Achieve Magazine Fall 2022

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the award-winning Achieve magazine! We are excited to share the story of our District’s amazing students, teachers, staff and our generous community with you. We would appreciate any feedback you have on this publication, or suggestions for a future story. Please email us your feedback at communications@cb-schools.org. Thank you!

This publication would not be possible without the generous support of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and community donors. We extend our most sincere appreciation for their continued support of our mission.

Council Bluffs Board of Education

Message from Superintendent Dr.

Vickie Murillo

Hello! The 2022-23 school year is well underway, with students engaged in the classroom and on the courts, stages, courses, pools and fields.

In line with our strategic goal for all students to be supported and engaged in school, we continue to offer a wide variety of clubs, teams, fine arts experiences, and other activities that meet student interests. I am so proud that we are launching Girls Wrestling during this first year as a sanctioned sport through Iowa High School Athletics. We have a team of athletes from both Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson in this first year of the team, and have great expectations!

This school year, we are proud to share that more students than ever before are taking advantage of our Diploma Plus One pathways to earn not only their high school diploma, but also a second credential. It is gratifying to see so many students earning their second credential by participating in pathways that will lead them to a meaningful career in a high-paying job or to post secondary college experiences in their fields of interest. Students at all grade levels can build the habits and skills that will lead them to a Diploma Plus One credential before they graduate.

I invite you to drive by the corner of Avenue G and 8th Street to see the progress on the building of our new Early Learning Center, which is on track to open in the fall of 2023. Our team is currently working in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and our research partners from Juniper Gardens at the University of Kansas to create a high quality developmental learning experience for our youngest students, from birth-4 years old.

Our entire school community of teachers, support staff, administrators, coaches and Board of Education members join together in partnership with parents to prepare students for their futures and a successful life, hopefully staying and working in our community for many years to come.

Thank you for your interest in our schools, our students, and their success. I hope you enjoy reading about our students, staff and alumni in this edition of the Achieve Magazine, presented to our community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Murillo, Superintendent

The Council Bluffs Board of Education meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May. Meetings are held one Tuesday per month in June, July, August and December. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Educational Service Center, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, and they are aired live on Cox Channel 18 and the District’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/c/ CouncilBluffsCommunitySchoolDistrict.

ABOUT: Achieve Magazine is proudly published by the Council Bluffs Community School District, with generous funding from the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and advertisers. A digital version of this publication can be accessed online at www.cb-schools.org. The content of this publication can be accessed through Google translate online.

To request another copy of this publication, submit story suggestions, or place an advertisement, please call 712-328-6514 or email communications@cb-schools.org.

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Council Bluffs Community School District is to guarantee that every student graduates with the knowledge, skills and character to become a responsible citizen and to succeed in a changing world by creating a leading-edge, inclusive educational system, which provides challenging expectations, diverse experiences, engaging curriculum and innovative teaching within a collaborative, caring community.

STATEMENT: It is the policy of the Council Bluffs Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, (for employment), national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, (for programs), socioeconomic status (for programs), physical or mental disability, religion, creed, genetic information, ancestry, geographic location, citizenship, political party preference or belief, familial status or any other protected attribute, in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator, Tim Hamilton, 712328-6423, thamilton2@cb-schools.org, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Achieve Magazine | Issue 11 | Fall 2022

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

COVER PHOTO: The Council Bluffs Schools is preparing to launch a new Early Learning Center in August 2023 to expand high-quality preschool for students like Delani Neighbors at Hoover Elementary. Read more on Pages 6-7.

Troy Arthur Board Member

David Coziahr Board Member

Lauren Myers Board Member

Jared Tripp Board Vice President

Chris LaFerla Board President

Jill Shudak Board Member

Patrick Peters Board Member

DAY IN THE LIFE

Witt Earns Diploma Plus Credentials & So Much More

Tana Witt is a lot of things to a lot of people.

Witt is a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School enrolled in classes at Iowa Western Community College.

She’s a student-athlete who participates in softball, track and cross country

She’s a CNA, who is a part-time employee at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital.

She will be a future nursing student who currently serves as a state officer for HOSA.

