It’s hard to believe we are already in our second semester of the school year! We have so much to celebrate this school year, and always look forward to sharing our stories with you, our community.
In this edition of the Achieve Magazine, we invite you to read about how we use the Science of Reading to advance student achievement in literacy. We also highlight our “Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!” campaign to promote regular school attendance. I am so proud of our students who are participating in the campaign as peer influencers. They are outstanding representatives of our school community!
I want to invite you to tell your friends and family about our upcoming events to register children in kindergarten for next year. We are excited to meet all of the children who will be five years old by September 15, 2025. They will be part of our Class of 2038!
We love to share our stories with you, and to provide insight into all of the success of our students throughout the year. We hope you enjoy reading about our alumni, staff and students, and connect with us on social media for regular insight into our students and their success!
Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Murillo Superintendent
Achieve With Us
Do you have something you want to share with the award-winning Achieve magazine? We always appreciate story ideas, photos or anything you’d like to share with us. Please email communications@cb-schools.org with your feedback or suggestions. 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
The Council Bluffs Board of Education typically 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.
COVER PHOTO: Kindergarten students in Ms. O’Brien’s Classroom at Carter Lake Elementary play and learn together. They know that attending school every day is important to gain the foundational skills for academic success throughout their school years. Read about the “Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!” campaign on Page 4.
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.
NON-DISCRIMINATION 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.
COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Achieve Magazine | Issue 21 | Winter 2025
ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District
Angela Griner Board Member
Teresa Hardiman Board Member
Lauren Myers Board Member
David Coziahr Board Member
Jared Tripp Board President
Patrick Peters Board Vice President
Tracy Ozzello Board Member
SCIENCE OF READING
Nurturing Reading with Research-Based Practices
As professionals and lifelong learners, educators in the Council Bluffs Schools welcome the opportunity to be lifelong learners themselves so they can deliver the most engaging and research-based approaches to teaching and learning for their students.
For elementary school teachers, this means transforming how they teach one of the most critical skills: learning to read.
Teachers at Edison Elementary have dedicated recent summers to professional development on the Science of Reading, placing them at the forefront of its implementation in classrooms.
Edison Principal Janine Crain said the new approach fits within the existing curriculum and instructional materials. While it’s optional, teachers have been eager to embrace it, and the school has used professional development funds to provide training for new teachers.
“We are all so collaborative,” Crain said. “It’s contagious. You want to be able to work collaboratively with your colleagues.”
“I feel like I have a better understanding of how to teach reading,” said first grade teacher Allison Meyer. “It meets the needs of all of my students really well, and it has helped me to be able to differentiate how I teach and how kids practice the skills that they’re learning.”
Sara Pruss, a literacy instructional coach at Edison, said insights are shared by instructional coaches for those who have not yet received the comprehensive Science of Reading teaching.
“Science of Reading is not a curriculum. It is a knowledge base, an approach,” Pruss said. Scientists have studied how children learn to read, using MRI and CT scans to see what parts of the brain are involved. Combined with observations, assessments and other
techniques, they’ve developed an approach to instruction that’s “truly science-based,” Pruss said.
Science of Reading emphasizes a systematic approach for instruction that provides building blocks for literacy and develops a structured path to develop reading skills. Phonics is taught so students can decode words, and lessons on how elements such as verb tenses and suffixes teach students to understand the meaning of words. Those skills are integrated with vocabulary, fluency and comprehension so that reading becomes a step-by-step process. Meanwhile, students are building background knowledge to enhance their understanding and ability to make connections as they read.
“There is so much to learn about the English language,” Pruss said. “That is what Science
of Reading is — it’s teaching teachers how to make reading skills clear to students.”
In a visit to Meyer’s classroom, first grade students participated in a variety of activities to reinforce their learning — working through games on Lexia, reading “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” or matching phonemes to pictures of animals that represented those sounds. Meyer had groups use letters on a tray to spell out words that shared a common vowel sound.
Upstairs, the more advanced readers in Cathy Stiefel’s third grade classroom were learning to use the prefixes “un-,” “re-” and “pre-” to change word meanings.
One area where the Science of Reading is making a big difference is how teachers help a student who is struggling. Pruss noted that teachers now recognize simple mistakes as potential indicators of deeper misconceptions. Meyer said she can see what area the students are struggling in, and before moving forward, she can re-teach on the spot to ensure understanding.
Principal Crain said the push to improve instruction in reading at all district elementary schools, utilizing best practices in the education profession, connects to other efforts, such as Diploma +1, to help students in the Council Bluffs Schools achieve more.
