Much to be thankful for in Cedar Rapids Schools

Cedar Rapids is a wonderful place to learn, work, and live. As a person who is returning to the area after a number of years living in various communities in Iowa, I am and have been reminded about what a great city we have.

In terms of the Cedar Rapids Community School District and our schools in particular, I very much appreciate the vision of 'Excellence for All”. In working to deliver on this promise to our students, the school district has chosen an emphasis on both innovation and continuous improvement.

The innovation comes to life in projects such as elementary Spanish, the Johnson STEAM Academy, the Roosevelt Middle School and Jefferson High School Option Programs, the Metro High School STEAM Program, expanded opportunities for eighth-graders, and Iowa BIG. We focus on continuous improvement in relation to teaching and learning through the collaborative work of our educators to maximize the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) model, implementation of the Iowa Core Curriculum and Content Standards, and by addressing behavior in a positive and productive manner through Restorative Justice.

As is true of all high-quality organizations, what truly makes them amazing is the quality of the people who work in and support them. To that end, I am very thankful for the staff members who work in our school district. We have over 2,700 employees serving in extremely varied roles and all of their work is centered on the success of our students. Beyond the staff, I am extremely thankful for our families, volunteers and community partners. I am confident that all of us working together will continue to provide even better experiences and outcomes for our students.

I would be remiss not to mention the gratitude we have for the community's support of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). These funds allow us to maintain first-class learning and work environments for our students and staff.

In looking ahead to Thanksgiving, please take the time to thank members of the Cedar Rapids School Community with whom you have occasions to interact. Best wishes to you and those about whom you care most as we move into this holiday season.

' Brad Buck is Superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District. A native of Cedar Rapids, he graduated from Jefferson High School in 1987. Comments: BBuck@cr.k12.ia.us.