Bill Tvedte
Nutrition Services Driver
Liberty High

Bill has been with the district for 45 years as a driver. He is currently responsible for delivering lunches to Garner and Van Allen elementary schools.

He started working for the district at Northwest Junior High then went to West High before moving to Liberty. He has not only delivered the food but has helped serve the food to the students, and always with a smile and kind word. All of the students like him.

He will find ways to make the staff smile or laugh every day. He is always willing to help out where needed in either the production kitchen or at the elementary kitchen. He puts you in a good mood whenever you are around him. There is a lot to be said about the employer who has an employee that has been on the job as long as Bill has. He is one in million.

Steve Tygrett
Social Studies Teacher
City High

"He leads student senate and he has helped organize gender neutral bathrooms along with homecoming royalty rather than king/queen to be more inclusive for all students. He is a big part of making the student senate work and does a lot of extra work for our student body that is above and beyond what is expected of him."

"Mr. Tygrett is the main planner of the City High Homecoming parade. He is so committed to making the parade great, and he consistently succeeds every year. This is on top of his good teaching and other student senate accomplishments."

"He is an amazing Student Senate sponsor. He has benefited the community by organizing the homecoming parade every year. This gave everyone on the East side have a chance to connect and it took lots of organization and planning!"

"Mr. Tygrett leads student senate has changed the homecoming court to be royalty instead of king and queen. This is really important to make sure everyone is included and feels welcomed."

Melissa Galloway
5th Grade Teacher
Grant Elementary

Ms. Galloway taught my son two years ago at Grant Elementary in 5th Grade. She was so impactful on his learning, motivation, and confidence. I know last year in 6th grade he still sought her out to catch up including stopping by her class. Fast forward to this year when I see Ms. Galloway in the stands at a 7th grade North Central football game. I talked to her after the game and stated how nice it was of her to come. She said, “Well your son emailed me and told me they were playing tonight". I had no idea he had done this.

Here is what came to my mind. This teacher got to know my son as a person and showed him how important he was throughout elementary school. This led to a 12 year old boy having the confidence to independently email her to let her know they were playing football. Finally, Ms. Galloway took time out of her busy night after teaching all day to cheer on the team. Many times, I hear that teachers feel like they aren't able to do enough. That is definitely not the case with a dedicated teacher such as this. I want Ms. Galloway to know how much it meant for my son and the kids on the team that knew her to see her there. I want her to know how much it meant for us as parents to see her there as well. Kids learn best from teachers they admire and trust. It is no doubt that students learn from Ms. Galloway daily!

Diamond Quaye
Elementary School Counselor
Lincoln & Mann Elementary

"Diamond is a positive role model and the consummate professional. He supported and inspired my son throughout his time at Mann Elementary. Diamond's empathy and support has inspired our son to be a school guidance counselor."

"Mr. Quaye is super nice, kind, and caring. He helps everyone at my school."

"I cannot imagine surviving online school and quarantine without Mr. Quaye’s guidance. My kids struggled a lot and he was always available to help them handle these big changes and upsets. I’m so thankful to him and my children always look forward to a 'Quaye Day.'
This man is a gift."

Jen Barr
Special Education Teacher
City High

She worked with me for 4 years and I loved working with her that whole time.

Jen taught my son for 4 years and is a great outside-the-box thinker. She was the first in ICCSD to use Peer Mediated Instruction to teach him social skills with peers. She communicated very effectively with his family and collaborated with us. During the pandemic lockdown, she worked hard to engage him through virtual learning and supported him in continuing his goals despite all odds. Because he requires adult supervision, she volunteered to accompany him both to Prom and during graduation so that he could enjoy those activities with peers. It was a joy to work with her, we trust her, and we learned so much from her. Thank you.

Shishonee Hughes
Science Teacher
Liberty High

Shishonee is so much more than a teacher! She makes learning as fun as it can be for a bunch of high school kids. She encourages them and notices them.

What really stood out in this last school year was how much she loved not only my child, but all the kids as her own after the passing of Owen Skelley. My son took it hard. He didn’t want to be at school, didn’t want to talk to me, but he would talk to ‘Hughes’. I knew he was safe. I knew he was looked after and I knew he was getting more than just a chemistry lesson in her class, but life lessons. Shishonee connects with kids. They will do the work for her. And she will be there for them. 

Erin Lange
Kindergarten Teacher
Borlaug Elementary

When we were preparing our son for kindergarten, the only thing we were really worried about was him being paired with the right teacher for him. Ms. Lange absolutely obliterated any concerns we had right from the start.

