A Visit to Dubuque Schools Leads to Elementary Buildings

JDC UniServ Director Bob Brown and I began our day on Thursday, March 13th at Audubon Elementary in Dubuque. Families were dropping off children and the rush was on to enter the building to get to their classrooms on time!

Our tour guide this morning was Ed Glaser, elementary Physical Education teacher here at Audubon. Ed (on the right) is pictured with UniServ Director Bob Brown. Ed stopped us along the tour to meet many of the great staff here at Aubudon and share the amazing things that are taking place in providing a great education for all students.

One of the enthusiastic staff members that we met this morning was Connie Hoffman (pictured with me on left). I thank you, Connie, for stopping to introduce yourself to put a face on the dedicated professionals who make a difference each day for students.

Thank you Ed and all the great staff on Team Audubon for your leadership in the classroom and in the association!

Our second school visit for the morning in Dubuque was at Lincoln Elementary. The sun was out and the piles of snow were finally beginning to melt. It was a great day!

We were greeted at the front doors by Dubuque EA/Lincoln Elementary Building Rep, Jen Martel (a 4th grade teacher). We had a chance to visit all three floors of the building, stop into many classrooms and meet staff and see the great things happening here at Lincoln Elementary!

Now talk about a "small world"--today I met a teacher that I will be teaching with in the fall! April St. Claire (pictured on right with me) is a Special Education teacher whose husband is finished with his training in the Dubuque area and they will be moving to Council Bluffs with new jobs. April and I will be teaching at Carter Lake Elementary in the fall!

One classroom we stopped to visit along the way was in Linda Niemann's Music class. It was fun to reconnect with Linda as I had met her a few years ago at the NEA Representative Assembly when she taught in Illinois.

Lincoln Elementary Principal Donna Loewen (on the left) stepped out of a meeting to make sure she connected with us. It was great to have the opportunity to thank this building leader for her leadership!

Thanks to all for your hospitality this morning and thanks for all you do every day for Iowa students!