Meet Our Board
A group of dedicated volunteers helps guide the Foundation and its activities. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact any member of the current board or call the Foundation office at (402) 289.1727. Board members serve a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms.
Executive Board
- Forrest Newburg, President
- Torri Criger, Secretary
- Katy Bode, Treasurer & President Elect
- Chad Rutar, Past President | Advisor
Members at Large
- Dr. Bary Habrock, Superintendent
- Renee Vokt, School Board Liaison
- Laura Burford
- Jill Ehlers
- Derrick Fitton
- Alison Johnson
- Eric Little
- Barry McArdle
- Scott Moore
- Desiree O’Shea
- Kendra Ringenberg
- Nate Scott
Building Representatives
- Ryan Broshar, Elementary School Representative
- Mark Kalvoda, High School Representative
- Deb Garrison, Middle School Representative
Forrest Newburg, President
Why is the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation’s mission important to you?
The EPS Foundation’s mission is important to me because it helps sustain a virtuous circle that exists between a high-quality public education system and a strong community.
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
We purchased a traveling camper this year. So we have been enjoying some quality family time in the great outdoors with our three bulldogs.
Katy Bode, Treasurer & President Elect
Why is the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation’s mission important to you?
The Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation is one of the most important and far-reaching organizations in Elkhorn, which benefits all students in the district. As soon as my daughter started Kindergarten at West Bay Elementary, it was evident to me that the programs supported by the Foundation are critical to enhancing the educational experience of students. I immediately bought into the mission of the Foundation after receiving my first Foundation Newsletter which talked about Classroom Grants, Math & Reading Intervention programs, scholarships, and more. With growing school enrollment, the Foundation requests for support, and overall footprint continues to expand. I am proud to serve on the board to continue the great work done by, and the mission of, the Foundation.
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
I have served two years as Vice President and two years as President of the West Bay Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. The first two years were challenging since the school was new to the district. I worked hard to help establish and document various committee and classroom party guidelines and standards. I created the volunteer committee listing, started the Corporate Sponsorship Program, and the School Supply Packs Program. Other boards I currently serve on are Platte Valley Bank, the North Bend Chamber of Commerce, the Nebraska Bankers Association Voluntary Employee Benefit Association, and the Nebraska Bankers Association Education Advisory Committee.
Torri Criger
Why is the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation’s mission important to you?
The EPSF serves an important role in engaging the community to provide support to the Elkhorn Public Schools. As school budgets become tighter, the EPSF can help provide students and staff with opportunities they might otherwise have to go without. EPSF also serves as an advocate for the Elkhorn school district and public schools within the community. EPSF is truly a great asset to the district.
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
Elkhorn is an excellent school district. It has fantastic and talented teachers and staff. It provides for great neighborhood schools. It really serves as a center for the community.
Chad Rutar, Past President | Advisor
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
I have two daughters, Joe & Savvy. Our school system mentors, teaches, and molds the two most important aspects of my life, my daughters. The school system also molds the community around us. When your children are involved in school activities, you naturally interact with other parents, and it’s these interactions that make up the fabric of the surrounding community. Without a strong school system, the community does not thrive.
Where do you hope to see the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation in 5 years?
In five years, I would like to see the EPSF be the gold standard when it comes to foundations. EPSF would not only continue its way in scholarships, but be more interwoven with its alumni. It would be amazing to see effort and funding going into two-year vocational education programs. There is a rising need for workers in the trades, and the community would be a direct benefactor of these efforts.
Dr. Bary Habrock, Superintendent of Schools
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
Ronda and I are forever grateful to have raised our three children in the Elkhorn Public Schools. They thrived in an enriching and challenging environment that prepared them academically for the next step.
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
My favorite thing about Elkhorn is the quality of our teachers, administrators, and support staff that are surrounded by a supportive community and generous Foundation.
Renee Vokt, School Board Liaison
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
Elkhorn Public Schools are important to me for multiple reasons. The obvious one, my three boys all attend EPS and I’ve always been involved in their classrooms and schools. I love engaging with students and watching them as they grow. I also love the sense of community that is witnessed throughout the Elkhorn community even as we continually grow each year. It’s imperative we keep our focus on each and every student, as well as teachers and administration as we continue to grow.