I firmly believe that Ms. Lange was not only the perfect first teacher for our son, but she is also everything any parent could hope for in a kindergarten teacher. She really connected with our son and not only expertly guided him through the twists and turns of learning in a school setting, but also heavily contributed to his new love of school and learning.

Our son loved Ms. Lange as a teacher so much that he lists her right up there with his best friends and recess in what he has missed the most about school over the summer. I know that all Kindergarten teachers are good at teaching 5- and 6-year-olds, but I genuinely believe that Ms. Lange is one of, if not THE, biggest reason he now has such a deep love of school and learning in a class.

Curtis Butler
5th Grade Teacher
Penn Elementary

Curtis goes above and beyond to develop relationships with kids every year. Not just the kids in his class but any kid in the building. Having worked with Curtis for several years, I have gotten to know him as a trusted colleague and have always been impressed with his generosity. He always made time to speak to my kids about Harry Potter, books, or answer the never-ending stream of questions about his class pet, a gecko.

Student shout outs: 

"He is funny and lets us have fun, and he dances."

"He is super funny, nice, and fun! He is the best teacher I ever had!"

"He has a very good sense of humor."

"He is very nice, and kind of funny, also he dances."

"He is funny, great at teaching, one the BEST teachers!"

"He is very patient with us. He does a lot of fun things he doesn't have to do." 

"He's a good teacher because he is just plain amazing."

"He helps people if they are struggling with math." 

"He is very kind and very nice."

"He is awesome! He's very chill and lets us have fun."

"He is fun and funny."

"He is very nice."

"He is nice."

“He is funny and keeps learning fun. He lets us have classroom jobs."

"He helps us with things we do not understand, and he helps us in an understandable way. Also, he is funny." 

Shamari Scott
English Teacher
City High

Mr. Scott creates interesting and engaging lessons that challenge students to read books about people from demographic groups that differ from their own. Reading books about diverse characters helps students develop empathy and compassion for all.

Mr. Scott also encourages students to read books by authors from different backgrounds. This is important because it exposes students to a variety of perspectives. My daughter comes home from school excited about the things she learns from Mr. Scott.

I also appreciate Mr. Scott's ability to develop rapport with his students. He works individually with students who are struggling to help them stay on track to meet their academic goals. Mr. Scott is an asset to our school, and an overall fabulous teacher!

Shelby Bryce
School Counselor
ICCSD Online, Liberty High

"Ms. Bryce joined the Iowa City Community School District this year. Shelby devoted enormous amounts of time prior to the school year beginning to support ICCSD Online. This was due, in part, to the explosion in the number of students enrolling into the online program as the school year approached. She worked tirelessly to sign students up for courses, review transcripts, and provide counsel to students. As the year has progressed Shelby continues to do this as enrollment periods have reopened and new students come into the program.

Shelby balances all of this along with scheduling, registration, mental health needs, graduation progress checks, etc. for both the online program as well as Liberty High School. Shelby has done amazing work this year and we are so thankful for her and grateful to her!"

Jackie Biger
Teacher Librarian
Lemme Elementary

"Mrs. Biger is the kindest most funny librarian ever. She gets me interested in books I don`t think I will like but end up loving. She makes the library so fun and makes me want to be there for every second of every day. Mrs. Biger has an amazing style and knows what kids love. For instance she has super fun chairs like the bean bag chairs, the egg chairs, and you can’t forget the cave. WE LOVE U MRS BIGER!"

"Mrs. Biger is a sweet and helpful librarian. She helps me a lot, smiles a lot and wears GREAT dresses. The most important part is, she is always funny, and has a great sense of humor."

"I was struggling to find a book that I could enjoy reading.  Mrs. Biger went out of her way to find me a book that I enjoyed and it read it to me because it was an audio book. She is also very fun and athletic. She will come out to recess and play basketball with me one on one.  She was the first teacher to have ever played basketball with me and that was really meaningful to me. She is the kind of teacher that leaves a lasting impression and will not forget her!"

"She is a great leader when we are in class.  Every time we do something wrong she says kindly not to do it, she does it in a way that is not embarrassing for students.  Making us all feel very comfortable and relaxed in her class.
There has never been a time that Mrs. Biger is not helping myself or another student, showing how she is always there for the betterment of her students.
She makes boring learning fun, she is always coming up with new activities and maker space ideas so that we are truly enjoying the learning we are doing.  She also makes many things into a game, which makes learning fun and always keeps up laughing in her class!"

