Courtney Andre
Special Education Teacher
Grant Wood Elementary

"Mrs. Carley always worked tirelessly to push her student, my daughter, to reach her IEP goals even during the pandemic. When everything was dark, I feel that her cheery voice, positive attitude, perseverance, and sincere love to teach helped my daughter progress academically and emotionally more than any teachers ever did.

Although it seemed impossible that my daughter will reach the goals we set for her, Mrs. Carley never gave up. She shared the same high dreams we have for my daughter. When others refuse to believe with us that my daughter is capable, Mrs. Carley worked with us and stood with us. Thus, I believe Mrs. Carley's dedication to her students and their families deserves to be recognized for the Shine Award. She is truly one of a kind. The Iowa City Community School District is lucky to have her."

Mark Atkinson
Head Custodian
Grant Elementary

"I've had the pleasure to work with Mark these past 2 years. There isn't a person more dedicated to our school building, staff, and students. He goes above and beyond every day.

He is a true team player and doesn't wait to be asked to do something. He is proactive and if he sees that help is needed, he steps in and offers to help. Mark is incredible at multitasking and managing his time well. He is asked to handle many tasks each day, many that are not for the faint of heart, and he gets them done with a smile and, what appears to the rest of us, confident ease.

He is always willing to do what is asked of him. Whenever teachers or staff need help with problem-solving or troubleshooting, Mark always knows the answer. Not only is he a master problem solver, but he is incredibly punctual and gets the job done quickly and thoroughly. He is hands down the most reliable, dependable, and capable person in our building and Grant is beyond fortunate to have his care, consideration, talent, and experience. He is the backbone of our school and deserves more than anyone to be recognized for his hard work and dedication."

Tyson Smith
Social Studies Teacher
West High School

“Mr. Smith goes above and beyond to make learning what most would consider a challenging subject, AP Economics, a fun and interactive experience. Mr. Smith ensures that there is a communitive nature within the classroom so that all students not only feel like they are able to learn more than adequately but also like they can ask questions and interact with peers easily.

As a student, I feel that the teacher is one of the most vital indicators of how successful students will be in learning a subject. Mr. Smith leaves a positive impact on his students and is an extremely valuable teacher to West High and the ICCSD community.”

Matthew Lesan
4th Grade Teacher
Coralville Central Elementary School

"Matt was the best educator that I have seen in my entire life. He truly has a passion for what he does, and it seems that he was born to teach. Mr. Lesan was the bright spot that our students needed during this chaotic time. No matter how tough certain weeks were, he remained positive and held our kiddos to high standards.

He is the only teacher that I have encountered who has implemented the growth mindset into the classroom curriculum. My child’s confidence spiked, she enjoyed and looked forward to going to school. Not only did Mr. Lesan positively push and support our students in the classroom, but he also dedicated his time outside of school by taking interest in their extracurricular activities. He loves sports, and he shocked his students on their tournament weekends here in town. He was no stranger to dedicating additional time to make sure that his students reached their potential academically and he was always open to feedback/criticism.

Long story short, he is the epitome of what every educator should aspire to be. We are forever indebted to Mr. Lesan. He made our children love learning again and made them excited to walk through the doors of Central each and every morning. I hope that he continues to be enthusiastic, positive, and the big presence that he already is no matter where life may take him. We felt blessed to have him this past school year."