About Our Superintendent
Welcome to Springfield Platteview Community Schools
My name is Ryan Saunders, and it is a privilege to serve as Superintendent of Springfield Platteview Community Schools. I have had the honor of serving in this role since 2021.
Located just 20 miles south of downtown Omaha, SPCS provides a supportive K–12 environment where strong relationships, personalized learning, and dedicated faculty and staff help students succeed. For three consecutive years, Springfield Platteview Community Schools has earned an “Excellent” district classification from the Nebraska Department of Education, reflecting the commitment of our students, staff, families, and community.
Our district continues to grow and evolve, and we are committed to preparing thoughtfully for the future while maintaining the close-knit community that makes SPCS special. Our strategic plan guides this work through three key priorities: Growth and Infrastructure, Safety and Security, and Support and Empowerment. These priorities focus our efforts on planning for growth, continually strengthening safety and security, and providing academic, career, and behavioral support that prepares and empowers students for their futures.
In recent years, we have celebrated significant milestones, including the opening of a new Springfield Elementary building, renovations at Westmont Elementary, improvements to Strength and Fitness programming at Platteview High School, and the opening of the current SPCS Administration Building. That progress continues through our voter-approved bond project, which includes significant improvements at Platteview High School and Platteview Central, expanded science and Career and Technical Education spaces, enhanced safety and security, and a future elementary school to serve our growing community.
Beyond our facilities, we remain focused on strong academics, college- and career-readiness, student engagement, and opportunities for students to explore their interests. Our students benefit from a wide variety of activities and athletics that provide opportunities to learn, lead, compete, and connect.
As our district grows, our commitment remains the same: creating an environment where every student can thrive and connect their passions to their potential.
I encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our schools, programs, and community. If you have questions, please contact me at ryan.saunders@spcsne.org or 402-592-1300.
Thank you for your interest in and continued support of Springfield Platteview Community Schools. We are proud of what we have accomplished together and excited about the future of SPCS.
Sincerely,
Ryan Saunders, Ed. D
Q & A
with Dr. Ryan Saunders
I taught kindergarten for most of my teaching career and moved to 4th grade for two years. I also worked in the curriculum department and was a CADRE Mentor at UNO. I served as a principal for 10 years prior to becoming a superintendent.
I enjoy cooking all kinds of food. My favorite is probably smoking or BBQ.
I had so many great teachers growing up. Mrs. Nordyke was my 6th-grade teacher and she instilled so much confidence in myself. She saw something in me that I didn’t know was there. Mr. Miller, my high school science teacher, instilled a love of learning and to this day I still love all the learning that comes from the science around us.
I have two amazing adult children. Ava and Griffin are both chasing their futures in college… and they both are my favorites!
There is a lot that goes into deciding to cancel school! It is so much more complicated than it appears! I listen to the experts at the National Weather Service and have conversations with our transportation providers, our school team, and other superintendents to decide what to do. In the end, I want to do everything I can to make sure we are keeping our students and staff safe.
I have several hobbies that I enjoy! I spend time cooking and gardening. I play golf, pickleball, and cornhole as often as possible. I even have my own worm farm!
No question, science was my favorite subject. I had amazing teachers who instilled a love of experimentation and questioning. As a student, it was my favorite, as a teacher it was my favorite subject to teach, and even now, I look for ways to keep science as part of my life.