Madison Cardoza
Special Education Teacher
Garner Elementary

"Maddie has been an exceptional ILT leader for the 3rd grade team and an influential Special Education team member. She was the first to try team teaching in second and third grade last year which helped many of our students close gaps in reading and math. Her positive attitude plays a huge role in teachers and students feeling successful. It’s infectious!"

Tyler Hagy
Vocal Music Director
City High School

"...Each day he brings such a unique energy to rehearsal, which both inspires all of us as well as pushes us to always give the very best we can give. I have learned so much from him, and I look forward to the enthusiasm he brings with him to everything he does."

"Not only is Mr. Hagy a brilliant teacher, but he does the work to make every one of his students feel welcome and included. Even students who do not have Mr. Hagy as a teacher know him and love him. Mr. Hagy is one of those teachers who will leave a lasting impact on so many lives."

"Mr. Hagy is the best teacher/director I have ever had. He loves his job so much and he demonstrates that every single day in the choir room. He also genuinely cares for each and every one of his students. He is constantly inspiring us to be the best we can be and teaching us to love each other like a family. Mr. Hagy has created a music department that is full of love and acceptance."

"Mr. Hagy is the best teacher I have ever had. He truly cares about all his students. Mr. Hagy teaches his students how to be great singers but also how to be great human beings. He is an amazing teacher and role model."

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."

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.

Maureen Head
Coordinator of Student Services and Activities
West High School

Meet Maureen Head, the new Coordinator of Student Services and Activities at West High School. Maureen transitions to her new role in the District after serving as an Earth and Space Science Teacher and Instructional Design Strategist at West High. 

Maureen’s top priorities/goals with this role:
As a West High graduate, I hope to pay forward every ounce of kindness, compassion, and care I received from all of the people I knew as a teenager. As I begin this role, my goal is to learn the job and be a great listener. My priority is to facilitate the best experience possible for ALL students and staff. THERE IS WORK TO DO in order to provide an equitable learning environment and to improve the overall school experience for ALL students. Historically, schools have only served certain demographics effectively but we have to do better, ALL of our students deserve it. 

An interesting fact about Maureen:
As a child of the 80s, I'm a huge fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, superhero movies, and Star Wars. My original career goal was to be a Janet Jackson video dancer - if you need to learn the choreography to Rhythm Nation, I got you.

Renee Person
Principal
Kirkwood Elementary School

Meet Renee Person, the new Principal of Kirkwood Elementary School. Renee transitions to her new role in the District after serving as an Instructional Design Strategist at Kirkwood Elementary. 

Renee’s top priorities/goals with this role:
Stepping into this new role at Kirkwood, I look forward to continuing our journey toward ensuring educational equity for all scholars. Student agency is at the core of what we believe as an AVID Elementary: we nurture choice-ready scholars who can confidently navigate their futures. High expectations are paired with high support, and together we ensure that each child has a quality education, a safe learning environment, and a caring school community. 

An interesting fact about Renee:
I will be entering into my 15th year with ICCSD at Kirkwood Elementary, having served as a special education teacher, first grade classroom teacher, and Instructional Design Strategist.

Reagan Boeset
Principal
Hills Elementary School

Meet Reagan Boeset, the new Principal of Hills Elementary School. Reagan joins the District after serving as a middle school STEM Teacher in the Clear Creek Amana School District. 

Reagan’s top priorities/goals with this role:

1. To have the absolute best interest of our students in mind with all decisions made.

2. Be committed to learning, growing, and improving each and every day.

3. Support and create opportunities for my staff/teams to collaborate, learn, and grow.

4. Champion students and staff members' paths to achieving high levels of success.

5. Honor the individual strengths of every person who makes up the great Lightning Bolt Family. 

An interesting fact about Reagan:
My husband Nick is a middle school physical education teacher. We have 2 children ages 12 and 10 and if you can't find us at home; check the ball fields!

Eric Howard
Director of Equity and Employee Relations
Educational Services Center

Meet Eric Howard, the District’s new Director of Equity and Employee Relations. Eric joins the District after serving as the Human Resource Services Director for the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB).

Eric’s top priorities/goals with this role:
My top priorities as I begin this role are to build relationships with the staff and the community, support the development and implementation of the District's equity initiatives, and support the District's efforts to recruit more teachers of color.

An interesting fact about Eric:
I'm a Louisiana native and proud LSU graduate (Geaux Tigers!) but I met the love of my life in Iowa.

