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."

Janet Abejo-Parker
Ombudsperson
Educational Services Center

Meet Janet Abejo-Parker, the new Ombudsperson for the District. Janet joins the District after serving as a Senior Investigator for the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission.

Janets’s top priorities/goals with this role:
My initial priorities will be learning as much as possible about the school district and building the ombudsperson position into an impactful and effective role.

An interesting fact about Janet:
I have over ten years of experience in mediations, conflict resolution, and civil rights investigations. My background is in human resources, psychology, and law. I am an animal lover (one cat and one dog), nature lover, foodie, appreciator of the arts, and my favorite color is green. I look forward to serving the community in this role!

Luke Dillon
Online Learning Program Principal &
Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction
Educational Services Center

Meet Luke Dillon, the new Online Learning Program Principal/Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction for the District. Luke joins the District after serving as the Monroe Middle School Principal for Omaha Public Schools.

Luke’s top priorities/goals with this role:
My 1st priority is to build some relationships with all stakeholders within ICCSD to understand the history of this community and the aspirations of people within this community.

My 2nd priority is to fully understand the mission and vision of our school district and my role within that community to help produce the desired outcomes as visioned.

My 3rd priority is to help mold the online learning program to form an identity, mission, vision, instructional framework, and structure that gives our students a wonderful experience while mastering grade level content.

An interesting fact about Luke:
I have a wife and 2 kids that mean the world to me. We will soon be a part of this community, which will drive my work. Equity and Excellence for All!

Ashley Reedy
Assistant Director of Special Education
Educational Services Center

Meet Ashley Reedy, the new Assistant Director of Special Education for the District. Ashley joins the District after serving as the Director of Special Education in the Washington Community School District.

Ashley’s top priorities/goals with this role:
Let me begin by saying I am grateful and humbled to be entrusted to do this very important work in service of our students.  As I partner with our community, teachers, and building teams in our work, I look forward to continuing to align our continuum of services and supports to our district-developed service delivery plan.  I will continue to advocate for all students having equal access in our schools and beyond so that they may have a truly meaningful and equitable school experience.  Lastly, I look forward to continuing to collaborate and communicate with all who partner in serving all of our students with a high degree of transparency.  Here at ICCSD, we have a phenomenal group of educators, administrators, and paraeducators that truly want to ensure that every student achieves a high level of success.  When we share clarity on what we are working towards and have the resources we need, we will accomplish amazing things!

An interesting fact about Ashley:
My husband Cole and I have two girls, a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old.  We also have three dogs, as well as some newly gifted pet fish.  My husband would tell you that if I could have it my way, we would have a whole zoo of animals and a basketball team of kids at our house.  I am happiest when my house is loud and chaotic, and filled with laughter.