A Road Trip to NEIEU and Starmont

On Monday morning, October 16th before the sun came up, I was on the road headed for the Starmont Community School District. The pre-K through 12th grade school building is situated on a central Iowa plain—6 miles from each of the communities of Strawberry Point, Lamont, and Arlington. Since I arrived a bit early, I had the chance to drive into the community of Strawberry Point and take a picture of the giant strawberry. It is perched next to the building that houses the Strawberry Point police station and city hall.

Once I returned to the Starmont building, I met up with UniServ Director Bev CrumbGesme. Bev had made contact with local leaders and put together a great schedule to meet up with a lot of association members here. The first person I had a chance to visit with was Dianne Loughren (seated at left), Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade and 9th through 12th grade Media Specialist.

Another member we chatted with was Starmont EA Treasurer Sue Green. Sue (standing at right) is a High School Business Education teacher.


Joining us in the High School staff lounge was Rick Tibbott (pictured with me at left), High School Band teacher. Rick reminded me that he attended ISEA Summer Conference this past summer in Storm Lake and once taught over my way (in western Iowa) at West Harrison Schools. Rick’s wife is also an association member and teaches Middle School in the College Community Schools near Cedar Rapids. Rick is a past president of the Starmont EA.

One of the last persons we had a chance to visit with in the High School lounge was Vickie Schmidt. Vickie (pictured here with me on the right) teaches High School Math.

UniServ Director Bev and I next hot-footed it off to the Middle School building (connected to the High School on the one side, Elementary on the other) where we met up with association member from Keystone AEA Richard Larimer. Richard (standing at the left with me) is a special education consultant from the Maynard office.

Courtney Bentley, Starmont EA president (wearing pink at right), joined us briefly in the Middle School lounge to touch base before heading back to her assignment as an Elementary Special Education teacher. Courtney was bubbling with energy and shared loads of ways that the association has connected to its members and done outreach with potential members. How lucky we are to have Courtney as a Team ISEA leader!

On our way to lunch in the Elementary building staff lounge we met Barb Barcley, an elementary teacher and EA member in the hallway. Barb (standing on the left) has long served on the Negotiations team for the Starmont EA. Pictured here with Barb is NEIEU UniServ Director Bev CrumbGesme (on the right). Thanks Barb and Bev for all you do!

In the lunchroom I had the chance to meet Starmont Support Staff president Cam Francois (seated at the computer). Thanks Cam for your leadership! You’ve got great things happening in your local because of your leadership!

Over a school lunch of pork fritter, potato wedges, peaches and milk, I had a chance to visit with Kathleen Sweet. Kathleen (seated at left) is the Kindergarten through 8th grade Art teacher. She is new to Iowa and shared how impressed she is with the professionalism of Iowa educators. She lives in Decorah with her husband and travels an hour each direction to teach in Starmont.

Another dynamite person I met was Julie Andreae. Julie (wearing denim shirt) is the Elementary School secretary and a member of the Starmont Support Staff EA. We all know that we couldn’t do our jobs if it wasn’t for the awesome work of our school secretary and support staff! The Starmont Schools have quite a great team!

The afternoon found us in classrooms in the Elementary building. The first class I shared a read aloud book with was Mrs. Emlet’s 3rd grade. Here Mrs. Emlet is pictured with her students on the left.

Next we were off to Mrs. Puffett’s 3rd grade classroom. Mrs. Puffertt and her 3rd graders are pictured on the right. It was such a treat to share a read aloud with both group of 3rd graders! They were all such terrific listeners!

Next, our schedule took us back to the High School building and to a visit with Superintendent of Schools Mr. Gary Stumberg. Mr. Stumberg shared how enrollment was down some over last year's numbers.





The school day for us in Starmont found us in Mrs. Swanson’s 4th grade classroom (pictured at right). As a fellow 4th grade teacher it is always a special treat to get back into a 4th grade classroom!

Thanks Starmont Education Association and Support Staff
Association for the great day in your district! We are so lucky to have each and everyone of you on Team ISEA!