New leader for Central City, North Linn schools wants every child to feel ‘cared for’

CENTRAL CITY — The new shared superintendent of Central City and North Linn school districts wants every child to feel “cared for” in school.

One of Leisa Breitfelder’s first friends when she was in kindergarten had cerebral palsy, which is caused by abnormal brain development or damage that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles.

“I was his peer helper,” said Breitfelder, 44. “I was able to go with him to his physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy appointments and do group projects with him in class. It gave me a passion for helping kids be the best student they possibly can be.”

That feeling of inclusion for students often stops after elementary school as students with different needs are pulled out of general education classes, Breitfelder said.

“It changes how students feel about themselves and how other students see them,” she said.

In her previous role as executive director of student services in the Linn-Mar Community School District, Breitfelder said she worked to create more opportunities for students in general education and special education classes to learn together.

Students in special education sometimes have paraprofessionals or associates — educators who work with students to help them understand classroom instruction and provide administrative support to teachers.

“When you walk into a classroom and see an adult sitting next to a student, their peers aren’t going to be approaching that student as easily,” Breitfelder said.

To overcome that challenge, Breitfelder said paraeducators were taught how to “cue” other students to talk to their special education peers. Students also were taught about their peers’ disabilities and ways they are the same and different from each other.

“It warms your heart when you walk in to a classroom and you know there are students with disabilities in there, but they’re doing group work and you can’t tell who has the disability and who doesn’t,” Breitfelder said.

As a first-time superintendent, Breitfelder plans to create this same sense of belonging for students in Central City and North Linn schools.

Karla Christian, chief human resources officer for Linn-Mar schools, said Breitfelder did a “fantastic job” using her creativity to make sure the needs of students in special education were met. Breitfelder also introduced more training for paraeducators at Linn-Mar, Christian said.

“It’s so important for paraeducators to know they are valued as much as teachers,” Christian said. “She made sure they had the training they needed and wanted and brought them together as a cohesive group of special education teachers and associates.”

Jeri Ramos, information technology director at Linn-Mar, said Breitfelder considered how each decision she made would benefit students and provide them a better sense of belonging.

“She’s one of the most humble leaders I have ever met,” Christian said.

There are about 469 students in preschool to 12th grade at Central City and 536 at North Linn. Breitfelder, who started her new role July 1, will earn a salary of $155,000 plus benefits.

A school improvement plan called Marzano High Reliability Schools will begin to be implemented at Central City and North Linn this year, Breitfelder said. The plan, which has indicators showing what schools should work on to achieve a high reliability level, also is used in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Linn-Mar schools.

In Central City, the school building is undergoing a facility needs assessment by Axiom Consultants, an engineering firm in Iowa City. Breitfelder said she expects the report back at the end of August.

The report will rate aspects of the building in three categories: what needs immediate attention, projects for down the line and areas that are in good shape, Breitfelder said.

Once the needs assessment comes back with an estimated cost of the projects, Breitfelder said district officials can consider how to move forward with funding.

Renovations to North Linn’s middle and high school building were recently completed after voters overwhelmingly approved a $11.5 million general obligation bond in September 2021.

Air-conditioning was added, restrooms were upgraded and brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and lighting, ceiling tiles, water piping and windows were replaced.

One of Breitfelder’s priorities for North Linn is to investigate why students are open enrolling out of the district. She said it could be because of the lack of child care options in the community.

“Families are taking their students in to the larger districts while they are going to work, dropping them off at day care, then they get started in preschool, and we don’t get the students back,” she said.

In addition to being an educator in the Linn-Mar district, Breitfelder has experience as a special education director and a consultant with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency. She has 21 years of experience in education.

Breitfelder also has experience as a school board member in the Springville Community School District. She recently resigned from the school board because of her new superintendent job.

Amy Hosek, who served with Breitfelder on the Springville school board, said Breitfelder’s knowledge as an educator helped guide many of the board’s decisions.

“She’s got a lot of drive,” Hosek said. “I think she’ll be an asset wherever she goes.”

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