Staff Spotlight: Sarah Nguyen-Pack - family and consumer sciences teacher at Goodrich Middle School

February 14, 2025

Every week, we’ll shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! Get to know the wonderful people making a positive impact across various areas within LPS. This week, meet Sarah Nguyen-Pack, family and consumer sciences teacher at Goodrich Middle School.

“Sarah hit the ground running building the family and consumer sciences classes here at Goodrich Middle School as soon as she stepped in her new classroom in August of 2024! Not only has she built strong relationships with students, she has also contributed to building professional learning, sharing her experiences processing with students after challenging moments. Ms. Nguyen-Park can also be found in the lunchroom eating lunch with her students, some of which are helping her learn to speak their native language, Spanish! In November of 2024, she was the first recipient of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences Celebrates Educators Award. This is a new award from CEHS at UNL that recognizes alumni who have made outstanding impacts as educators. We see her outstanding impact each day as she teaches with high-quality instruction and contributes to a positive, focused and high-expectations staff! We are lucky she is a Dragon!” Amanda Krivda, coordinator, Goodrich Middle School

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher at Goodrich Middle School. I teach Healthy Living, FCS 7 and FCS 8.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I began my amazing journey as a teacher for Lincoln Public Schools in January 2024.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. As a proud product of LPS, I was fortunate to have an incredible family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher at North Star High School who inspired and nurtured my passion for FCS. Because of the impact my community and educators had on me, I knew I wanted my first few years as a teacher to be about giving back to the same community that helped shape me into the person I am today.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
My favorite part of working at Goodrich Middle School is, without a doubt, the students. They truly make this place special, and I’m fortunate to have formed meaningful connections with so many of them. The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my students apply the skills I’ve taught them in their lives. Watching them grow, succeed and use what they’ve learned is what makes teaching so fulfilling.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended Lincoln Public Schools as a student and had quite a journey through several schools due to my family moving frequently when I was young. For elementary school, I attended Elliott, Meadow Lane, Hartley and Hawthorne. I went to Culler for middle school, and for high school, I spent time at Lincoln High before graduating from North Star. Moving so often meant that I went to a different school almost every one to two years, which shaped my perspective and resilience as a student and now as an educator.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After graduating from high school, I immediately enrolled at Southeast Community College to start earning credits toward transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. However, I needed to take a break to focus on managing living expenses. During that time, I prioritized what was most important and took a few years off from school. While working full-time at UNL, I resumed taking classes and worked diligently to complete my degree. Now, I’m focused on the next step in my education journey—getting into a graduate program by August 2025.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
What I enjoy most about the Lincoln community is the kindness of its people and the diversity I see everywhere I go. The way the community comes together in times of need is truly inspiring, and it’s a wonderful city to raise children. 

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
This is a tough choice, but if I had to pick between “The Rainbow Fish” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” I’d choose “The Rainbow Fish.” Its message about compassion, sharing and kindness really resonates with me and makes it such a meaningful story.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
I can’t choose just one teacher who impacted my life because two amazing educators left lasting impressions on me.

The first was Mary Livingston, my older sister’s EL teacher at Elliott Elementary. Even though I was never her student, she played a big role in my childhood. During the summers, she would take my sister and me swimming, out for ice cream, and on other fun outings. She truly cared for us, and her kindness made a lasting impact.

The second was Susan Samson, my fifth and sixth grade teacher at Elliott Elementary. She was the kindest teacher I ever had—compassionate, and dedicated to humanitarian work, particularly with refugee families. We reconnected when I was 20, and she invited me over for dinner. We stayed in touch for several years after that. She passed away a couple of years ago, but I know she would have been so proud to see me become a teacher. Her belief in me and support still inspire me today. They are perfect examples of the teacher I want to be.

Do you know a LPS staff member we should feature for Staff Spotlight? Fill out this form to nominate them!

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