Returning "Home" to Council Bluffs

I returned to my home district, Council Bluffs Community School District, on Tuesday, January 24th. Patti Lu Ford, Southwest UniServ President accompanied me throughtout the day. I started the day by visiting with Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Richard Christie (pictured here). In addition to his Council Bluffs Community Schools responsibilities, he is chair of the Urban Education Network, a group which is made up of the largest 8 school districts in Iowa. Thanks for your leadership, Dr. Christie!


Walnut Grove School secretary, Debra Campbell, is one of many great school secretaries that I have honored this year with a "magic wand" from Team ISEA. I present each school secretary with the "magic wand" and a card that states: "Thanks for the magic you do every day!" We all know school secretaries are the first to meet parents and the public as they enter our buildings. School employees couldn't do our work without school secretaries!


Council Bluffs EA past-president, Jo-Ann Tews (pictured at left) allowed me to read to her fifth grade homeroom at Walnut Grove Elementary. One student shared that "Mrs. Tews really talked you up!" Thanks Jo-Ann for your leadership in the classroom as well as in the association!

Pictured at the right are Mrs. Teresa Rindone's homeroom. They did a great job of helping us through the read aloud. Keeping reading, reading, reading students! You will grow as readers and writers the more you read and the more you write!

Shenandoah Middle School and High School

Students from Anne Travis's Middle School Talented and Gifted class (pictured here with me) discussed issues surrounding state government. They were very bright and engaging students! It was exciting for me to meet such great young people that will be leaders in their school, their community and for Iowa.



High School teachers gather in the staff lounge at lunch time to share their concerns for layers and layers of new expectations for them them in the classroom with nothing being taken away from their "plate". Members were encouraged to attend legislative forums in the area and to invite state legislators into their classrooms.


Senior students from Jennifer Cole's Government class visited with me about topics ranging from community service, the impact of state government on their lives, as well as issues that are impacting their community. Jennifer, we are lucky to have you teaching in Iowa!



Chemistry 2 student, D.L., has teacher Nicole King rechecking his work for accuracy. Nicole was celebrating her anniversary of three years + 3 days of teaching in her home town. How fortunate for the community of Shenandoah to have their talented teacher returning "home".