Iowa City school district restructures academic administration

IOWA CITY - After assistant superintenent Ann Feldmann effectively retired in December, the Iowa City Community School District is restructuring its academic administrative team.

Feldmann, who officially will retire in April and is using paid leave for the rest of her time with the district, focused on secondary schools during her tenure. Becky Furlong, a former assistant superintendent, focused on elementary schools.

As part of the restructuring, Furlong now leads all academic operations as the district's chief academic officer, she said. Matt Degner, the district's new director of schools, has begun to assist her while still serving part-time as the South East Junior High School principal.

Furlong's new role covers all grades, she said, but she still will have an emphasis on the elementary grades, while Degner will focus on the secondary grades.

Stephen Murley, the district's superintendent, said the changes are intended to fill Feldmann's shoes and unify the district's academic efforts.

'When you build an organization, it's based on the people inside (and) the strengths that they bring to the roles that they have,” Murley said. 'We thought it would be good to make sure we have the academic component front and center – make sure we have one person leading that process.”

Kate Callahan, the leader of the district's Theodore Roosevelt Education Center (TREC), also will take on an expanded role as the director of student services, Furlong said. Pam Ehly, the district's director of curriculum, also will retire at the end of the school year, and the district might rethink that position, Murley said. The director of curriculum and director of student services currently report to Furlong.

Degner started his new position last week. Degner will start working full-time as director of schools this summer, he said.

The district hopes to have Ehly's replacement in place by late spring, said human resources director Chace Ramey.

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