Kirah Johnson
1st Grade Teacher
Weber Elementary School

"Mrs. Johnson is the best teacher that I have ever come in contact with and deserves the award of "Teacher of the Year!" She is attentive to the children and makes each one of them feel loved and recognized. While doing virtual school, she was organized and communicated well with the parents. She even personally sent each student their individual schedule with their specific times and days for class. Mrs. Johnson makes her classroom fun and shares positive upbeat music with the children. I hope that each of my children get to be in her class someday and be influenced by her.  She has truly been a blessing in our lives. We love Mrs. Johnson and adore her in every way!"

Heather Crandall
Family & Consumer Science Teacher
South East Junior High

"Ms. Crandall has always gone out of her way to ensure that students are learning in a fun, welcoming environment. She always starts the class with a smile on her face and a check-in, and I truly find Ms. Crandall a genuine educator. You can tell that she loves her job and how she loves students, and she truly cares for us.

Anytime someone asks me to think of a great teacher, Ms. Crandall instantly pops up in my head. Even if I only got to be in her class for one trimester, she has inspired me and other students to do our best in school with a smile. She encouraged us to try new opportunities, and always taught us important life lessons.

Another thing she did that makes her stand out was how she could remember students individually. If you told her your favorite color or other facts, she would remember it and distinguish students. I believe that this is really important, especially during online learning when the personal connection is not as strong. Even if it can be hard, Ms. Crandall does this flawlessly. She treats us like we are all special in our own ways and she makes the entire school shine!"

Brendon Aitken
Social Studies Teacher
West High School

"Mr. Aitken truly cares about his students’ learning as well as their success and wellbeing outside of his classroom. He is passionate about the subject he teaches and never hesitates to help his students grow and do their best. Mr. Aitken prepared my class for every aspect of the AP Exam despite the chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he equipped us with studying tools we will carry into our futures. He puts a great amount of effort into educating and has left a lasting impression on me as well as fellow classmates. Mr. Aitken is an exemplary instructor that any student is and would be lucky to have."

"Mr. Aitken is the reason I did so well in AP Human Geography and on the AP test, even through the surprise attack known as COVID-19 and its pandemic. He truly cared about his students and never hesitated to help any student so they could do their best. He goes above and beyond to show how passionate he is about the class he teaches and the effort he puts into instructing his students. Although I don't think gloating is fit for a daily activity, the Shine Award will grant him somewhat silent bragging rights, and rightfully so. He has every right to take pride in the work he does as a teacher and how he ensures that we grow as high school students and as people. Mr. Aitken left a lasting impact on me and many other students of what a good teacher is and should strive to be. I feel extremely lucky to have had him as a teacher, and I hope future students feel the same. There are teachers that I remember forever to be phenomenal educators, and I can guarantee that Mr. Aitken is one of them."

Alissa Parker
5th Grade Teacher
ICCSD Online

"My son had Ms. Parker for 4th grade at Hoover in 2019-2020 and she was an outstanding in-person teacher. The start of the school year was challenging for students as they adjusted to their new building, teachers, and the mix of new classmates coming from four different area schools. Ms. Parker was inclusive and innovative and did a wonderful job keeping the diverse group of children in the class engaged with learning.

Her investment paid off after school went online in March 2020. The class started off meeting once a week, but the children so looked forward to these meetings that eventually the class expanded to meeting three times a week. It was wonderful to see how many students signed on each day, either with their pillows and special drinks to hear Ms. Parker read Harry Potter to them or to play trivia games with each other.

Going to school was such a bright spot each week that we were sorry to see school end in May. Thus, we were THRILLED to receive Ms. Parker's email in August that she had signed on to teach 5th Grade in the ICCSD PK-12 Online Learning Program. Throughout the start of this challenging school year, Ms. Parker has gone above and beyond to provide a regular source of comfort to the students, recording video messages of encouragement each week to the class and also cheering them on individually by regularly sending emails personalized to each individual student. Not allowing students to falter from uncertainty and lack of structure, Ms. Parker provides clear schedules and timetables each week so that students know where they need to be and how to connect. I have been consistently amazed at the positive impact that Ms. Parker is having on these students simply by showing that she wants to see them in class. Having expectations clearly outlined and regular contact is allowing them not just to survive but to thrive. As parents, we could not be more grateful for the many ways in which Ms. Parker has gone above and beyond to make sure students feel cared for and included when it would be so easy for them to fall behind. She is a wonderful teacher and deserves to be recognized!"

