Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2012; re-elected 2016

Born Dec. 26, 1944, in LaSalle, Ill.

Education: Graduate of LaSalle-Peru Township High School, 1962; Lake Forest College (B.A.), 1966; University of Nebraska at Omaha (M.S.), 1970; University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Ph.D.), 1978.

Military service: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (1964-67).

Family: Married Bonnie Mae Gerrard, Dec. 26, 1966; two children: Jason and David.

Occupation: Educational consultant, Secondary School Reform.

Former: Teacher; department head; curriculum coordinator; assistant principal; director of secondary education; high school principal.

Member: Southwest Kiwanis Club, Omaha, 2005-present; board of directors, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, 2004-12 (assistant treasurer, vice-chairman, chairman); board of governors, Phi Delta Kappa Education Foundation, 2011-present; Learning Community Coordinating Council of Douglas and Sarpy Counties (chairman, 2009-12).

Former member: Midwestern Higher Education Compact, 2013-16; education public policy committee, Council of State Governments, 2013-16; Omaha City Parks Committee, 2010-12; Omaha 2000 Education Committee, 1993-2003; board of directors, Phi Delta Kappa, 1989-2003 (international president, 1999-2001); Omaha South/Southwest YMCA (board chairman, 1989-91); Leadership Omaha, class of 1987-88.

Honors and awards: 2014-16 BILLD Fellow, Midwest Council of State Governments Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership; 2014 National Afterschool Alliance Champion; 2007 Outstanding Administrator, Nebraska Music Educators Association; 2006 Friend of Education Award; 2006 National Principal of the Year, National Science Teachers Association; 2000 and 2007 Nebraska State Region II Principal of the Year.