Where do you hope to see the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation in 5 years?
I hope the Foundation can grow in the help they provide to the Elkhorn Public Schools community. The opportunities they provide in Classroom Grants, Scholarships, and EKC is fantastic, and I’d love to see us grow in those areas as the District continues to expand.
Ryan Broshar, Elementary School Representative
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
EPS is important to me because strong schools provide our children with opportunities to pursue their passions and live meaningful and successful lives.
What is your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
My favorite thing about Elkhorn is the strong community support around the importance of high-quality education. This community believes in the importance of providing our children with the best education possible and works in conjunction with our school system to ensure that our children receive the best.
Deb Garrison, Middle School Representative
What do you hope to contribute to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation?
As an administrator in the district, I hope to bring that perspective to conversations and decisions. Knowing how much the contributions of the EPSF are appreciated is a driving factor to maintaining the productive and supportive relationship between Foundation and school system.
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
My connection to Elkhorn Public Schools is long. I am a proud graduate of Elkhorn; in addition, my children are both Elkhorn graduates. I have also been a teacher and am currently an administrator in the district. Of all those connections to EPS, I think the one that is most important is knowing my children recieved a high quality education from people who challenged and supported them. My children left Elkhorn with all doors open to them because they had a solid foundation of skills and knowledge built by Elkhorn Public Schools.
Mark Kalvoda, High School Representative
What do you hope to contribute to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation?
As a high school principal in the district, my aim is to further connect the Foundation to our schools and present the ground reality of the great things we have going on in our high schools. I also think my membership will assist in the alignment of EPS goals with the Foundation’s goals. Through transparent conversations over the past two years, tremendous strides have been made to calibrate the missions.
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
Without question, my favorite thing about Elkhorn is the people. The support of and value placed on education in our community, the pride that our students take in our school, the tremendous efforts of our teachers to support high levels of learning for ALL students– it all adds up to a tremendous school district.
Laura Burford
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
I’m a lifelong Elkhorn resident and EHS graduate. My parents, aunts, uncles, brother, nephews, and two of my kids have all graduated from Elkhorn. I have a 7th grader at EMS now. Elkhorn is HOME and Elkhorn schools are key to the development of outstanding young people and the citizens that make Elkhorn the awesome community that it is. We have always had an excellent school system in Elkhorn, and I’m happy to be part of a foundation that provides resources and support to make it even better.
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
I love to read non-fiction books. Continuous learning is a passion.
Jill Ehlers
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
My children will go to EPS and having them attend a district that is one of the best is something I think every parent would be happy about. The EPSF’s partnership with Elkhorn Public Schools, ensures the support for various programs, grants, and needs are aligned with the district’s goals to continue to provide opportunities for all students.
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
I love the community support and involvement.
Derrick Fitton
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
In addition to having two daughters and one son in the Elkhorn School District, I am also a 1995 graduate of Elkhorn High School. The school district has always been a big part of my life. I had a great educational experience in the school district and feel like my kids would share the same sentiment. I think it’s important that all district students are afforded the same opportunity, so I want to make sure all our programs receive the necessary attention and support to make this a reality. As the district continues to expand, so will the interests and passions of the students, so it’s important we give every student the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential.
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
My family and I tend to lead a very active lifestyle. If I’m not playing volleyball with my daughters or tennis with my son, my wife and I are on a pickleball court. I participate in a summer tennis league and play pickup basketball twice a week at 5 AM. When the weather permits, I like to get on the golf course, but sometimes life and work get in the way. I typically listen to audiobooks during my 30 min drive to and from work and have been part of the teammates organization for the last 1 ½ years. I like to end my active days in our hot-tub, listening to music, and relaxing.
Alison Johnson
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
Elkhorn Public Schools are important to me because all three of my girls are in the school system! I also attended Elkhorn Public Schools. I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing public school system and hope to help maintain and increase its excellence.
