At-large candidate: Karen Hartlep

Put kids first! These three words form an important framework for the complex task of meeting the educational needs of all Cedar Rapids students.

This summer, Gov. Terry Branstad hosted Iowa's first-ever Education Summit, bringing in education experts from all over the world to speak about how to improve and enhance public education in Iowa. Interestingly, many of the experts talked about reforms that Iowa is already implementing, agreeing that universal preschool was a must for students to succeed.

Efforts this spring to reduce funding for Iowa's universal preschool program were reversed when Branstad decided to fully fund our existing program. It's important to recognize that our students are competing for jobs and opportunities with students not only from the United States, but the world as well.

Universal preschool programs should be expanded to meet the needs of the children not yet served under our existing program. As our community and nation demand higher achievement, we must put kids first, providing a quality head start on their educational journeys.

One of the many goals of the Education Summit was to create a blueprint of ideas to help improve public education in Iowa. I believe we already have some great ideas that need to be addressed immediately.

First, teachers need more time to plan and collaborate with each other about the data, strategies, ideas and plans they can implement to reach and teach students. Teamwork is essential to the complex learning needs of children.

Paired with collaboration, there is the need for high-quality professional development. Faculty and staff involvement must be a vital component of this process to ensure professional development is focused, aligning with local, state and national standards aligned to a school's population, grade levels and content areas. This is a tall order. No one in the education community should be left out of the professional development process.

Education systems in other countries are often touted as leading to greater student success than what the United States has achieved. Educators are generally well respected in those countries and our hardworking school personnel are not getting the respect they deserve here. Our education professionals have an enormous task. Isn't it time we show them the respect they deserve for the work and dedication it takes to educate our kids?

While it may not be feasible to adopt other country's systems in their entirety, we can work to provide the professional development, resources and support necessary to put kids first.

I've walked many miles in talking with Cedar Rapids residents about our schools. Tough questions were asked, concerns were expressed, and there were many great conversations about our schools. When I told them I was a retired teacher running for the school board, there were many smiles, a few thank-yous, and plenty of encouragement to put kids first!

Karen Hartlep, a retired teacher, and husband Stuart have resided in Cedar Rapids since 1980. Daughter Leah is a graduate of Washington High School. Comments: kslhart@msn.com