The Lincoln Board of Education will vote next week to appoint an interim superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools.
The board will vote on the appointment of John Skretta as interim superintendent at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
A press release stated Skretta currently serves as the Lincoln Public Schools associate superintendent for Civic Engagement, a position he began in July 2024.
As part of the consent agenda, the Board will vote on a contract amendment appointing Skretta as the LPS interim superintendent through June 2026. Board President Bob Rauner said in the press release the timeline will allow for the Board to complete a comprehensive superintendent search.
“The Lincoln Board of Education prioritizes community input in our decision making, and selecting the next superintendent is no different,” Rauner said. “Our Board will engage with staff, students, families and community members as we outline our search and hiring process and find the next leader for our school district. This timeline of 18 months will allow the Board to complete this process.”
The appointment will follow an announcement last month that Paul Gausman was retiring from the role of superintendent at the end of 2024.
Prior to returning to LPS in July, Skretta was the Chief Administrator for Educational Service Unit 6 from 2019 until 2024. Part of his duties as administrator included overseeing all personnel and operations for the ESU that served 16 public school districts in the counties of Seward, Saline, York, Fillmore and Lancaster. In that role Skretta was responsible for administration of technology, professional development and student services including mental health, early childhood, transition education and special services. He was also charged with budget development and staff negotiations. As an active member of the ESU Coordinating Council Legal Committee, he focused on legislative advocacy and coordination of activities of non-staff lobbyists.
Skretta started his educational career at LPS as an English and reading teacher at Northeast High School in 1995. In 2000, he became an instructional coordinator at Northeast High School and then associate principal in 2001. Skretta left Northeast High School in 2004 to be the principal at Norris High School. In 2008, he was named associate superintendent for Norris Public Schools for two years before becoming superintendent in 2010.
Skretta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Arts degree in English, a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration degree, all from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.