“We don’t settle with doing things the way that they’ve always been done,” Crain said. “We are constantly striving to find what works for our kids, to help them be strong readers, be strong mathematicians, so then they can continue to go forward and be contributing members to our community.”
Edison Elementary first graders practice combining letter sounds with the guidance of teacher Allison Meyer.
Teacher Cathy Stiefel calls on third graders to answer questions about how prefixes change word meanings.
EVERY DAY MATTERS
‘Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!’
The future of students in the Council Bluffs Community School District is built day by day, over years, and every single day counts. The rewards tomorrow are greatest for those who make an investment each and every day.
Research shows us that our students achieve more academically, and reap those rewards after graduation, when they take advantage of the daily consistent access to high levels of classroom instruction along with the variety of supports that our schools and classroom teachers provide.
That’s why the Council Bluffs Schools has been promoting the importance of attendance through its “Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!” campaign.
The campaign aims to remind all students and parents of the importance of regular attendance while also providing resources to support their child’s success.
“Every day counts when it comes to a child’s education,” Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo said. “Research shows a direct correlation between regular attendance and academic success, including higher grades and increased graduation rates. This campaign is about
equipping our students with the tools they need to thrive.”
Students who attend school consistently are more likely to follow a path to earn their Diploma +1, which adds a second degree or industry-recognized credential to their high school diploma.
The focus on attendance works hand in hand with new
requirements at the state level. Iowa lawmakers emphasized the importance of school attendance by passing legislation that calls for school districts at the end of each quarter of the school year to notify the parent or guardian if a student has been absent from school 10% or more of the time. By missing school more than 10% of the time, a student is at risk of being chronically absent. In the Council Bluffs Schools, parents are notified monthly if their child has met the attendance
expectations.
Attendance Works, which is a national organization focused on student success, identifies four broad reasons for chronic absenteeism: 1) barriers to attendance, 2) aversion to school, 3) disengagement, and 4) misconceptions about the real impact of absences. “Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!” addresses those misconceptions, while school officials work in collaboration with families every day to connect them to
Ms. Arndt’s second grade classroom at Carter Lake Elementary received an attendance trophy in October as part of the attendance awareness campaign. The trophy celebrated the high attendance of the class and perfect attendance that day. Regular school attendance builds a foundation for future success.
Reflecting community support for the campaign, Hy-Vee celebrated students with 90% or higher attendance in the first quarter by generously providing their families with a 10% off coupon for groceries as well as a free dozen cookies for each child.
resources, provide support, and help them overcome obstacles that can prevent regular attendance. Factors such as unreliable transportation, anxiety, or a lack of peer relationships can make it more difficult for students to attend school.
“We understand that there are a variety of reasons for absences, and we are committed to working closely with families to ensure they receive the support they need,” Murillo said.
Murillo heard first-hand from fifth grade, middle school and high school students about ways to encourage daily attendance through “Voices For Change” Student Summits this fall.
The Attend Today campaign is already producing results with the goal set by the Board of Education to have at least 80% of students attending school at least 90% of the time.
At the high school level, students attending school at least 90% of the time grew by 5 percentage points from October through December. Attendance has improved by 3 percentage points at the middle schools and has held steady at the elementary level. Overall, across the entire district, average attendance is up by 2 percentage points.
School officials and families aren’t the only ones working on improving attendance. The rest of the community, including area business leaders, have stepped up to contribute, too.
One partnership included a generous gift by Hy-Vee. Families of students who attended school at least 90% of the time were treated to a free box of a dozen cookies from the grocery store, as well as a 10% discount coupon for groceries.
“We believe that through collaboration, we can continue to provide a school environment where every student feels motivated and empowered to attend school consistently,” Murillo said.
When students are in the classroom every day, they’re receiving instruction that builds on what they already learned and sets them up for future lessons. Younger students learn foundational literacy skills. In middle and high school, regular attendance significantly improves the likelihood of graduating on time, and with their valuable Diploma +1 industry-recognized credential, certificate, diploma and college degree.
So what can families do to help do their part to promote good attendance?
The first step is making school a priority. Children should hear from the adults in their lives about the importance of going to school every day. If there are barriers such as health issues or transportation, families are encouraged to reach out to the school to find support.
Parents can keep in touch with their child’s teachers and school to address attendance concerns promptly. Remember, every day counts, so a child falling behind by even a couple days can have an impact later, too.