Beyond all that, Witt is a sister, a daughter and a friend

* * *

6:30 a.m. — Witt gets an early start to each day, although she’s not as rushed as her classmates. She has enough credits to arrive at Abraham Lincoln High School for second period.

* * *

8:45 a.m. — After arriving at AL, Witt starts her lessons with physics class. Today, teacher Justin Heckman is using inclass experiments to aid in learning about net force and the magnitude of acceleration.

* * *

9:50 a.m. — Third period is an independent study with teacher Carrie Booms-Ryan for talented and gifted students. Witt works

on her college applications and scholarships. On other days, you can find her conducting research — for fun — in the science lab.

She’s intrigued by how bacteria reacts in an incubator. It helps for her to get a feel for the medical field and whether microbiology will be a subject she pursues.

Witt also uses her third period time to work on material for her introduction to psychology class, which she takes online at IWCC.

* * *

10:45 a.m. — Next is Real Time advisement and lunch. Witt sits with a group of friends, most of whom have been friends since Kirn Middle School. They’re all in some sort of sport.

* * *

11:40 a.m. — Public speaking with teacher Jane Hanigan is Witt’s fifth period class. “It helps me with time management,” she says. Witt is already confident at speaking, but Hanigan still “helps me with the important skills of working outside of class, preparing speeches,” Witt says.

* * *

12:45 p.m. — After a morning of learning at AL, it’s time for Witt to head to Iowa Western’s campus for the last three periods of the school day.

Witt is studying anatomy and physiology/medical terminology at IWCC with teacher Patty Pettit. Those lessons will be critical as Witt goes on to study nursing next year.

“At Iowa Western, we typically work in the classroom creating anatomy models with clay, working with zSpace (a virtual and augmented reality system) and other activities,” Witt says. “Part of the class includes four hours of job shadowing and four hours of volunteer time outside of class.”

Witt will have the opportunity to watch a surgery as part of the class, which is offered as part of the Council Bluffs Schools’ Diploma +1 Certificate Advancement Program.

* * *

3:10 p.m. — Witt’s day is far from over.

She participates as a studentathlete on the cross country, track and softball teams.

She also works as a CNA on the progressive care floor at Jennie Ed, typically tending to older patients with telemetry — that is, those hooked up to monitors. She’ll read the heart monitors, pulse oximeters and other such medical equipment.

For the past year, she’s also worked as a resident assistant on the assisted living floor of Prairie Gate, a senior living

home in Council Bluffs. She has an apprenticeship and works part time for at least 16 hours a month, for two shifts per month.

Witt says the work is very rewarding and she loves being an influence in the residents’ lives. She said it’s a great experience to see another side of the world in which she lives.

* * *

Witt wants to be a nurse, following in her mother’s footsteps. Mom has been a nurse for 10 years for the Omaha VA. She also works on the same floor as her daughter at Jennie Ed.

“Sometimes we work together, which is really cool,” Witt says.

Witt is ready to work in the hospital, which is both mentally and physically challenging. She wants to be a nurse to take care of people.

Witt earned her CNA as a junior and now is learning about the human body through the Diploma +1 Program course, Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health, a college course at Iowa Western.

* * *

As far as college is concerned, Witt already has been accepted to her top choice — the University of Iowa. She’s working on a nursing program application and scholarships while remaining open to other options, such as going to Nebraska Methodist

Hospital or Morningside. She may also opt to stay at Iowa Western to get her LPN before going for her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

* * *

Witt is thankful to have many opportunities because of the Council Bluffs Schools. Without the Diploma +1 Program, she wouldn’t have her CNA or job experience.

The district’s support system has helped as she’s “trying to tackle so much,” she says.

Her teachers know and trust she would do well and offer support in and out of class.

* * *

“Tana is genuinely interested in helping others and provides service in a consistently positive and helpful manner,” says Pettit, her instructor at Iowa Western. “Tana is exceptionally responsible and volunteers to jump in and help out with any task from the mundane to the challenging. She blends a well organized, task oriented style with the aforementioned sensitivity to the needs of others. Tana will make a difference.”

