Iowa City school board appoints longtime former educator to board

IOWA CITY — Former Iowa City West High School educator Molly Abraham was approved by the Iowa City school board Tuesday as the newest member — replacing former board president Shawn Eyestone, who resigned last month.

Abraham will serve the rest of Eyestone’s term, which expires in 2023. In her application to the school board, she said she was unsure if she will seek election to the board in November 2023.

Abraham was an educator in the Iowa City Community School District for 38 years as a special-education teacher at Iowa City West High School and later the school’s assistant principal.

“I bring an extensive knowledge of the Iowa City educational system from the perspective of a parent, teacher and administrator,” Abraham wrote in her application for school board. “I have watched (the district) grow in to the diverse and extraordinary school community it is today.”

Although Abraham retired in June 2020, she was asked to return for two years during which she served as part-time administrative support at West High and Northwest Junior High School.

Abraham was one of six people who applied for the open position. They were given time to address the school board in a special meeting last week.

“If you spoke with the students, families and staff I have collaborated with over the years, they would tell you I have excellent problem-solving abilities,” Abraham wrote “I am skilled at listening to various perspectives, identifying the problem, empowering others, generating possible solutions, as well as reflecting and evaluating outcomes.”

The school board chose to appoint a school board member instead of holding a special election, which is costly to the district.

Brady Shutt, president of the Iowa City Education Association, said Abraham will be a “fantastic director.” “Many people in our community and district hold Molly in the highest regard professionally and personally,” he said.

School board president Ruthina Malone encouraged the other school board applicants to stay involved and thanked them for their interest.

School board member Maka Pilcher-Hayek said she’s “bragged” about the resumes the board received.

“It’s so special about our district. The kind of people applying for this job are doing it because you care about public education and want to serve. I’m so impressed by everyone,” Pilcher-Hayek said.

Eyestone resigned to go back to school to pursue a career as an educator. His classes conflict with Tuesday school board meetings. He was first elected to the school board in 2017 and reelected in 2019.

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