“I love school because I get to see a lot of my friends and learn new things every day. This place is like a home to me. Teachers never give up. They always try to find a way to help you and make you achieve and believe in yourself.
Vincent, 4th Grade, Longfellow Elementary
“The more days you’re at school, the more you learn, and you are getting smarter. Tomorrow, you can do even better than the last day. I love getting to see my friends and the teachers are very nice.
Axelia, 7th
Grade,
Kirn Middle School
“Attending Today means you are showing up to school every day, on time, you’re getting to your classes and getting your work done. It helps you for tomorrow, because you are not falling behind and losing track of your goals and your future.
Camryn, 12th Grade, Thomas Jefferson
“You’ll get better and better the more you come to school. When I don’t come to school, I sit on the couch like a couch potato and then I don’t understand what the class was learning about.
Grace, 4th Grade, Rue Elementary
“If you do not go to school, you will not build an important base for your learning. It helps you build social skills, you learn to read and write, learn to do math. If you attend school, you’re able to grow into a better person.
Madison, 5th Grade, Carter Lake Elementary
“The teachers teach me math, reading and writing so they can teach us how to grow up and be successful. You can learn a lot in one day ... and then it will help you in the future.”
Jonathan, 5th Grade, Bloomer Elementary
GETTING RESULTS: School’s Achievement Recognized
Teresa Hamilton wants to make a difference in the lives of children — as many of them as she can. Her drive to improve outcomes for students motivated her to go from a classroom teacher to an elementary counselor and later to become the principal of Carter Lake Elementary School.
“Kids deserve a chance,” she said. “They’re all good inside, and they deserve the same opportunity as anybody.”
Hamilton has been recognized by the Lozier Foundation as one of two Outstanding Principals for this school year. The LIGHTS award — short for Leaders Igniting Growth and Helping Transform Schools — was given in November through the Metropolitan Omaha Education Consortium.
The award celebrates Hamilton for Carter Lake’s test scores in the previous school year, said Hannah Bolte, director of people, communications and marketing for the Loizer Corporation.
Hamilton said that she the found the social emotional needs of her students weren’t being
met, and she spent years as a counselor in service of meeting those needs. As a principal, she made changes to better address social emotional well-being, fostering a culture of “Carter Lake love” at the school. In turn, that’s improved academic outcomes for students, and that is being reflected in their Measure of Academic Progress scores.
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based,” she said. “She always is student centered. She brings a positive perspective into every situation that we’re dealing with.”
Hamilton said that academics has traditionally been viewed as separate from student behavior, but they are connected. She said that by helping school staff to feel prepared and anticipate what may come up during instruction has helped to move the needle on both grades and behavior.
“What happened last year is we were able to put some belief behind this idea that theses changes we make will actually make a difference in the numbers,” Hamilton said.
Halie Whitmore, a fifth grade teacher, said that Carter Lake has a close school community.
“Teresa is just very solution-
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“Having some data last year to prove that, to have evidence that we really are capable, was really just what we needed to have a mastery moment, to keep pushing forward,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton’s recognition reflects both her own excellence and the hard work of educators and their students at Carter Lake.
It’s reflected in little moments at the school, too, such as children being seen skipping into the building on their way to class.
“Our staff works so incredibly hard every day,” Hamilton said. “They really are superheroes for these students.”
Courtesy Lozier Foundation
Teresa Hamilton, right, accepts the 2024 LIGHTS award from Dianne Lozier during a ceremony.
Thanks to the generosity of the family of Dickson and Luann Jensen, Iowa second grade students, including Mrs. Gustafson’s students at Franklin Elementary, received the gift of the“Just Like Caitlin,” written by Ally Obermeier. The story is about the importance of dreaming big, working hard and valuing relationships over winning.
More than 100 students were featured in the first quarter Fine Arts Showcase open house, held at the district offices, located in the Omni Centre Business Park, right before a Board of Education meeting. The students and their family and friends were invited to enjoy refreshments, as they viewed the artwork and were entertained by student musicians.
Students at Longfellow Elementary, as well as in all schools in the district, benefit from small group collaboration with their teacher and peers.
Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo hosted Voices For Change Student Summits this fall to gain insight from fifth graders, middle school students and high school students from each school. They provided input on school attendance, cell phones, school safety and the classroom learning experience.
Help us tell the story of how the Council Bluffs Schools Achieve More
We’re always on the lookout for students, teachers, district staff and others who go above and beyond. Do you know someone who should be recognized? Let us know via the QR code or email communications@cb-schools.org.
These Hoover Elementary students have fun while practicing math skills together.
