Those who were singing Travis Lightle’s praises as he called snow days over the past two weeks will be pleased to hear that he will be sticking around.

Earlier this morning, the Gretna Public Schools Board of Education made the decision, after a unanimous vote, that he would no longer be interim superintendent, but the official superintendent of GPS going forward.

Lightle has been the interim superintendent since Dr. Rich Beran’s resignation last May, but he now holds the official title.

Lightle was one of three finalists in the Board’s search, along with Dr. Devin Embray, current superintendent of Glenwood Public Schools and Dr. Joshua McDowell, current superintendent of Crete Public Schools. 

Giving him an edge over his competition was the fact that he has 23 years of experience in education with 20 of those being in GPS. Over those two decades, he served as a fifth grade teacher, an assistant elementary principal, elementary principal, a director of student services, assistant superintendent to Dr. Richard Beran and then as interim superintendent after Beran’s retirement

In addition to his own children attending Gretna schools, Lightle has Nebraska roots. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nebraska Kearney and then his Master’s degree in Education from Creighton University.

For now, Lightle is the Superintendent select, and the Board will finalize his superintendent contract at an upcoming board meeting.