What is your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
My favorite thing about Elkhorn is the strong community foundation, and the “family feeling” it brings, even though it is a large public school district.
Eric Little
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
We love being able to have access to all of the conveniences of a major metro area like Omaha, while still being able to experience the small-town feeling of Elkhorn. Whether we’re having a special treat at Dairy Chef, attending a community event at Ta-Ha-Zouka, or just picking up some groceries at Family Fare, we can always count on seeing familiar, friendly faces!
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
I have always had a passion for kids, so volunteering as a little league baseball coach and as a facilitator for Junior Achievement are two of my favorite activities. Every teacher, every coach, every person in a role that involves a child has an opportunity to make a positive impact on that kid. They have a chance to be that kid’s best teacher or best coach. I love having the opportunity to work with kids, and my limited time in the classroom through JA has only enhanced the respect that I have for the teachers and administrators in our EPS schools.
Barry McArdle
What do you hope to contribute to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation?
My hope is to contribute a well-rounded perspective to the board to help the Foundation be as successful as possible. I am an Elkhorn native and a 3rd generation Elkhorn business owner. My Grandfather was one of the founders of the Foundation which makes being part of it all the more special. I also have two children in the district which I believe helps put board decisions in perspective.
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
Elkhorn schools are important to me because I feel they are a reflection of the community and its commitment to the success of future generations.
Scott Moore
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
I have lived here since 1972 and I have witnessed the growth of this community. Shopping centers that once were cornfields, farm homesteads that are now thriving residential developments– The one thing that has stayed constant is the involvement that the community has with its public school system. Our success as a school district is directly related to the involvement of the parents, grandparents, and the community in general.
What extracurricular or outside interests do you have?
I love to work outside with my hands. I love clearing trees, working in my flower garden, splitting wood for fires, and mowing. We live in such a pristine area with the ability to go outside and smell the fresh air and look up in the night sky and still see the stars. On a side note, I still love hearing the noon siren of the volunteer fire department from Waterloo. It was not long ago that Elkhorn had this daily occurrence. When I was at school as a child, hearing that siren meant that you were 5 minutes away from lunch.
Desiree O’Shea
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
I want to give back to my school district with the goal that all of our kids will have the best educational and extracurricular opportunities. I want our EPS families to feel the support of the community and be lifted up by those around them. Our teachers are amazing and deserve all the support we can give them.
What do you hope to contribute to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation?
I will contribute my time and effort to keep programs running and support the best interest of our children when decisions are being made.
Kendra Ringenberg
Why are Elkhorn Public Schools important to you?
As a parent of a high school student, a middle school student, and an elementary school student, the continued success of the Elkhorn Public Schools is of the utmost importance to me. I want the best education and the most opportunities for my kids, my nieces and nephews, and all of their friends. I think that Elkhorn Public Schools is the place to make that happen. I am surrounded by Elkhorn alumni that have gone on to do wonderful things for their communities and professions and it all stems from a great foundation provided through the school system, the community, and families. I have been so impressed by the goal to constantly improve the system and bring more to the students!
What’s your favorite thing about Elkhorn?
Having grown up in a small town in western Nebraska, it was important to me to have the feel of a small town with the opportunities that a larger community can provide. I believe Elkhorn is the perfect balance of these with small-town values and a close-knit community alongside significant opportunities in education and otherwise.
Nate Scott
What do you hope to contribute to the Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation?
Starting out, I just want to learn more about Elkhorn Public Schools. My wife is a teacher in the district and all three of my kids attend Elkhorn Public Schools. I feel I know a little, but I would like to know more. Where I think I can contribute is giving insight from a teacher’s spouse perspective, and the needs that teachers have in order to best teach our future community leaders.
What are some of your prior board leadership experiences? What were some of the most important things you learned? What do you feel were some of your greatest contributions?
I am currently Treasurer on the governing board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands. Myself, the Board, and the management team have learned to be flexible, especially during the COVID-19 time frame. We learned to do what was best for the agency and for the kids that the agency serves. Contributions that I brought to the Board were in my financial and accounting background. I knew some of the government funding opportunities that were out there that the agency could apply for.