Students, such as those in this Edison Elementary classroom, enjoy leveling up their literacy skills on Lexia and feel a sense of accomplishment when they achieve goals.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Jackets, Lynx Show Their Talents in Athletics, Activities
Featured TJ students, from top left: Jaden Hill • Cast of “Elf” • Mayson Kramer • Azlynn
Williamson • Taja Hand • Leandrea Miller • Kaylea
Hintze • Kendall Bell • TJ
Jackets Cheer • TJ eSports (shown at state contest)
Courtesy Lane Fujii
Featured AL students, from top left: Jordan Hargrave • Cast of “Arsenic & Old Lace” • Gabe Showers • Gabby Walker • Hailee Showers • Ella Schmitz (front) & Eliana Weilage • Creighton Bracker • Ryley Collinson • Addy Naughton • AL Lynx Cheer
Classroom Grants in Action
The Council Bluffs Schools Foundation is proud to support learning both inside and out of the classroom through our Annual Grants Program.
Classroom grants provide funding to teachers and staff for projects that enhance educational experiences for students and supplement or extend the cl
Trista Pitt, Reading Interventionist at Bloomer and Franklin, received funds for her project “Hands on High Frequency Words and Reading Fluency Practice.” Mi re
“This grant impacts our students by increasing opportunities for fluent reading practice. Handson letter and word practice directly impacts student confidence in reading as well as reading test scores. ”
co world Thank you for the grant and all you do to help students get an experience that's beyond just the ordinary!”
ROLE MODELS
Thomas Jefferson Adds Four Alumni to Hall of Fame
Four new members were inducted Friday, November 15, into the Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame.
The four inductees are Paul Ingalls from the Class of 1938, Kerri (Richardson) Watts from the Class of 1992, Dr. Kiersten Ruff from the Class of 2007 and Lori (Willams) Thomas, a longtime educator and coach at TJ.
Inductees are alumni or past TJ educators who have had outstanding success and have exemplified character and service.
The TJ Hall of Fame inductees are selected annually by a committee of alumni.
Paul Ingalls
Ingalls was a U.S. Army Air Corps technical sergeant and Purple Heart recipient He attended Second Avenue School. At TJ, he participated in student government, ROTC, technical theater and journalism.
In 1940, Ingalls enlisted as a private at Fort Des Moines. He was trained at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver and was assigned to the Seventh Air Force, 30th Bomber Group, 392nd Bomber Squadron.
He arrived in Hawaii in October 1943. One month later, Ingalls’ unit was deployed to the Ellice Islands midway between Hawaii and Australia. He flew missions on B-24 bombers. His squadron also scouted for submarines and assisted with the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. As an aerial photographer, Ingalls was placed in a vulnerable spot in the plane. He was critically injured while on a mission over Maloelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
Ingalls died Dec. 28, 1943. He’s interred at Army Task Force Cemetery on Canton Island.
Kerri Watts
Watts attended Walnut Grove Elementary. At TJ, Watts participated in dance, theater, musicals, drama, choir, volleyball and environmental club. She was a member of the student council, National Honor Society and International Thespians Society.
Watts took her first dance class at age 3 and became an NDA All American dancer.
Watts opened Kerri’s Dance Studio in a small space in her parent’s home in the west end shortly after graduating.
Over the next 30 years, she coached dance teams at AL and other area schools. She worked with the flag core from AL, the
show choir at Kirn and other area teams.
Watts has choreographed over 20 musicals at the Chanticleer Community Theater, Bluffs Arts Council, Council Bluffs Children’s Theater, and other community groups.
She has won more than 20 national titles and was named educator of the year in 2014 through Masquerade Dance Challenge.
Dr. Kiersten Ruff
Ruff was the co-valedictorian of her class and was involved in many activities at TJ, including National Honor Society, show choir, speech, and theater as well as TJ’s varsity softball, cross-country and golf teams.
Ruff attended Simpson College and went on to Washington University in St. Louis where she received her Ph.D. in computational and systems biology in 2017. Her thesis work focused on determining the molecular mechanisms of Huntington’s disease, which is a devastating neurodegenerative disease.
She became a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist in Biomedical Engineering at
Washington University. Through her research efforts, Ruff has published 28 scientific papers on topics related to neurodegenerative diseases, cellular organization, and cancer.
She collaborates with global experts in fields such as biophysics, cell biology, and cancer biology. Her work has been awarded at international conferences.