Through the programs at the Council Bluffs Schools, many others students will, too.

CAREER READY: Certificates Prove Workplace Skills

Employers know that it’s hard to find the right candidate for a job opening — if you can find a qualified candidate at all.

More and more Council Bluffs Schools students are finding ways to stand out from the crowd through the Diploma +1 program, earning an additional credential while finishing their high school diploma.

Earlier this year, a total of 246 members of the Class of 2022 graduated with a National Career Readiness Certificate.

The certificates are offered by ACT, which is the same national nonprofit headquartered in Iowa behind the test used for college admissions and scholarships.

The National Career Readiness Certificates are evidence-based that require applying technical skills and information literacy.

Earlier this year, the American Council on Education said that

four credits hours, two in each area, while a Silver NCRC reflects a credit hour in each subject.

The program measures hard and soft skills, and students are asked to solve actual workplace problems, not hypothetical. Skills demonstrated by a high-level NCRC holder include identifying data trends, implied details and meaning of words, as well as applying instructions to new situations, and making informed decisions.

information literacy. A Gold NCRC should be given

In Pottawattamie County, 128 employers, including the Council Bluffs Schools, formally recognize the value of NCRCs. Find a list of the business and more details at workreadycommunities.org/IA.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

OUTSTANDING: Edison Principal Earns Recognition

Edison Elementary Principal Janine Crain was recognized as one of three Metro Area Lozier Foundation Outstanding Principals.

“This award is a testament to the focus Mrs. Crain and her entire staff has on helping students achieve at their fullest potential,” Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo said. “She is a strategic leader who involves her teachers in decision-making and has a passion for students and their success. We are proud that Mrs. Crain and the Council Bluffs Community School District are among those being honored by the Lozier Foundation.”

The significant academic growth of Edison students during the 2021-22 school year was a highlight of her nomination. Kindergarten and fourthgrade students demonstrated their proficiency on the MAP assessment under the guidance of highly effective teams of teachers and Crain’s leadership.

The 69 kindergarten students grew in math from 71% proficient

in the fall to 87% proficient in the spring. In English/language arts, the 62 fourth-grade students increased in proficiency from 64% in the fall to 76% in the spring.

Crain sets goals to ensure that she spends time in every classroom every day observing instruction, interacting with

students, modeling best practices and identifying and making recommendations to reduce obstacles to our success with students.

“I’m proud of Mrs. Crain’s leadership,” Chief of Elementary Schools Mark Schuldt said. “She puts all students first, and provides clarity and support to

all teachers so they can meet the needs of all students.”

Crain is an “extremely reflective leader,” said Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tracy Mathews. “She understands the importance of being in the classrooms in order to observe teaching and provide high quality feedback.”

Before she became principal at Edison in the fall of 2019, Crain served as a teacher at Rue Elementary from 2004 to 2014, a mentor teacher as part of the Teacher Leadership Program and principal at Crescent Elementary.

Crain holds both a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from Peru State College as well as a Master of Education degree in educational leaders from Doane University.

The Lozier Foundation is a family foundation created in 1986. The foundation is funded by Allan and Dianne Lozier, and its focus is education, social services and issues involving women and children with an emphasis on the inner city and underrepresented populations.

#SHOWUP: Celebrating Daily Student Attendance

Regular attendance at school is critical for student learning, and encouraging a culture of daily attendance has been a priority for the Council Bluffs Schools.

Incentives are offered to student who meet timely school attendance expectations, which is an important indicator of higher academic achievement. Regular attendance at school leads to improved outcomes for students’ future success.

In September, family season passes were offered to Ditmars Orchard. Edison kindergartner Elizabeth George and AL senior Brook Leichtner won the drawing out of more than 5,500 eligible students.

In October, a pair of tickets to Monster Jam were offered. Longfellow fourth-grader Logan Holder and Crescent second-grader Daniel Lund won the drawing out of more than 7,000 eligible students.

