District details

Goding, a Republican, is a semi-retired consultant. She served on the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education from 2013-2020, including as board president in 2015 and 2016, according to her campaign website. She has served on multiple other boards, including the Nebraska Association of School Boards Legislation Committee.

Hutcherson, a registered nonpartisan, is the executive vice president of Bellevue University. She is the daughter of public school teachers, according to her campaign website, and is working on her doctorate in interdisciplinary education leadership. She has served on multiple boards for organizations around Omaha, including the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Goding is endorsed by State Board of Education member Lisa Schonhoff, current and former local school board members, current and former senators and more. See the full list of endorsers on her campaign website.

Nebraska State Board of Education members Deborah Neary, who currently represents District 8, Maggie Douglas and Liz Renner endorse Hutcherson, as have multiple Omaha Public Schools Board members and state senators. See all of her endorsers on her campaign website.

On the issues

Goding said she’s running because public education is the way most children in Nebraska will be trained for life. She said she’s concerned about declining test scores and increasingly difficult teacher retention and wants to make a meaningful difference in addressing these challenges. Hutcherson said she’s running out of love for education, policy and the creation of successful education systems. She said she has a deep respect for teachers and administrators.

Hutcherson said she’s the most qualified candidate because her 20-year corporate career and involvement on numerous local boards have been centered on objective decisions and policymaking.  She said serving communities has always been part of her. Goding said she’s the most qualified because of her previous terms on the OPS board and her experience on the Nebraska Association of School Boards’ Legislative Committee. She said she helped develop education programs, policies and legislative initiatives.

Goding said her top priorities if elected would be to better prepare students for life after graduation, with a focus on improved literacy and math proficiency, and to improve parent engagement in education. Hutcherson’s top priorities would be literacy and early childhood education, addressing the teacher shortage and reducing chronic absenteeism.

Hutcherson said she would boost teacher retention by supporting higher pay and better working conditions and creating simpler paths for future teachers to join the classroom. Goding said she would further enhance initiatives like the Teacher Apprentice program and review data on teachers in the programs to ensure they have support systems.

Goding said she is encouraged by the State Board of Education’s new strategic plan, its goal of boosting reading proficiency scores and the use of discretionary and unrestricted funds to do so. She said she would also work to remove barriers to special education resources, implement phonics statewide and reduce the use of technology in elementary schools. Hutcherson said she would work with other board members to replicate successful strategies in improving scores, look for where problems can be solved and create a plan to monitor outcomes.

Hutcherson said the current education commissioner has worked diligently to deliver goals and restore faith in Nebraska’s educational institutions. She said her previous career will help her understand the decision-making needed to empower the commissioner to achieve goals. Goding said the commissioner has updated professional development, worked to better align state testing, overseen the development of the board’s strategic plan and earned the support of current board members.

Goding said her background as a local school board member and her farm roots would set her apart from her opponent. She said she wouldn’t have a steep learning curve if elected and she would be able to understand the challenges of school districts of all sizes. Hutcherson said her experience as an HR professional and service on boards focused on education, workforce development and economic improvement differentiates her from her opponent.