Cedar Rapids school district’s Trace Pickering named Iowa BIG executive director

CEDAR RAPIDS - Trace Pickering, an associate superintendent who has overseen innovation and technology in the Cedar Rapids Community School District since 2013, plans to leave his position in January for a national education organization.

But he's staying involved with Iowa BIG, a program he helped create in 2013. It allows high school students from three local districts to work on community-based issues for class credit.

'I couldn't leave it yet,” said Pickering, who in Jan. 16 will become its part-time executive director. 'I'm pretty attached to it.”

As executive director, Pickering will work to expand the program, which served about 100 students last school year.

In addition to his part-time role at Iowa BIG, Picking plans to work remotely for Education Reimagined, a Washington, D.C.-based initiative under the direction of the not-for-profit Convergence Center for Policy Resolution.

'They're a national organization looking to help define what learner-centered education looks like,” Pickering said. 'I'll be helping others trying to do what Iowa BIG is doing. Hopefully, I'll be able to take some good ideas I learn in this venture and bring them back to our schools here.”

Part of a $1 million grant from the XQ Institute will pay for Pickering's position, and Iowa BIG's three partner school districts - Cedar Rapids, College Community and Linn-Mar - won't be affected financially, he said.

The Gazette's holding company, Folience, is a sponsor of Iowa BIG.

Iowa BIG won the XQ grant as part of XQ's Super School Project, a yearlong contest to 're-imagine American public high schools.” Iowa BIG did not win one of the contest's $10 million prizes, but XQ announced in September it would give the program $1 million over the next five years.

'We'll continue to grow and evolve the program,” Pickering said. 'With the intention it has now with XQ, it required more administrative attention than I was able to provide it in my role as associate superintendent.”

Pickering will leave his other associate superintendent roles, including his work implementing the district's magnet school strategy. Pickering was paid about $159,000 annually.

Under Pickering's leadership, the Cedar Rapids district is on track to add three magnet schools.

'I'm excited and sad all at the same time because leaving some of the magnet school stuff - that was work that I helped get started,” he said.

He plans to stay involved with Roosevelt Middle School's transition to Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, he said, which is underway.

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