The first week of school is always filled with energy, anticipation, and the joy of welcoming students back into our classrooms. I am especially proud to share that we are off to a strong start, marked by positive progress in every corner of our district.
Over the summer, positive progress was made through updates to facilities across the district, with a focus on creating safe and secure entries. From refreshed spaces to playground improvements, these enhancements reflect our ongoing commitment to providing safe learning environments for all students.
This summer also brought record participation from staff in professional learning opportunities—another clear sign of positive progress. Teachers engaged in deep learning with UNI around the Iowa Teaching Standards, instructional strategies for teaching in the block schedule, and science-specific instructional practices. Many teachers also attended the Iowa Reading Research Summit, while others joined a district book study on The Anxious Generation. Additionally, many teacher teams were able to get together and collaborate around topics related to curriculum and assessment. These experiences have built momentum and provided valuable tools that will shape instruction and student support throughout the year.
Positive progress will continue throughout the year in so many avenues. One of those ways we will continue the theme of positive progress is through professional learning. Elementary teachers will be diving deeper into the Iowa Academic Standards, focusing on updates to the standards that guide student learning. At the secondary level, our emphasis will be on preparing every student to be career and college ready by connecting staff with information related to topics like apprenticeships, concurrent enrollment, workforce trends, meaningful career conversations and more. It is the responsibility of every district employee—from kindergarten teachers to special education associates to administrators—to help prepare students for the Monday after graduation. This work is done by providing students with A Quality Education for a LIfetime of Learning.
Together, we are building on positive momentum and looking ahead to a school year filled with growth, achievement, and opportunity.
