Lisa Utterback

Lisa Utterback is a proud product of public education. She grew up in a single parent home, in extreme poverty and faced great adversity in her home. She attended eleven different schools and received Special Education Services due to eviction and high mobility. Her mother battled drug addiction and incarceration. Every indicator of failure rested on her shoulders every day walking into the walls of her classrooms. Education was her ticket to a better life. She found refuge and hope within the walls of the schools she attended where educators planted and nourished seeds of hope. Utterback had a lifelong mentor who held her to high expectations, just like some of her educators. She earned a softball athletic scholarship to college and attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She continued her education, and received a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and an Education Specialist Degree. Utterback graduated in 2019 from the Broad Academy.

Over the past twenty-three years, Utterback has been afforded numerous opportunities to serve in various roles within the Omaha Public Schools. Her positions began as a fifth-grade teacher and progressed to Title I coordinator, dean of students, assistant principal, principal, executive director, and is currently serving as a chief officer. Her leadership and influence in every position allowed her to use various tools to inspire others to put in the work and attain success. Hope, teamwork and accountability bought stakeholders together to accomplish common goals.

Utterback has proven success is possible with the right mindset, passion, and drive. She is very proud of her work and transformational leadership as classroom teacher, principal, executive director and chief officer. Those that walk the walk and demonstrate growth can talk the talk and lead others to attain success. Under her leadership as a principal, the school community united and beat the odds in every capacity possible. Teamwork made the school’s mission and vision become a reality. Increased academic success of students was the result of dedicated teachers and support staff, involved parents and guardians, and committed students. Failure was not an option.

Her presence, personal experiences and professional expertise packaged all together is nothing short of inspiring. Utterback is able to tie participants to their purpose, ignite hope and fire inside of them and provide practical strategies that work. She is a champion who takes pride in providing voice, advocacy, and resources to those that have the span of impact to positively change the lives of the youth and adult stakeholders in our country. Her strategic focus, passion and leadership for serving is making a positive difference for principals, teachers, students, families and community.