This year, we’re asking student to #ShowUp — which is more than just attendance. It means showing up for themselves, for their friends and classmates, for their families, for their teachers and for their school. We want them to #ShowUp for the big game, #ShowUp for their group project, #ShowUp for a friend and #ShowUp when extra guidance is needed.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

Pictured from left to right are Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo, Edison Principal Janine Crain and Chief of Elementary Schools Mark Schuldt.

TAKING POSITIVE STEPS

Early Learning Center Will Serve As Model For Iowa

Addressing local workforce needs has been a priority for the Council Bluffs Schools, as evidenced by investments in career and technical education and training students to go into high-demand fields upon graduation.

But an $18 million investment in public and private dollars will allow the Council Bluffs Schools to provide workforce support in a new way, while also improving educational outcomes for young children just starting their academic journeys.

The new Early Learning Center will open August 2023 to serve almost 200 children, from birth to 5 years of age, at N. 8th Street and Avenue G, on the site of the former Tinley school. Construction on the facility is already well underway, funded by an active fundraising outreach effort of the Council Bluffs Schools’ partnership with Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact and the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation.

“We are grateful for the investment made to this project by local foundations, individuals, and businesses who share the interest in high-quality early educational opportunities in our community,” said Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo.

The 38,000-square-foot center will expand full-day universal preschool programming to 4-year-olds, which is expected to help eliminate some of the child care barriers for Council Bluffs families while simultaneously providing comprehensive child development programming to students.

Strategic Planning to Create a Model Program

According to Dr. Murillo, the school district has been taking strategic steps to make the dream of an Early Learning Center a reality following a June 2021 announcement by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds of a $7 million investment in a Childcare and Early Learning Exploratory Project in the Council Bluffs Schools. This launched a 24-month project to bring the vision to life through thoughtful curriculum planning, center design and partner outreach.

Not content to simply establish a top-tier amenity for the residents of Council Bluffs, Dr. Murillo accepted the challenge for the new Early Learning Center to be a model for programs across Iowa.

The Council Bluffs Community School District was eager to partner with the Iowa Department of Education and consultants from the Juniper Garden Children’s Project at the University of Kansas to serve as a model to demonstrate the impact and scalability of a public school district early learning center that serves infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

“We are thrilled to serve as a model site for the state and are proud to be selected by Governor Reynolds for this project,” Murillo said. “Council Bluffs has placed a priority on preschool opportunities for decades, knowing the significant benefits of highquality early learning.”

A team of educators from the Council Bluffs Schools and the Department of Education

has been collaborating with the partners for several months, and had the opportunity to host the partners for a two-day action planning session last month.

They discussed current practices, action planning and other feedback and observations. The session included input from the CB Schools preschool team, facilitators, experts and support specialists.

Among the areas examined were leadership, effective partnerships and collaboration, infrastructure, assessment and data-based decision making, universal instruction, and supplemental services strategies appropriate for early education.

Among the takeaways identified through the observational work of Juniper Gardens were the strengths of the district’s instructional model for early childhood education, as well as the practice of using assessment data to inform the decision making process. The group also reviewed developmentally appropriate assessments for children from birth to age 3.

“The team was extremely complimentary of our teachers, our practices and our universal tier of instruction,” Chief Academic Officer Dr. Tracy Mathews said. “ They could see clear evidence of all of the great work we are doing in our early childhood classrooms, and we have the GOLD Assessment outcome data to support this strength.”

By working alongside the experts from the University of Kansas — as well as through the coordination of efforts with the Iowa

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

Department of Education — the aim is to implement action steps to bring an even more robust program into the new Early Learning Center and in all of the district’s preschool classrooms. Doing so should maximize the impact that the investment has on the Council Bluffs community and the entire state.

Voluntary Preschool Iowa first launched its Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program in 2007-08, and it has grown to serve tens of thousands of students each year, although enrollment dipped in the last couple years due to COVID-19.

However, the program doesn’t reach more than a quarter of students, based on the rate of kindergarten enrollments.

Given the critical importance of reading proficiently by third grade, quality preschool is important for students’ future success.

Six rigorous long term evaluation studies have found that children who participated in highquality preschool programs were:

• 25% less likely to drop out of school.

• 40% less likely to become a teen parent.

