Bellevue Public Schools Welcomes 74 New Teachers, Launches 2025-26 School Year

The 2025-26 school year is well underway in Bellevue Public Schools, and with it comes new faces, new programs, and a continued commitment to student success. District leaders say this year’s theme, One District, Infinite Possibilities, reflects the idea that every member of TeamBPS plays a vital role in unlocking the potential of students.

In total, BPS hired 74 new teachers to start the year, with 41 of them coming directly from college. Another 19 arrived from neighboring districts such as Omaha Public Schools, while seven relocated from out of state. Seven more joined the teaching profession after working in other careers. Beyond the classroom, the district also hired 90 classified staff members since May, bringing in additional support in areas like paraprofessionals, food service, and custodial services.

Despite these additions, openings remain. BPS is still looking to fill roles for paraprofessionals, bus drivers, custodial workers, and food service staff. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the district’s website for up-to-date postings and to apply online.

One major initiative shaping the school year is Project SHAPE UP, a $2 million Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant awarded to BPS in 2024. The grant is aimed at improving health and wellness across the district, particularly at schools connected to military families. The funds have already provided new physical education equipment, outdoor fitness courses, indoor climbing walls, and even inclusive playgrounds designed for students with disabilities. Middle schools will see outdoor fitness gyms installed later this fall, while high schools are receiving upgraded gear for PE classes.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rippe said the new year has already begun with strong momentum. “We’ve launched into the new school year with excitement, purpose, and a strong sense of unity,” Rippe said. “This success doesn’t happen by chance—it happens when passionate, dedicated individuals come together with a shared purpose. In Bellevue Public Schools, it’s our people—TeamBPS—who make the infinite possibilities a reality every day. There’s no place like it!”

Among the many new educators joining the district this year are Andrew Cangelose, a Social Studies teacher at Bellevue West High School, and Vivian Kaldahl, a 6th grade teacher at LeMay Elementary.

Cangelose, originally from Missouri, brings four years of experience teaching in the St. Joseph School District, where he also coached varsity football and track and field. Now, he’s eager to dive into every aspect of his new role. “What am I looking forward to? Can I say all of it? In all seriousness, I am looking forward to being a teacher that students look forward to, making the content that I teach enjoyable and something these students will remember,” he said.

Coaching football at Bellevue West is also part of his new journey. “I am happy to represent Bellevue West as a football coach and within the community,” he said. “This is a place that has taken me in with open arms and made me feel like a T-Bird since day one.”

For Cangelose, the move to Bellevue was also a family decision. His wife, Ashley, teaches Social Studies at Lewis and Clark Middle School. “Bellevue is the best place for not only myself but for my family. We instantly fell in love with the community. I enjoy the small-town aspect, a sense of a tight community even being so close to the Omaha Metro Area. Bellevue Public Schools makes sure that students are first, that they are the priority in the classroom,” he said. “When I was offered this job, I knew that this was going to be a perfect fit for me.”

At the elementary level, Kaldahl said she is equally energized for her first year at LeMay. A graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she is currently enrolled in UNO’s CADRE program to earn her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Teaching, she said, has been a lifelong dream. “I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember, so being here, at the moment I have dreamed of and worked toward, is rewarding,” Kaldahl said.

Already, her students have reminded her of the impact educators can have. “It warmed my heart to have students whom I taught as a practicum or student teacher come visit me at open house. This simple gesture reminded me of the lasting impact teachers can have and reaffirmed why I chose this profession,” she said.

Kaldahl said her decision to join BPS was shaped by her positive experiences as both a practicum and student teacher at LeMay. She praised the school’s focus on inclusion, noting its recognition as a Unified Champion School through the Special Olympics. “Special Olympics is a large part of my life outside of teaching, so I felt a profound sense of belonging within a school community that emphasizes inclusion,” she explained.

After substituting across the district and then student teaching at LeMay, Kaldahl said she knew she wanted to officially become part of the BPS team. “Throughout each step of my journey, it has been clear that Bellevue Public Schools is a supportive and intentional community that is deeply focused on best serving its students,” she said. “I am excited to foster a welcoming, inclusive classroom where all students feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow as students and as people.”

As students across Bellevue settle into their new routines, district leaders and new teachers alike say they are energized by the possibilities ahead. From innovative programs like Project SHAPE UP to the passion of new educators like Cangelose and Kaldahl, Bellevue Public Schools is focused on shaping a future full of opportunity.