Nicole Niebuhr, a former computer science teacher at Miller North High School, told the Millard Board of Education during the meeting's public comment period that she resigned after a dispute over assignment of programming courses and that she does not deserve disciplinary action on her teaching certificate. "I feel I've done everything possible in this scenario to not leave the district and my students in this difficult situation, and I don't deserve any disciplinary actions on my certificate," Niebuhr said, giving the board her home address for the record.
Niebuhr said she has 15 years of high school teaching experience, two master's degrees (curriculum instruction and computer science education), and a state endorsement to teach computer science. She told the board she was hired in 2022 and that, on May 22, her principal, Aaron Barringer, came into her classroom to discuss a newly hired teacher. She said she raised concerns that the new hire's background made him more suitable for business technology courses and that she sought to stay on the computer science programming classes to protect students' learning continuity.
According to Niebuhr, after emailing her principal on May 23 and discussing the matter in person, she learned the new hire would be taking her introductory programming sections. Niebuhr said she requested a letter of recommendation the following day and was told that would be inappropriate; she said she later sought union assistance and met with administrators including "Doctor Heidi" and Dr. Barringer, and that a compromise was discussed. Niebuhr said she gave notice to human resources on June 25 and had arranged a full-time position at UNO beginning this fall, so a license sanction would not affect her employment but would matter as a principle and for other teachers.
The board did not respond during public comment; the chair said administration would follow up. The transcript shows no motion or formal board action tied to Niebuhr's remarks during the meeting. The comment occurred during the agenda's public comment period limited to items on the agenda.
The record includes Niebuhr's account but does not include any formal personnel action, investigation results, or statements from Principal Aaron Barringer or human resources staff in the meeting minutes. Any future action on Niebuhr's certificate would appear in later records; the board and administration have not announced a decision at this meeting.