• 50% less likely to be in special education.

• 60% less likely to never attend college.

• 70% less likely to be arrested for violence.

“Once considered a strategy just to support working parents with child care needs, the majority of states now view access to high-quality PK programs as a critical longterm economic investment in the future workforce,” according to a 2014 report from the Education Commission of the States.

Economic and Academic Impact

Child care issues result in an estimated $935 million annual loss to Iowa’s economy.

Nearly two-thirds of parents report being late to work or having to leave early because of child care issues. Child care costs influence the careers of 63% of Iowa parents.

Exacerbating the problem is the lack of sufficient child care options, coupled with the state’s workforce shortage.

Offering full-day preschool allows parents to pursue their own career and educational opportunities, creating an opportunity for an immediate difference in the workforce.

Early childhood programs are so attractive that property values are increased by $13 for every dollar invested in local programs.

“Iowa businesses know that access to quality child care is a major factor in employees’ ability to work,” Reynolds said in a statement in September.

It also offers benefits to the children, who research shows are more likely to meet or exceed national norms for language, math and socioemotional development — as well as building additional literacy skills.

A study found 80% of children in full-day preschool met national norms, compared to 58% of children attending a partial-day program.

Head Start and state prekindergarten that serve 42% of U.S. 4-year-olds mostly provide partial-day services. The Council Bluffs Schools currently offers both full- and partialday preschool programs.

Donors, such as the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, have made an investment to help make the Early Learning Center possible.

Need for Full-Day Preschool Funding

The Council Bluffs Schools, alongside other districts in the Urban Education Network of Iowa, has set a legislative priority for state lawmakers to increase the funding for 4-yearold preschool students from a 0.5 weighting to a 1.0 weighting — that is, fully funding those students.

The way Iowa funds prekindergarten is via a formula based on the prior year’s enrollment of four-year-olds.

The funding supports partial-day preschool, so costs for full-day services need to be covered by a blending of other resources the school district secures to meet the need.

Increasing the state support by shifting to a full-day model would increase investment in early childhood education while preventing future higher cost interventions.

The Perry Preschool Project has found that there’s a $17 savings for every dollar invested in preschool — while also improving outcomes for the families served. In particular, removing barriers to preschool access would help families that need the support the most.

The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

“We are grateful for the investment made to this project by local foundations, individuals, and businesses who share the interest in highquality early educational opportunities in our community.”

Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo

Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo and Board President Chris LaFerla had the opportunity to greet the strategic planning team from the Iowa Department of Education and partner Juniper Gardens Children’s Project from the University of Kansas.

LOVE YOUR SCHOOLS

Give Support to CB Schools This Giving Tuesday

On Tuesday, November 29, people all over the world will come together and harness the power of human connection to change our world. Will you join us?

The Council Bluffs Schools Foundation is proud to participate in Giving Tuesday 2022, and we need YOUR help!

Here’s how you can get ready to help:

Mark your calendar Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Join our email list for day-of reminders by visiting cbsf.org.

Make a gift

On Nov. 29, the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation will be kicking off its “Love Your Schools” campaign to support our Emergency Assistance Program. The program provides emergency assistance for children in need of basic necessities.

Our goal is to raise $10,000.

Spread the word Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to join you. Use the special hashtag #givingtuesday712 so we can harness the power of social media and connection to help share our story!

Find more or donate at shareomaha.org/ nonprofit/council-bluffs-schools-foundation.

Megan Petersen, a school counselor at Edison Elementary, understands why the EAP is important to Council Bluffs families.

“Recently, I worked with with five small children in our school who very clearly needed new shoes,” Peteren said. “They were either too small, too big or worn through

from being passed down. The mother was only able to buy shoes for one child at a time, so while their classmates came to school in the first weeks with their new ‘school shoes,’ only one of her five children could do the same. The CB Schools Foundation stepped in immediately when asked and we were approved to purchase new shoes for all of the kids immediately. The smiles on their faces, the big hugs and the repeated thank-yous were worth a million bucks. Not only do they get to go into the first crisp days of fall with comfortable shoes, but they also get to have some renewed confidence in themselves as well. Thank you CB Schools Foundation!”

