Come Celebrate Homecoming

This past weekend, I had the joy of attending a family wedding in my hometown, a truly delightful time. It was more than just a celebration; it was a reunion filled with laughter, storytelling, and the rekindling of relationships with extended family, lifelong friends, and those who knew me in a different chapter of life. It felt like a true homecoming. 

And speaking of homecoming—this week, Shenandoah is buzzing with excitement! A full slate of events is planned, offering something for everyone. Whether you’re an alum eager to reconnect, a community member looking to join the festivities, or simply curious to see today’s students shine, there’s no better time to be part of it. Come celebrate and be part of the vibrant spirit of Shenandoah in full bloom.

A Closer Look at Performance

As Iowa continues to refine its educational accountability system, it’s time to take a closer look at how Shenandoah schools are performing.

The 2025 Iowa School Performance Profiles reveal both strengths and areas for growth across the district. Each of our schools—except the high school—maintained its overall rating, as outlined in the chart below.

We are proud to celebrate the high rates of proficiency in math and reading at the high school level, which were recognized by both U.S. News & World Report and the Iowa School Performance Profiles. The graduation rate and work-based learning index are additional areas where the high school excelled. However, the overall rating was reduced to “acceptable” because we did not achieve sufficient growth in core academic areas across all student subgroups. This is an important distinction and highlights a key area where we must focus time and resources to support staff and help students improve their performance.

The elementary school continued to demonstrate growth and proficiency in reading and math, which helped them maintain their commendable rating. While the middle school’s rating remained unchanged, it showed improvement in overall performance, increasing by more than 11 points. Additionally, more middle school students demonstrated adequate growth and achieved proficiency in math.

IGNITE experienced a significant increase in student enrollment throughout the year and maintained its rating. This can be challenging because students enter at different times of the school year. The school continues to show strength in graduation rates and work-based learning opportunities.

Now that the results and data are available, the staff will need to take time to look beyond the surface and take meaningful steps to improve. Shenandoah is well-positioned to do this work, and I have complete confidence in our staff. I am looking forward to engaging in this work with them and seeing the positive outcomes for our students.

Routines, Character, and Continued Progress

We’re now two weeks into the school year, and it’s been a strong and steady start. Students and staff are settling into their routines, classrooms are buzzing with learning, and the energy across our buildings is positive and focused.

It’s been exciting to attend student activities and witness the enthusiasm and pride our students bring to everything they do. They are already demonstrating the kind of character and discipline that will pay dividends throughout the season.  

I was very impressed and pleased to note the number of students who were honored this week for  receiving an academic letter for the 24-25 school year. Their commitment to excellence is inspiring, and it’s clear they are building habits that will serve them well both now and in the future.  

Behind the scenes, we’re wrapping up several summer construction projects. These improvements are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, well-kept, and functional learning environments. As we finish this phase, we’re evaluating our facility plan, reviewing the budget, and beginning to map out the next level of work needed to keep our buildings in top shape.

We’ve also received questions about the transition to the WIC conference. Recently, we heard from Tom Keating, Executive Director of the IHSAA, that the State Committee will not issue a response until the draft rules are approved by the State Board of Education in January. This places us in a holding pattern until their work is finalized. However, we are taking a proactive stance by planning to meet with the WIC Board of Controls at the end of September to discuss the timeline and entry plan. This preparation will ensure we’re ready to respond once a decision is made.

Thank you to our staff, students, and families for making the start of the year so successful. The momentum is building, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!