Cedar Rapids school board meeting postponed as district mourns Superintendent Bush’s death

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids school board meeting — during which an interim superintendent is expected to be appointed — is postponed until Wednesday as the district mourns former Superintendent Noreen Bush, who died Sunday.

Bush, described as a “rock star” and “leader among leaders,” was diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago.

The school board earlier planned to meet to appoint an interim superintendent this week. Bush went on medical leave in September and the board last month accepted her resignation effective June 30.

The school board will meet Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids.

The board last week selected an Illinois-based consulting firm — Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates — to lead the search in identifying the next superintendent as early as January.

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Cedar Rapids school board meeting postponed

Bush started her administrative career in 2005 as an assistant principal at Prairie High School in the College Community School District. Over the years, she served in several administrative roles in the district as well as Mount Vernon Community School District.

Before being named the first woman superintendent for the Cedar Rapids Community School District in 2020, she was associate and deputy superintendent under former Superintendent Brad Buck.

The first thing Ryan Wise, dean of the School of Education at Drake University — where Bush earned her superintendent license — thinks of when he thinks about Bush is her “unbridled enthusiasm,” he said.

“She was just so excited about what they’re doing in Cedar Rapids for kids in their community,” Wise said. “The positivity she consistently radiates was just wonderful to be around.”

Bush served on Drake University’s advisory board, providing Wise and other educators in the School of Education with “insight and guidance,” Wise said, especially around how to recruit and retain future teachers to the program.

Bush was resilient and “managed all of that with a smile” and “excelled despite all these challenges constantly thrown at her,” said Wise, mentioning the pandemic, derecho and her fight with cancer.

“I was always so impressed how she continued to maintain that positive energy and enthusiasm,” Wise said. “She’s a role model for this state, educators and people for perseverance no matter the level of challenge.”

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com