We can’t wait to celebrate Giving Tuesday!

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

YELLOW JACKET PRIDE

Thomas Jefferson Parade Celebrates Homecoming

Yellow Jacket pride was on full display during a homecoming parade on October 21. Thomas Jefferson High School students and staff — along with representatives of Wilson Middle School, TJ feeder schools and community partners — marched from the high school to the game against Des Moines Hoover at Wickersham Stadium.

The parade featured the TJ marching band, numerous floats and other entries, providing a fun spectacle for fans. TJ notched a 9-7 win for homecoming, the team’s last game of the season.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

FLYING HIGH

Cleaveland launches from AL to USS Abraham Lincoln

U.S. Navy Lt. Alex Cleaveland took his first flight behind the controls of an airplane when he was just 12 years old at the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport.

He was immediately hooked.

“I worked summers at our family farm and at the airport (and interned) to be able to pay for flight lessons,” Cleaveland said. “I soloed at 16 and got my private pilot’s license at 18.”

It wasn’t long after taking his first flight that he decided to become a naval aviator.

His family already had a legacy of military service, and Cleaveland grew up traveling to military and aviation museums with his father, Barry Cleaveland.

He said he recalls visiting the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland and going to air shows at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue.

Cleaveland’s grandfather served as a U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II. His uncle Dennis Cleaveland (AL Class of 1970) was an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, and his uncle John Person was a doctor in the U.S. Navy.

“I always had a great respect for the Air Force but was drawn to the Navy based on my family’s

history of sea service. I wanted to see the world, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to do that in the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance community,” Cleaveland said.

He is currently stationed in San Diego aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as a catapult and arresting gear officer — commonly referred to as a “shooter” — launching aircraft off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier. He previously was a weapons and tactics instructor in Jacksonville, Florida, flying the P-8A Poseidon from 2016 to June 2022.

“The P-8 is an all-weather, AntiSubmarine Warfare (ASW) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that conducts vital missions all over the world in defense of U.S. and international interests,” Cleaveland said. “I have done two six-month overseas deployments and numerous shorter trips abroad called detachments, and have operated my aircraft from Sicily, Iceland, Norway, the Azores, El Salvador, Greece, Okinawa, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Guam.”

Cleaveland’s journey across the world got its start in the halls

of Abraham Lincoln High School. A member of the Class of 2010, he was a percussionist in the Lynx concert, marching, and jazz band, and he also played tennis during his junior and senior years.

He credits Terry Hanzlik, AL’s former band director, as his most influential teacher.

“I still think back to his lessons on attention to detail and personal discipline when I’m working in my current job,” Cleaveland said. “He had many great insights on life, not just music, that I use to this day.”

He went to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he studied Russian with a minor in naval science and history.

At UNL, he participated in Navy ROTC, and he received his commission as a U.S. Navy officer the very same day he graduated.

“NROTC was my path to a commission and it meant extra commitment outside of my studies, but I enjoyed it,” Cleaveland said.

After commissioning, he had primary and advanced flight training, flying the T-6B Texan II and TC-35 Huron, respectively, based in Corpus Christi, Texas. The intense, demanding program took him about 18 months.

“I already knew a lot about the fundamentals but had a lot to learn about instrument flight rules, aerobatics and formation flying before deciding that I wanted to hunt submarines for a living.,” Cleaveland said.

Cleaveland earned his Wings

of Gold on April 8, 2016, and began flying missions.

“Being in the Navy has been an incredible adventure,” Cleaveland said. “It’s challenging and rewarding, and you will get to do and experience things that few others ever will, or can even imagine. “

Serving in the Navy has been gratifying, and Cleaveland said he is motivated by working with personnel from every branch.

“I’ve flown airplanes all over the world, found and tracked adversary submarines in surprising places, and had a blast doing it, but the best part is getting to work with some of the most dedicated and amazing people this nation has to offer,” Cleaveland said.

Asked for advice to Council Bluffs students considering a career in the military, he said “follow your dreams.”