Alison Demory
Nutrition Services Director
Iowa City Community School District

"When the pandemic reached Eastern Iowa in March, it became immediately apparent that one of its major impacts would be to exacerbate issues surrounding food insecurity in our community.  For some students, school is the only reliable and consistent source of meals and, when schools close, access to food is limited or disappears.  Recognizing this problem, Alison worked to implement a food distribution system that reimagined the typical school breakfast and lunch into grab and go meals that individuals could pick-up curbside in a safe and convenient manner.  She continued this work into the summer and fall and now the school district has distributed more than 500,000 meals to the community - which has made such an incredible impact and fed so many kids who otherwise may have missed a meal.  She has demonstrated a commitment to the children in our district and has gone above and beyond to make sure that children have access to a basic need: food." 

Pam Quigley
Secretary
South East Junior High

"Pam Quigley is the face of South East Junior High and all that we stand for. She is the epitome of excellence, kindness, compassion, and positivity. To put into words what she does in a day is not possible. Her value at South East goes far beyond the postcards she addresses, the announcements she types or the phones she answers.  Pam is the glue that holds our staff together.  She is the bright spot in every day.  Regardless of how chaotic or stressful things are, you can always count on a smile and ray of light when you visit Pam's desk. Of course you can always count on some treats as well!

Pam is the angel that takes care of every single one of us.  No matter what is going on, you can count on Pam to know when you need a smile, a hug or a bag of M&Ms.  She makes every person she interacts with feel valued, important and loved.  She can be counted on to do whatever is asked of her with a smile and usually an emoji to go along with it!  Rarely do you find someone with a heart that knows no boundaries. She loves the students and staff like they are her own children and treats every single person with respect, compassion and kindness. We would not be who we are as a building without her influence.

Pam is so much more than a secretary. She is one of the greatest blessings I have in my life and I am a better person for having been around her." 

Brent Criswell
Teacher
Lincoln Elementary

"Mr. Criswell is a wonderful teacher that empowers his pupils not just as learners and students but as citizens. He shows us that there are always going to be challenges in your learning, as well as in life, that's why you have to stay committed and think outside of the box to overcome them. He helps his students to forge their own path and enjoy the road of education, and to see a creative and modern way of thinking and learning as a person. He allows his students to help teach him as he teaches them, and to shape the way the classroom is run. Every day in Mr. Criswell's classroom for the students is interesting and inspiring. This is why I, and many others, believe that Mr. Criswell should be recognized as a great teacher and for his many years of dedicated work in the ICCSD." 

"Mr. Criswell is the best teacher ever. He is nice and funny. He respects his students and fellow co-workers. He also helps his students learn in a fun environment. I just think personally that he is amazing."

"Brent Criswell encouraged our 5th grade class to work to solve problems outside of school. He helped us solve problems that affected the whole world, and taught us good life lessons about caring for the earth and caring for others at the same time. He made school much more enjoyable. Mr. Criswell not only taught us math, science, LA, and social studies, he helped improve our social and emotional skills and we learned that we should respect ourselves as well as others. 5th grade was my favorite year of school, so far, and I am not the only one who has this opinion."

Jim Duthie
Teacher
Lemme Elementary

"When I was being coached or taught by Mr. Duthie, I always felt comfortable being who I was. The fun yet hard-working atmosphere he made, wanted you to get work done but also enjoy the people around you. I learned a lot about who I was from Mr. Duthie and he will always be one of my favorites." 

"When I was in eighth grade, Mr. Duthie was my basketball coach. He taught us about not only basketball but also valuable life lessons. I look up to Mr. Duthie. Even as I am in my junior year of high school, I am using the stuff he taught me in 8th grade and I know that, as I get older, I can rely on him to get me through whatever comes my way."

"He is the reason I am a coach today and some of the best memories I have are in his PE class playing backboard dodgeball. He has this effect on all children who go through Lemme and they can all tell you the fond memories of PE. All the kids who had him as a coach for baseball and football will remember it being the best coaching they got in those programs. He is just someone you can count on and he will always make you smile or laugh, even if you are upset. I can’t think of anyone more deserving than him."

"I’ve known Mr. Duthie since I was in kindergarten. He has been a huge part of my academic career and especially my athletic career. Every day at Lemme I would be so excited for our “special day” (what they called it back then). On Mondays, Wednesday’s, and Fridays we would get to go to PE. Those days were the best because of Mr. Duthie. I’ve made so many memories playing benchball and pin guard and just talking about the Hawkeyes with him.

In 3rd grade, I broke my arm playing football and had to sit out of PE for like 6 weeks. But honestly those weeks were the best because instead of running around I got to talk with him. He would ask me questions about baseball and my favorite teams and as a 3rd grader all you want to do is talk about yourself.