Lori Thomas
Thomas was very nervous moving to Council Bluffs to work at TJ for her first teaching job after growing up in small town Iowa.
Learning the hardships of many students at TJ, she quickly realized how lucky she had been. She spent the next 36 years trying to support and encourage her Yellow Jacket students to grow, persevere and succeed.
She taught biology, coached volleyball and track, chaperoned dances, was involved with girls basketball and intramurals, ran clock and kept score at numerous sporting events, served on school committees, traveled with students as a teacher leader, and attended every extracurricular activity at least one time. The most rewarding aspect of working at TJ was seeing her former students as successful adults. When running into alumni, she said her heart still swells with pride for her “kid.” She would not have persevered without many role models at TJ. Several people from TJ are now among her closest friends.
Ingalls Watts Ruff
Thomas
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 Board President Jared Tripp on behalf of the Board of Education. Students are pictured left to right.
TJ ESPORTS
State Finals Qualifiers
Eric Remmen
Carlos Cabezas
Captain Tyson McCormick
Caleb Hanson
Caleb Fitzpatrick
Zach Callaway (not pictured)
IOWA JUNIOR HONORS
ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
Elyana Weesner - Wilson, Violin
Gwendolyn Woods - TJ, Cello
IHSAA FOOTBALL
Academic All State
Jayden Mulligan — TJ, 4A (not pictured)
Rachel Mejia Tharp - Kirn, Bass
Librado Bremers - AL, Viola (not pictured)
Teachers Peter Nelson and Laura Nelson also pictured.
Trenton Tallman— AL, 5A
Brady Watts — AL, 5A
Isaiah Lusajo — AL, 5A
Aiden Sandbothe— AL, 5A (not pictured)
AL IOWA ALL-STATE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Matthew Waggoner, Trumpet
Kameron White, Bass 1 Chorus
Grace Veit, Oboe
Ashlynn Hardy, Percussion
Dutch Smith, Clarinet
Teachers Taylor Wood and Taylor Matuszeski also pictured.
TJ ROBOTICS
China Invitational Robotics
Tournament — Excellence & Create Awards
Samuel Nichols
Kaley Ramirez
Anson Hynek Brody Vermilyea
DRIVEN TO TEACH: Edwards Recognizes Teachers
Edwards Auto Group continues to celebrate the educators in the Council Bluffs Community School District by handing out keys to a loaner vehicle each month.
“We’ve partnered with the Council Bluffs School District to recognize the great work their staff do. We’re glad to do this, but most importantly to give the recognition to the folks that deserve it,” Edwards co-owner Brett Edwards said.
Roosevelt Elementary teacher Sindy Kafka was selected as the
November recipient of the Driven to Teach recognition. She and her family of five enjoyed their ride.
“Everyone from Edwards was very welcoming, kind, and thankful for the work I do as a teacher,” she said. “I cannot thank Edwards enough for all they provided for me.”
Hunter Hendrix, a teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, drove a Jeep in December.
“It was awesome to get recognized from the community,” he said. “Thank you to Edwards
for allowing me to drive a car that I wouldn’t normally get to drive. It was fun.”
Bloomer Elementary literary interventionist Kate Livingston was recognized in January.
“When they called my name, that was a big surprise. I’m not
usually the person that wins anything, so this is nice,” she said. “It is nice to know that we’re so supported by our community.”
Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo said the program provides external validation for teachers from Edwards Auto Group: “To see them want to partner and want to bring some energy and synergy around that work and show how much we care and our community partners care for our teachers, it’s just a fun, fun opportunity for our teachers.”
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OCTOBER: KC Fouts Literacy Coach at Franklin Elementary School
NOVEMBER: Heidi Stangl Special Ed Teacher at Hoover Elementary School
SEPTEMBER: Quinn Parrack Cook/Server at Abraham Lincoln High School
OCTOBER: Alexa Denny Administrative Assistant at Kirn Middle School
NOVEMBER: Angel Bascue Preschool Teaching Assistant at the Nelson Early Learning Center
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: From Our Social Feeds
Eighty-two student-athletes have gone on to play collegiate sports since 2020 from both Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. So far, seven athletes from the Class of 2025 have already committed to go on to the next level and compete in collegiate athletics.
Iowa Association of School Boards gave the Council Bluffs Board of Education its Team Achievement Award, reflecting the majority of board members earning their Individual Achievement certificates and adopting board development policies.
Council Bluffs students gave back this holiday season like Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringing and food drives to support local pantries.
Courtesy John Campbell at WSC Athletics Molly Romano plays at Wayne State.