“Don’t settle, and never give up,” Cleaveland said. “You will face innumerable obstacles; they will seem impossible to overcome, but with determination you will leave them in your wake.

“Don’t be afraid to fail. If you play it safe so that you never fail, how can you succeed? I have failed more times than I can count, and each failure taught a lesson that I learned from. Success can not occur without some failures along the way; they teach us the path to success. Wake up every day and remind yourself of your goals, then do something to achieve them.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

“

“Being in the Navy has been an incredible adventure. It’s challenging and rewarding, and you will get to do and experience things that few others ever will, or can even imagine.”

Lt. Alex Cleaveland

STUDENT STARS

Recognizing Students Who Go Above and Beyond

Thanks to the sponsorship of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, outstanding students receive Student Star Awards, and are recognized by Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo and the Board of Education.

TJ Relay Team Competes at State

TJ’s Distance Medley Relay Team ran in the Iowa State Track & Field meet last spring.

Team members were Victor Atupra, Tyler Huey, Deven Bovee, and Roi Soriano (not pictured).

AL Baseball All-State Honors

Aidan Martin, Abraham Lincoln, 1st team

Hanna Schimmer, 1st team forward; Paige Bracker, 1st team defense; Lexi Mayo, 2nd team defense; and Robbie Miller, 3A Coach of the Year.

The team (featured in our last issue) went on to becoming the first A.L. girls team to appear in a state championship game.

SHOWCASE: CB Students Perform, Display Artwork

Council Bluffs Schools students performed music and displayed visual artwork during the District Fine Arts Showcase on November 8 before a meeting of the Board of Education. Congratulations to all the featured students!

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

AL Soccer All-State Team

Members of the Abraham Lincoln Girls Soccer Team received All-State Honors.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Recognizing Educators, Staff Who Live the Mission

TRADEWORKS: TJ CTE Teacher Named Iowa’s Best

The Iowa Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) named Thomas Jefferson High School TradeWorks Academy instructor Terrence McGurren the Iowa Teacher of the Year.

This annual award recognizes the finest career and technical teachers at the secondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.

McGurren is a past CB School District Teacher of the Year and was instrumental in the creation

of the innovative TradeWorks Academy, which is an entrylevel Diploma +1 credential opportunity for high school freshmen and sophomores.

The class provides an overview of the five trades area of Carpentry & Construction, Mechanics, Electrical Systems, Plumbing & HVAC/Refrigeration, and Fabrication and Welding.

An anonymous nomination for the district award in 2021 said McGurren believes the skills he teaches are marketable and “has demonstrated his keen investment in students and their success after high school.”

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

September: Michaela Galaska, Roosevelt Elementary, ELA Instructional Coach September: Sarah Rief, Carter Lake Elementary, Student and Family Advocate

October: Kayla Scheidle, Edison Elementary, Kindergarten Teacher

October: Ricardo Escobar, Hoover Elementary, Head Custodian

The Knights of Columbus councils were recognized by the Board of Education for their ongoing support of the Council Bluffs Schools Special Education Department. Through their Tootsie Roll drive, they collect money to support children and families.

During 2022, the St. Patrick’s and Queen of Apostles Councils donated nearly $2,000.

Hoover Elementary Health Associate Heather Olson was named a 2022 FAMILY Inc. Oral Health Champion! She is truly a champion in linking students to preventative dental care and healthy habits through sealant clinics and access to dental care.

OUTSTANDING ALUM: Iowa Western Honors LaFerla

Chris LaFerla, who is President of the Council Bluffs Community School District Board of Education, was chosen as Iowa Western Community College’s Outstanding Alum of the Year!

LaFerla, a Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, also is the Executive Director for the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and board treasurer for the Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation.

“I have a lot of pride for Council Bluffs. I want to be part of making it a great place to live in whatever way I can,” LaFerla said.

Read more in the fall edition of Iowa Western magazine. Need a copy? Find a PDF at iwcc.edu/ foundation/alumni-relations.

The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

Roosevelt Elementary fourth grade teacher Jami Mundt was honored as the Sweet 98.5 radio station’s Top Teacher of the Week in late September.