CCPE Commissioners

Chair - Dr. Paul Von Behren

District 3

Term: January 2020 to January 2026

2046 E. 30th Street
Fremont, NE 68625

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Paul Von Behren of Fremont retired after an extensive career in agriculture, having worked in private veterinary practice, 23 years in the swine industry, and 13 years in the beef and dairy industries for Cargill and ADM. His roles included managing a production facility, serving as staff veterinarian, sales management, and business development. Dr. Von Behren and his wife have also operated several businesses including food animal production, swine genetics, rentals, and a bed and breakfast. Dr. Von Behren earned his DVM at Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Vice-Chair - Tim Daniels

Member-at-Large

Term: January 2024 to January 2030

9214 Crown Point Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Tim Daniels is a Panhandle native who received a BA in business from Chadron State College and spent most of his career in the Scottsbluff-Gering area, where he was an active community leader in the Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, United Way, Panhandle Community Services Foundation, and the Western Nebraska Community College Foundation Board of Directors, among others.  He also served for 13 years on the Western Nebraska Community College Board of Governors, including 2 years as chairman.

District 1 - Dr. Dennis Headrick

Term: January 2024 to January 2030

5808 Box Canyon Circle
Lincoln, NE 68516

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Dr. Headrick retired from Southeast Community College in 2020 after a career that included 25 years as Area Vice President for Instructional Services and 17 years as Campus President of SCC Beatrice Campus.  As Area Vice President, Dr. Headrick was responsible for overall leadership, management, and coordination of all credit and non-credit academic programs. Prior to his tenure at SCC, Dr. Headrick was business manager of the Beatrice State Developmental Center and Business Instructor at Wolbach and Palmer Public Schools.  Dr. Headrick received his A.A. from SCC, his B.A. in Business Education from the University of Nebraska – Kearney, his M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and his Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

District 2 - Dr. Deborah Frison

Term: January 2024 to January 2030

6945 N. 118th Circle
Omaha, NE 68142

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Deborah Frison is Deputy Commissioner of School Improvement and Support for the Nebraska Department of Education. Prior to joining NDE, she was principal at Omaha Burke High School for seven years. Dr. Frison also served as principal at Morton Middle School and King Science and Technology Magnet School, both in Omaha. She began her career in education as a music teacher. Dr. Frison earned her bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University, master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

District 4

Term: Vacant

District 5 - Tamara Weber

Term: February 2023 to January 2028

6260 Country Club Drive
Columbus, NE 68601

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Tamara Weber is a native of Shelby, Nebraska, who resides with her family in Columbus. She is the Strategic Sourcing Manager for the Nebraska Public Power District and has nearly 25 years of experience in the Nebraska energy sector. She currently co-chairs the Association of Women in Energy and is the Treasurer of Nebraska Energy Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. Ms. Weber is also past president of the St. Bonaventure Home & School Association and the Shelby Alumni Association. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State College.

District 6 - Molly O’Holleran

Term: January 2022 to January 2028

1001 S. Deerwood Drive
North Platte, NE 69101

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Molly O’Holleran of North Platte currently serves on the board of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and several local boards and genealogical societies. She has advocated for education on various levels, including Nebraska’s State Board of Education and the National Association of State Boards of Education, where she was chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee. O’Holleran also served on the North Platte Public Schools Board of Education, North Platte Public Schools Foundation, Nebraska Association of School Boards Legislative Committee, and the Nebraska Council on Teacher Education. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and taught English for Westside Community Schools in Omaha, Nebraska; Kapaun Mount Carmel in Wichita, Kansas; and Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska.

Member-at-Large - Mary Lauritzen

Term: January 2020 to January 2026

1097 Highway 9
West Point, NE 68788

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Mary Lauritzen recently retired as clinic manager of the Family Vision Center, P.C. of West Point, Neb., and previously worked in retail sales, management and banking. She is a former national president of the American Foundation for Vision Awareness, former board member of the Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association, and is currently the chairman of the Nebraska Foundation for Children's Vision.  She has served on the board of Nebraska's Anne Batchelder Excellence in Public Service Series, a leadership development program for politically active women. She serves in many areas as a community volunteer. Lauritzen is a native of Indiana and a graduate of the Ray-Vogue Schools in Chicago.

Member-at-Large - W. Scott Wilson

Term: January 2020 to January 2026

9406 Club House Circle
Plattsmouth, NE 68048

E-mail: CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Scott Wilson has worked for CenturyLink - formerly Qwest Communications - for more than 20 years, currently as a senior design engineer. Wilson knows first-hand the value of a Nebraska education, having graduated from Papillion-LaVista High School and earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Wayne State College.

Member-at-Large - Dannika L. Nelson

Term:  August 2023 to January 2028

534 24th Road
Oakland, NE 68045

E-mail:  CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Dannika Nelson of Oakland is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of With Purpose Consulting Group, LLC., which creates innovative software solutions to solve the big challenges facing education. She has had a long career in education as a middle and high school science teacher at Bellevue Public Schools, West Point-Beemer Public Schools, and Oakland-Craig Public Schools. Ms. Nelson has also been an adjunct professor for Midland University and a part-time coordinator of Midland University’s Teacher Career Ladder Program.  She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a Natural Sciences Endorsement from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, an MSED in Curriculum and Instruction from Peru State College, and a Master of Business Administration from Midland University.

Member-at-Large - Dr. LeDonna Griffin

Term: January 2024 to January 2030

2865 Newport Avenue
Omaha, NE 68112

E-mail:  CCPE.Commissioner@nebraska.gov

Dr. LeDonna Griffin is the founder and CEO of Leaders to Legends, LLC, which supports families educating their children in a private or homeschool setting. Prior to her current work, Dr. Griffin served Omaha Public Schools for 26 years as an elementary school teacher, assistant principal, and principal at Beals Elementary School and J.G. Masters School. She also served the district in many capacities, including as president of the Omaha Administrator Education Association and as chair of the OPS Principal Professional Learning Committees. Dr. Griffin has written and spoken extensively on education issues. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a Doctorate of Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Specialization Certificate in Elementary Math from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.