Iowa City Community School District
District Leadership Team
Get to know us!
Matt has served in the Iowa City Community School District since July of 2013. Matt was Principal of South East Junior High for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years. Since that time he has served as Director of Secondary Schools, Assistant Superintendent, and now Superintendent.
Prior to Iowa City, Matt served two different school districts in Iowa; Williamsburg and Bettendorf. Matt has one child at Lemme Elementary and two children at City High School. His wife, Dr. Kate Degner is a teacher in the District and an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa. Matt is passionate about equity, engagement, and innovation in education.
Chace joined the Iowa City Community School District in 2012 as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. In January of 2016, Chace ventured to Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, Virginia where he also served as the HR Assistant Superintendent. He returned home to ICCSD in 2018 as the Chief Operating Officer, and moved into the position of Deputy Superintendent in the spring of 2021. Chace is originally from Kansas City, Missouri where he began his education career as an elected school board member in the North Kansas City School District, and held his first district leadership role as Chief of Staff for KCPS. Chace and his wife, Adleigh, have three children. Their oldest daughter is currently a student at Lemme Elementary School.
Executive Cabinet
Laura Cottrell
Executive Director of Diversity & Cultural Responsiveness
Adam Kurth
Chief Financial Officer
Kristin Pedersen
Director of Community Relations
Eliza Proctor
Executive Director of Elementary Schools
Nick Proud
Chief Human Resources Officer
Lucas Ptacek
Executive Director of Secondary Schools
Directors
Jeff Barnes
Director of Facilities
Kate Callahan
Director of Student Services
Alison Demory
Director of Nutrition Services
Carmen Gwenigale
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment
Alan Moran
Director of Finance
Ashley Reedy
Director of Special Education
Principals, Assistant Principals, Athletic Directors, & Deans of Students
Elementary Principals
Katherine Thompson, Alexander Elementary
Jason McGinnis, Borlaug Elementary
Andy Gahan, Coralville Central Elementary
Travis Dyer, Garner Elementary
Ken Turnis, Grant Elementary
Carolyn Ceynar, Hoover Elementary
Kristin Cannon, Horn Elementary
Laura Mayer, ICCSD Online
Renee Person, Kirkwood Elementary
Ashley Mangan, Lemme Elementary
Matt Lesan, Lincoln Elementary
Kelli Webb, Longfellow Elementary
Kathy Jenkins, Lucas Elementary
Gabriel Wylder, Mann Elementary
David Brandon, Penn Elementary
Chris Pisarik, Shimek Elementary
Theresa Kirkman, Twain Elementary
Eric Ewald, Van Allen Elementary
Amber Daubs, Weber Elementary
Heather Stevens, Wickham Elementary
Ernie Cox, Wood Elementary
Secondary Principals
John Bacon, City High
Laura Mayer, ICCSD Online
Justin Colbert, Liberty High
Ann Browning, Tate High
Mitch Gross, West High
Colby Miller, North Central Middle School
Kimberly Fitten, Northwest Middle School
Michelle Cook, Southeast Middle School
Secondary Assistant Principals
Gerry Coleman, City High
Lucas DeVries, City High
Phillip Hansen, City High
Emily O'Donnell, Liberty High
Tunisia May, Liberty High
Keaton Rickels, Liberty High
Kristina Brown, Tate High
Elizabeth Bruening, West High
Jennifer Eustice, West High
Maureen Head, West High
Reagan Boeset, North Central Middle School
Karrie Merriweather, North Central Middle School
Erin Baker, Northwest Middle School
Debbie Bennett, Northwest Middle School
Sean Baylor, Southeast Middle School
Allison DeVries, Southeast Middle School
Deans of Students
Carly Walrod, North Central Middle School
Alexi Lalagos, Northwest Middle School
Emily Dvorak, Southeast Middle School
Athletic Directors
Philip Lala, City High
Brent Sands, Liberty High
BJ Mayer, West High