 |  | So many people have asked me if I am excited for my new position as the Executive Director of the Iowa Association of School Boards and I have repeatedly responded that this is a bittersweet time for me. I love the Norwalk Community School District and the students, families and staff members I have had the pleasure to serve. So it is bittersweet to leave this wonderful district and a job I love while looking forward to the new challenge that awaits me at IASB. I want to start off by thanking Rick Kaul and Maribeth Wright who are the Board Presidents I have had the good fortune of working with during the last seven years. Their leadership inspired me to try my best and lead with heart. A thank you goes out to the other Board members who I have had the honor to serve with including David Albrecht, Justin Fletcher, Michelle Kelly, Brian Rausch and the late Dana Schuemann as wells as student school board representatives Eva Newland, Patrick Foster, Kennedy Burch, Claire Boswell, and Aidan Harder. A simply amazing collection of talented leaders both Board members and student representatives.
Another group of people I want to thank are all the administrators, deans, student advocates and administrative team members I have served with the past seven years including Chris Basinger, Beth Ward, Jill Anderson, Sheila Taylor, Amy Gage, Tom Scallon, Marla Frantum, Chad Wiedmann, CJ Degen, Sarah Adams, Amy Karg, Chris Larson, Rodney Martinez, Nicole Banegas, Richard Sleeth, Carlos Guerra, Dee Serres, Eric Neessen, Dr. Jody Ratigan, Al Lammers, Brent Collins, Josh Tobey, Zach Lipovac, Tim Geyer, Dawn Schiro, Kate Baldwin, Jake Loll, Alison Wright, Kevin Williamson, and Tiffany Redman.
I would also like to thank the current and past District Office staff members, who have made me look good over the past seven years, including, Lauren Phillips, Kayley Lobberecht, Christie Beving, Shelly Vroegh, Nicole Linderman, Stacey Egli, Chanda Hassett, Linda Norton, Stacy Hildreth, Becky Anthony, Cheri Atherton, Kayla Aguilar, Karla Geyer, Rebecca Campbell, Karen Westbrook, Melissa Lake, the late Teresa Williams, Jenn Rieper, Abby Livingston, Adam Bradley, Officer Brad Criswell, Officer Lily Dunlap, Alysun Archibald, Jamie Lindsay, Jeff Phillips, Zack Cook, Randy Porter, Josh Phillips, Karin Stewart, Tom Mclaughlin (I’m still figuring out everything Tom does for the district), Ryan Alfred, Alex Berndt, Ryan Figland, Bobby Jackson, Vince Raso, Sue Sarnecki, the late Dennis Wayman, Angie Long, Natalie Snyder, Jeff Jenks, Emilie Brown, Emily Watson, Austin Grimm, Erin Higgins, and Tiffany Yacovazzi.
I want to thank all the staff members who have served in teacher leadership roles and on district committees such as Insurance, the Teacher Pay and Compensation Team, the Teacher Quality Committee, the Equal Education Opportunity Team, the School Improvement Advisory Committee and subcommittees, and the Labor Relations Committee. Your leadership has and continues to make our district a great place to learn and work. A special thank you goes to Mary Anne Kessler who has served as the co-chair of the Labor Relations committee and Abby Overton who has served as the NPEA lead negotiator after Andy Mogle retired.
Thank you to all of the teachers, counselors, teacher librarians, nurses, paraprofessionals and associates, nutrition staff, transportation staff, administrative assistants and secretaries, custodians, behavior specialist, behavior technicians, and sign language interpreters. You all make a huge difference in the lives of students and families each day and serve as a main source of my inspiration.
A final thank you to former superintendent Denny Wulf who was so supportive of me during my transition into our district.
From the lows of the COVID pandemic to the highs of great daily learning in classrooms, completed construction projects, state championships, successful extra and co curricular events, and so many other moments - I have enjoyed this ride with all of you. Thank you for putting up with my failures and making any recognition I received on your behalf and on behalf of the district possible.
Thank you all for growing learners and leaders every day! I love you all.
Yours in service,
D.T.
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