In 4th grade, the Cardinals played the Texas Rangers in the World Series and Mr. Duthie went to one of the games. At the time I was a huge Rangers fan because I had played on the little league rangers team. I was walking home one day after school and I remember my friend told me Mr. Duthie wanted to see me. At first, I thought I had gotten in trouble, which was not unusual then. However, I go into the gym and Mr. Duthie says, “are you a Rangers fan?” And I go “yes” and he says “well I have stuff from the World Series that you might want some of it”. He gave me a Texas Rangers flag as well as Texas Rangers cups he got at the game. It was only literally a flag and cups but I. Was. Freaking. Out. That has been my favorite gift I’ve ever gotten. I have no idea how Mr. Duthie knew that I was a Rangers fan but he genuinely cares about his students and wants to better their lives.

I got to know Mr. Duthie more when I played for his freshman baseball team where I was once again met with more injuries. During the season, there was still a small possibility I could play at the end of the season and I just remember getting texts from him every week asking how I was and if I’d be able to play. I never did.

This past year I had the opportunity to help Mr. Duthie with the freshman teams GameChanger (statistics) of the team. It was a job as simple as just pressing ball or strike whenever it happened but Mr. Duthie and I would always talk baseball in the dugout. Sometimes he would even consult me on when to put in or pull a pitcher.

Mr. Duthie has been an excellent role model from when I was 5 to now and for all of his students he’s taught. I genuinely believe he betters the lives of all his students." 

"Mr. Duthie was not only a great PE teacher, but a great role model and guiding figure while I was at Lemme 1st through 6th grade.  He helped all the students be the best they could be as well as have fun."

"I was super lucky to have Mr. Duthie be my PE teacher in elementary. He’s super kind and amazing. He’s just an all around awesome person. He has helped me through a lot and put a smile on my face and made me laugh on days I didn’t want too. He’s also helped me become a better person and I’m super thankful for him." 

"I think Mr. Duthie deserves this award because he is a nice, funny teacher who pushes you to do your best."

"Coach Duthie not only takes away the stress of baseball, but he also allows the kids to have fun. Coach Duthie’s approach to the game is unique and unrivaled.  He’s had many 30 win seasons in a 40 game season. Coach Duthie helps kids to grow as a baseball player, but also as people. There are a great many practices that Coach Duthie decided to not practice baseball, but to help us grow as young men in our community. Four years later and Coach Duthie’s teachings are more relevant in my life than most of what I’ve learned in school."

"Mr. Duthie has been a wonderful influence on his students and athletes. I for one have had the pleasure of being both. Mr. Duthie has always made the P.E. and team environment exciting. He has open arms for all his students and other athletes."

"Mr. Duthie always made PE super fun and always made sure that everyone was included in everything. I don’t play baseball, but from what I’ve heard he is an awesome coach and everyone loves having him as a coach."

"He should win this award because he made PE enjoyable for everyone, which is a very hard thing to do. He had people exercising and having fun at the same time. I am in high school now and, looking back on my time in elementary, I will always look back at how much fun I had in his class."

"Mr. Duthie is a very fun teacher.  He always makes you do your best and is a very good PE teacher. I was always excited to go to PE, even if I didn’t like what we had to do in class because he would make it better."

"Mr. Duthie is an amazing coach and teacher!"

"Mr. Duthie is a very honest and genuine person."

"Mr. Duthie always made PE so fun and had good relationships with the students."

"Mr. Duthie is a great coach and does his job well."

"Mr. Duthie is always positive and gets along with kids." 

"Mr. Duthie was an amazing PE teacher.  He was very inspiring and encouraging."

"Mr. Duthie was the best PE teacher ever!"

Brad Wymer
Teacher
West High School

"Mr. Wymer, there's so many things to say about him, but no matter how much or what you keep saying, it will never be enough. I've never been more influenced by a teacher in my whole life than him. Mr. Wymer is a resplendent teacher that I have been excited to work with since 4 years ago when a former west high student told me about him. I am incredibly appreciative to have had him as my biology teacher in my freshman year, in fact, I enjoyed him as a teacher so much I tried to get him into being an AP biology teacher so I could have him my sophomore year as well.

Mr. Wymer is not only willing to help students in his class but he's also willing to help students that he's never met before that walk in for help. I've often gone to him for help in math and he's quizzed me before my first AP test, which was a lot of help. Mr. Wymer is the type of amazing teacher that's willing to show up to school at 5 am if you need to learn something before one of his tests.

