OSE Is Hiring... Come Join Our Team!
Work Location: Lincoln, NDE Office Building
Date Posted: 9/11/2026
Application Deadline: 9/25/2026

The NDE Office of Special Education is looking for a Special Education School Age Support Specialist (Education Specialist III) to join our team! This position supports Nebraska schools through special education technical assistance, compliance monitoring, MTSS, professional learning, and efforts to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Interested, or know someone who might be a great fit? Check out the full job posting and apply today!

The work we do matters! Hiring Agency: Education - Agency 13 Location: Lincoln, NE Hiring Rate: $33.951 Job Posting: JR2026-00029247 Special Education School Age Support Specialist (Education Specialist III) (Evergreen) (Open) Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is poste...

09/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and all those whose lives were forever changed. We honor their memory with a moment of reflection, compassion, and remembrance.

Image by Oliver Fuß from Pixabay

09/07/2026

Our offices will be closed for Labor Day, a Federal/State Holiday. This year, Labor Day will be observed on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Image by Riki32 from Pixabay

08/28/2026

08/14/2026

Jackie Gunia - IDEA Part B Program Specialist

Please join us in welcoming Jackie Gunia, our new IDEA Part B Program Specialist, to the Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Special Education!

Jackie brings more than a decade of experience in early childhood education, with roles spanning classroom teaching, coaching, professional development, and educational leadership. Most recently, she served as a special education teacher at Cavett Elementary with Lincoln Public Schools. Throughout her career, Jackie has been passionate about supporting educators and creating meaningful learning experiences for children and their families. She is excited to bring her experience to NDE while continuing to learn and grow in the field of education.

Outside of work, Jackie enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing sand volleyball and golf, relaxing by the pool, attending Nebraska basketball and volleyball games, and traveling. She also recently got engaged and is looking forward to a September 2027 wedding in Arizona!

Welcome to OSE, Jackie! We are excited to have you on the team!

08/07/2026

Elyssa Chambers - Fiscal Grant Management Specialist

Elyssa Chambers joined the Nebraska Department of Education in 2025 as a Fiscal Specialist for the Budgets and Grants Management Team and has now joined the Office of Special Education as our Fiscal Grant Management Specialist. When she first joined NDE, she brought five years of experience from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), where she worked in Medicaid-related programs. For the majority of her time with DHHS, she served as a Medicaid Waiver Coordinator Supervisor, partnering closely with children and their families.

Elyssa earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bellevue University in 2025.

Outside of work, Elyssa enjoys spending time with her husband, Zach, their son, Cooper, who was born in December 2025, and their dogs. She also enjoys watching college sports and reading.

Please join us in welcoming Elyssa to the Office of Special Education!

08/06/2026

Jessica Javorsky from the Nebraska Department of Education recently presented on the national stage at the 2026 OSEP Conference.
Jessica joined state leaders from across the country to share how Nebraska is building and scaling registered teacher apprenticeship programs to strengthen our special education workforce.

Nebraska’s apprenticeship model is helping create meaningful opportunities for paraprofessionals, career changers, and aspiring educators while expanding the pipeline of highly qualified special education teachers for students across our state.

08/06/2026

Two weeks ago, the Office of Special Education gathered at the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center for the 2026 OSE Team Retreat: Wildly Together. The day focused on Courage, Connection, and Growth Beyond Our Comfort Zones as staff participated in activities designed to strengthen relationships, encourage collaboration, and support one another through new experiences.

Throughout the retreat, team members embraced opportunities to step outside their comfort zones, build meaningful connections, and continue growing together. The day's activities reinforced our commitment to fostering a collaborative culture that helps us better serve Nebraska's students, families, and educators.

Our retreat themes included:

Courage: Stepping outside our comfort zones.
Connection: Supporting one another through every experience.
Growth: Embracing new opportunities and growing together.
Together, we soared. Together, we thrived.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's retreat a fun, meaningful, and memorable experience! 🌿

07/10/2026

After nearly 49 years in education, Sharon Heater is officially signing off!

If you've worked in Nebraska education, chances are Sharon has helped you, connected you with the right person, answered your question, or somehow already knew what was happening before anyone else.

She truly has been the connection behind the connections.

Please join us as we celebrate Sharon's remarkable career, thank her for the countless relationships she has built, and wish her well as she begins her next chapter... filled with family, grandbabies, and well-earned relaxation.

Retirement Celebration
📅 Thursday, July 23, 2026
🕐 1:00–3:00 p.m.
📍 NDE Office – Atrium
500 S. 84th Street
Lincoln, NE 68510

Light refreshments will be served.

We hope you'll stop by to congratulate Sharon and thank her for nearly 49 years of dedication to education. Please feel free to share this invite with others!

07/03/2026

NDE offices will be closed today (7.3.2026) in observance of Independence Day, a federal and state holiday.

As we celebrate our nation's independence, we wish everyone a safe, enjoyable, and memorable holiday weekend with family, friends, and loved ones.

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay