Staff Spotlight: Michael Mason-D'Croz - Spanish teacher at Lincoln Northeast High School

January 2, 2026

Every week, we shine a spotlight on one Lincoln Public Schools staff member! This week, meet Michael Mason-D'Croz, Spanish teacher at Lincoln Northeast High School.

“Mason makes a great effort for the Spanish department at Northeast. He also wants the absolute very best from his students and you won’t see Mason giving up on a student.” - Emma, student at Lincoln Northeast High School 

In a few sentences, briefly describe your role at LPS.
I am a Spanish teacher and tennis coach at Lincoln Northeast High School. I work with kids daily to help them develop skills and gain confidence in difficult situations and with difficult materials.

How long have you worked for LPS?
I have been at LNE since August of 2010.

What inspired you to become part of the education field at LPS?
I grew up in a family of educators. My father was a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for over 35 years. My mother was an adjunct professor at UNL during that same timeframe. In my family, on both sides, I have eight other teachers as examples of the importance of education. With those examples in place, I realized I enjoyed the idea of helping to develop the next generation of members of our society, in whatever way I could.

What has been your favorite part of working here? What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding?
I have absolutely loved being a part of the development and lives of these amazing young people as they make their way into adulthood. When I see one of my former students in the wild and get to see where their lives have taken them, it is one of the most amazing feelings to know I played a small part in it. I just hope they know how much they mean to me and how much their development matters to me.

Did you attend LPS as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?
I attended Pyrtle Elementary School, Lux Middle School, and Lincoln East High School, graduating in 2003.

What path did you take after completing your formal education?
After graduating from East, I went to UNL and started as a philosophy/political science major before eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism/broadcast news. I went back to UNL and worked on my master’s degree in curriculum design for teaching of foreign languages (specifically Spanish). I graduated in 2020 with that degree and am currently working on a doctorate of education in teaching and learning technologies at UNL.

What do you enjoy most about the Lincoln community?
I love the way that Lincoln is a large city but with a small-town feel. When I go out, I will frequently run into people I know from my own school days, friends from sports, or students (current or former). It seems like it is uncommon to go somewhere and not know at least one of the other people there. I love how that makes such a large city feel like a small town.

What is your favorite childhood book or a book that has influenced your life positively?
There are so many! I average reading 200+ books a year. However, the one book (series) that comes to mind that has been the biggest impact on my life would be “The Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan (finished by Lincoln East grad Brandon Sanderson). The epic journey and character development, with the theme of the world continuing (as a wheel that keeps rolling), shows me that development is never over, despite the short-term or long-term victories along the way.

Share a shout out to a former teacher who impacted your life.
One of the amazing things about LPS is that there are so many amazing and impactful teachers. I cannot just shout out one:

Elementary School:
Mr. Bob Reeker (art)
Mrs. Bonnie Rosenberger (fifth grade)

Middle School:
Mrs. Rhonda True
Mr. Aaron Zabawa

High School:
Mr. Bill Dimon
Sra. Susan Ptacek
Sr. Steve Pierce
Mr. Ken Flowerday
Dr. Lance Nielsen

All of these teachers, and many more, impacted my life and my development.

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

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