He doesn't just teach you biology, he teaches you life skills, like what type of formatting you need for your papers in college, how to work when you're having a rough day, or as simple as how to manage around the amount of homework we get as students. He tells you stories from his life when he was our age and somehow includes it into our daily biology lessons, which makes learning in his class something you want to do, you don't dread it.

The most important thing Mr. Wymer has taught me is, how to communicate with those around me, especially teachers, to let them know what's going on in your life because teachers are more understanding than you think. Something I will never forget in my life is that Mr. Wymer had given his whole biology class a 2-week project, and those two weeks I had been missing a lot of school. The night before the project was due, I decided to tell him that I had barely gotten done with the project, I thought he would be really disappointed and angry with me, but instead, he said, "It's okay, life happens, I'm glad you communicated. You can give it to me next week."

I've never been more thankful to have a teacher like him. He deserves more than anyone I know to be recognized for all the work he does because what should take an army to do, it only takes one Wymer."

Ebony Hawkins
Paraeducator
Tate High School

"Ebony is a leader in our building and is always willing to help out in any way possible.  She works our evening T3 program and summer school while coordinating online learning for our most at-risk students.  She takes pride in our school, her work, and implementing our Positive Behavior Intervention System.  Ebony works full-time, takes college courses, helps run our T3 program, and still finds time to decorate our hallways with school spirit.  I wanted to recognize Ebony for all her hard work over the years at Tate and to show her how thankful we are that she is part of our Tate Warrior family."

Anglea McLean
Preschool Teacher
Coralville Central Elementary

"Parents like us trust caring and creative teachers to partner with us to develop our treasured children. Angela McLean has consistently demonstrated extraordinary compassion and careful attention to the needs of her preschool class at Coralville Central Elementary School as she has helped prepare our son and his classmates to contribute to their community. Angela knows each of her students well and consistently demonstrates an ability to unlock their social and emotional growth in addition to academic learning in fun and engaging ways.

Guiding our first child through the education process can be highly emotional and full of self-doubt. However, from the start of the school year, we have been calmed by Angela’s confident depth of experience. Working with people takes tremendous energy and can easily lead to burn out, yet we refreshingly find Angela showing continual and genuine positive regard, as well as relentless creative solution finding for each child she serves which combined, makes her, in our opinion, a true expert.

We believe Angela’s experience and aptitude to teach through a wide variety of learning styles makes her an invaluable asset to the Iowa City Community School District. It is readily apparent through each of our parent-teacher conferences that she loves her work. Our son comes home having benefited from memorable, hands-on experiences and with stories of “Miss Angie” that delight us as we supplement her efforts at home based on her professional guidance.

Without reservation and with deep gratitude we believe Angela McLean is a shining example of the kind of teacher every parent hopes their child will enjoy!"

Ryan Steward
American Studies Teacher
North Central Junior High

"Mr. Steward is an amazing teacher. Along with the long list of responsibilities as a teacher, Mr. Steward goes beyond and does his best to help kids academically, but more importantly teaches kindness, respect, and responsibility. He also gives up his time that he could be spending with his family to coach girls basketball and soccer. The hard homework assignments and lectures he gives us helps each and every one of us prepare for high school. He never fails to help students either as a friend with advice or a teacher with feedback. He has given up his own time to help my friends and I solve problems and learn to forgive and accept the past and move forward, bettering ourselves for the future. He has mentioned ways to get out of the tough situations and make more mature decisions. The amount of support he provides for his students is out of this world. No other teacher can replace Mr. Steward, I cannot say or do enough to express how thankful I am for a teacher who pushes me academically and supports me when I need it. The long amount of hours spent teaching the students and coaching the players shows how much he cares and loves what he does. If anyone was to receive the Shine Award, Mr. Steward definitely deserves it."

Megan Chapman
4th Grade Teacher
Shimek Elementary

"Mrs. Chapman's kindness, and compassion that she has shown my family over these 6 years, has been unmatched! She is the epitome of grace and kindness. If I could give her the moon as a token of my gratitude, even that would be too small! Mrs. Chapman deserves the world, because that is what she gives her kids! Mrs. Chapman, you ARE the world to all of us! Thank you for taking care of our kids, and even all of us parents. None of us will EVER be able to repay you for everything that you have done, and for everything that you give to each one of us. You ARE a shining star. Remember that, ALWAYS!"

Ashley Duthie
5th Grade Teacher
Penn Elementary

"Ashley was a first-year teacher in 2018 and arrived in my sons’ 5th grade classroom with a level of energy and enthusiasm that was infectious. My boys came home every single day beaming and sharing stories about their school day. They wanted to do better, be better, learn more, help more, and her positive influence was the catalyst for that change in them.

