District 1: Mary Meisterling (incumbent)

There are many reasons to be proud of the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Two of our high schools are consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as being among the top 500 high schools in the country. Our students consistently score at high levels on Advanced Placement tests and other standardized achievement exams. Our district continues to offer a rich variety of classes and programs in the sciences, world languages and the fine arts. And, we accomplish this while maintaining a property tax levy rate that is the lowest in the metro area and among the lowest of large school districts statewide.

At the same time, there are areas in which we can improve. Far too many of our students achieve at levels below their capabilities. Too many of our teachers lack the skills needed to help students who struggle with learning, and I hope that Gov. Terry Branstad's blueprint for education reform will address these challenges by supporting additional professional development and by strengthening the teacher preparation requirements in Iowa. That message was loud and clear at the Education Summit held in Des Moines over the summer.

The governor's blueprint should focus on the significant issue of teacher quality and not over emphasize the easy-to-measure but less critical issue of class size.

It is also essential that Iowa reinforce its commitment to early childhood education by ensuring that all families have access to high-quality preschool. The data and research unmistakably confirms that children who attend are positively affected during their early learning years and throughout their academic career.

Locally, my hope is that the Cedar Rapids Community School District maintains its commitment to staff development that allows teachers to learn from one another and to share best practices that enrich and improve student outcomes. The professional learning communities are now embedded in every school. Early dismissal afternoons allow opportunities for teachers to collaborate regularly and to put their insights into practice almost immediately.

We have other initiatives under way that serve to increase student achievement. These include the districtwide use of the Pyramid Response to Intervention, which allows teachers to more readily identify students in need of additional instruction. Time is carved out during the school day for either intervention or enrichment based on each student's need. We are also working to ensure that our teachers deliver consistent, quality instruction to every student.

It is important that our school board continues to support these vital initiatives so that all students have the opportunity to achieve at high levels.

While our school district faces many challenges, the greatest is our changing demographic. More and more of our students - 45 percent districtwide during the 2010-11 school year - live in poverty as defined by the federal government. Many of these children are in severe need of even more focused attention to help them grow academically and reach their potential.

It has been my privilege to serve as a member of the Board of Education for the past nine years, and I look forward to continuing to work with our school district community toward our shared goal of providing the best possible education for all students.

Mary Meisterling is a key account manager for Alliant Energy. Prior to her school board service, she was a member of the school district's infrastructure committee and also served as PTA president at Washington High School. She and her husband are the parents of three children, all of whom are graduates of the Cedar Rapids Community School District. Comments: marymeisterling@mchsi.com