Episode 71

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Published on:

7th Jan 2024

Matthew Ray S3E71

Matthew Ray, Interim Superintendent of Omaha Public Schools, whose years with the district have encompassed teaching, administrative, and leadership roles, as well as being a student and parent of students. Ray talks about education, leadership lessons, faith, and his hopes for the future.

After 27 years with the Omaha Public Schools district, Matthew Ray began serving as the interim superintendent in July 2023. He began his career as a student teacher at Ashland Park-Robbins Elementary. Ray has also worked as a district-wide substitute teacher and in various administrative roles, most recently deputy superintendent. Ray earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Nebraska Omaha, one in Criminal Justice and a second in Elementary Education. He earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration from UNO in 2000, and his Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2020. Ray and his wife are the parents of three graduates of Omaha Public Schools.

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About the Podcast

Lives Radio Show & Podcast with Stuart Chittenden
Every Sunday at 9am on KIOS 91.5FM, Omaha's NPR affiliate, Season Three of Lives will tackle the big questions: What is a good life? Why are we here? How might we feel more connected? These and other big questions about how we live will be explored each week. Through intimate conversations, fascinating guests will share their spiritual, philosophical, artistic, and cultural approaches to exploring the wonders of our human experience. Join me as we delve into the practical and profound possibilities of living well.

As well as listening to this Season Three of Lives being broadcast on KIOS, listen back to Seasons One and Two, featuring fresh voices and diverse perspectives on culture, community, business, and more. From the Midwest and beyond, inspiring guests share compelling stories spanning the fields of politics, business, media, community activism, arts and humanities, philanthropy, and more.

On air since January 2017, Lives Radio Show & Podcast initially broadcast on the community radio station Mind & Soul 101.3FM in north Omaha, housed at the Malcolm X Center, and more recently broadcast with 1st Sky Omaha.

About your host

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stuart chittenden

I'm Stuart Chittenden—an existential coach, Certified Humanist Professional, and the creator and host of Lives Radio Show & Podcast. My work centers on helping people explore who they are, what matters most, and how to live well in a world that often rushes past those questions.

Throughout my journey—from law in London to brand strategy and community dialogue in the American Midwest—I’ve always been drawn to what lies beneath: the quiet, often unspoken work of making meaning. Lives is one of the most enduring expressions of that calling. For over eight years, I’ve invited guests from all walks of life into deep, human conversations about identity, purpose, and how we shape—and are shaped by—our stories.

Whether through coaching, workshops, or the microphone, I create space for reflection, connection, and the rich conversations that help us live more fully.