I really enjoyed the photos and videos that Ms. Duthie posted daily on our seesaw page and at the conclusion of the school year, she complied those photos into an individualized video she presented to each child. It brought my entire family to tears. She loved those kids and they felt it. Her room was a safe and fun place for everyone! I loved how the kids worked together so often to solve problems and encourage each other.

However, the clincher was that she gave each child a self-addressed, stamped envelope so they could write her over the summer. My sons were so excited to tell her about their camps and hockey tournaments, family vacation, etc. They rode their bikes to the mailbox every day for a week checking to see if she wrote them back. I’ve never seen a child so happy to get a letter in the mail.

I could go on and on about the positive changes Ms. Duthie made in my children's' lives. She will forever be a part of our hearts and Penn Elementary hit the jackpot when they hired her."

Brady Shutt
Social Studies Teacher
Liberty High School

"My daughter was apprehensive about taking the AP/honors course Mr. Shutt teaches because it was an AP/honors class. She decided to take it and within the first couple of weeks was considering dropping the class because she just did not get it. She visited with Mr. Shutt and not only did he encourage her, but he made a point to check in with her weekly on her progress, struggles and anxiety about certain subjects. She met with him often and his encouragement not only made a difference with her grade, but with her self-confidence as a young lady. She never felt intimidated speaking to Mr. Shutt and she felt he always made time for her no matter how busy he was. This left a lasting impression on her and us as parents. He is a very professional teacher and it really shows he loves the students he works with."

"Brady does it all. He is co-president of the district's teachers association.  He is the curriculum director for the district in Social Studies. He is the Liberty department chair for Social Studies. He is the chair of our Instructional Leadership Team. He is all in on doing what is best for kids and he has an amazing perspective on helping all students. He is an active voice in all school improvement initiatives. He is a confidant to bounce ideas off of. I'm proud that Brady is at Liberty."

Eugene Malone
Art Teacher
Grant Wood and Twain Elementary Schools

"Mr. Malone sees the beauty and talent in each child’s work.  Even when kids say that they can’t draw or are not artistic, Mr. Malone encourages them to the see the unique beauty in their projects. He ensures that every child gets an opportunity to be featured in the various art shows for the elementary school. In addition to all of this, he spends time getting to know his students and working to encourage them through difficult days just by giving them a compliment on their work, being a good helper or even news that they have shared with him in class."

"Mr. Malone also spends time getting to know the students and encouraging them even when they don't feel as though they have talent. My son unfortunately has my artist skills and can become easily frustrated when surrounded by other more talented kids. However, this year, I noticed a drastic change in him when it came to art. He proudly told me that his work was being presented in the Hancher Art show because Mr. Malone talked him through the project and reminded him that everyone has talent if they show the dedication and time it takes to create it."

"Mr. Malone takes time to listen to the students who are having a hard time in and outside of class. My child did not have many friends and was being made fun of. Mr. Malone found out and said that if anyone else bothers him to come and tell him. He even spoke to the other children to remind them that it is important to be nice to each other. It is important for our teachers to not only teach the kids but to also show how kind they can be too."

Latrenda Soukup
Language Arts/Success Center Teacher
North Central Junior High

"There is a Chinese Proverb that says "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now."

Mrs. Soukup has been part of our son's academic journey for just two short years, but boy what an impact she has made during that time. Mrs. Soukup noticed that our son's academic challenges were not huge problems, but really just a handful of small issues.

Things that most kids did intuitively when in the classroom, like having an academic calendar and writing utensil at the ready at the beginning of class.  Highlighting the important parts of the test directions.  Most importantly, how to be self-advocating. I know these appear to be small little suggestions, but they paid huge dividends in our son's testing and classroom success.

The process took two solid years, which meant that even when our son didn't have Mrs. Soukup as a teacher, she still actively worked with him, dropping by success center and study halls; making sure he was still utilizing the strategies that the two of them came up with. 

But possibly even greater than the impact Mrs. Soukup had on our son's academic success, I think the imprint that she has made on him that he must try to "learn, lead, and succeed" in all aspects of his life might be the lesson that will take him farthest. 

Our son has told us several times that he feels that Mrs. Soukup genuinely cared about his education and success.  She challenged him to do hard things, and not be afraid to fail.  She encouraged him to follow his questions.  

I don't think we're not going to have to wait 20 years to see the fruits of Mrs. Soukup's labor.  I have great confidence we will see leadership, scholarship, and good citizenship, not only from our son, but also from the many other students Mrs. Soukup has impacted during her career."