Dr. Summer Stephens
Grand Island Public Schools

Dr. Stephens engages staff, students, and the community in collaborative conversations and activities designed to promote excellence and innovation.  With a passion for personalized learning through a competency-based and social, emotional, and academic lens, Dr. Stephens has successfully implemented systems of blended and online learning, voice and choice, self-paced learning, project-based learning, and design thinking. She advocates for learners and families to have access to necessary resources that meet their basic needs as well as those that assure that their zipcode or living circumstance does not determine their success.  More importantly, she works to ensure all learners, staff, and families are seen, heard, and valued.  A specific focus of her work has included bridging the gap between courses traditionally identified as core and CTE, working to ensure that systems have opportunities and pathways for all students to engage in future-ready work.  She is a strong advocate for schools at the state and national level, working with legislators to ensure equitable funding and opportunities for learners.  Her involvement at the city and county level creates a great connection between school, home, and community. Here in Grand Island, Dr. Stephens currently serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors, the CNCAA Board of Directors, the First Light Board, and the Heartland United Way Board of Directors helping bridge the work of school and community partnerships.
Dr. Stephens currently serves as the Grand Island Public Schools Associate Superintendent and Chief of Secondary Education supporting the Academies of Grand Island Senior High School, the three middle schools and all of the alternative programs of the district.  She was the 2023 Nevada Superintendent of the Year, and the 2023 winner of the Nevada Society of Innovators and Digital Education Administrator of the Year and the 2023 Nevada State Award Winner for the National Association of Federal Educational Programs Administrators. She has previously served as a district superintendent in two states, director of curriculum/instruction/assessment, an educational service unit staff developer, and a classroom teacher.
Summer has been thoroughly involved in all levels of education, serving on the board of a two-county early childhood center to serving on the Complete College Wyoming Advisory group and participating in the national level of Future Ready Schools. She has experience leading a statewide K-20 Learning Management System adoption team, developing a statewide open education resource library and other components of a strong competency-based learning approach.  She is a graduate of the AASA National Superintendent Certification program and AASA’s Personalized Learning Cohort.