Amy Schmidtke, Ed.D.

Amy Schmidtke is director of educational practice and project lead of the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan. In her role, she conceptualizes and leads systemic initiatives to address opportunity gaps for children from birth through Grade 3. Her work integrates applied research, evidence-based educational practices, and family engagement strategies to enhance outcomes for children, families, and schools.

With nearly three decades of experience in early childhood education, Amy brings a rich background as a teacher, coach, and program developer, including 18 years with the Omaha Public Schools and roles as an adjunct instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College.

An author and editor, Amy has contributed to professional resources, including the forthcoming third edition of "The Intentional Teacher" and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) casebook on developmentally appropriate practices. She frequently presents at national and regional conferences, sharing expertise on topics such as guided play, continuous improvement in early childhood systems, family engagement, and the School as Hub approach.

In her leadership role, Amy oversees transformative, grant-funded initiatives such as the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan. This plan advances quality, continuity, and equity in early education through the collaborative efforts of the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, the 11 local school districts in the Omaha metro area, and the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.

Amy earned an Ed.D. in educational administration and a master’s in education with endorsements in early childhood education and English as a second language from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Through her leadership in program development, scholarly contributions, and professional learning efforts, she continues to drive innovative and equitable approaches to early learning that positively impact children, families, and educators.