I stopped by Lisa McNeill’s classroom recently. She was holding a reading session with the students above. These girls love reading and told me about the books they like to read and shared their career aspirations. They also love Mrs. McNeill!
One of the most interesting parts of our interaction was the ease and energy they brought to our conversation. Throughout the interview, I felt like I was the student and they were teaching me. I have the feeling that they will be leaders in the future.
Here is our full interview:
May is school board appreciation month and Knoxville wants to recognize their dedicated school board members.
“Being a school board member is not easy by any means. It is an elected position. They do not get any compensation and they spend a lot of hours away from their family doing a really important job,” according to Superintendent Cassi Pearson.
Board member Susan Swartzendruber is leaving the board. She told KNIA/KRLS News, “I wish to thank the voters of Knoxville for allowing me the opportunity to serve in this capacity. And I want to encourage others to keep trying the ‘new things’, bravery often will surprise you.”
Susan is a family friend. Serving on the school board is just one of a great many contributions she and her family have made to the Knoxville community. Thanks, Susan!
Mr. John Kuiper uses the curriculum from “Project Lead the Way” in the middle school. It touches on many practical applications of automation, robotics, computation, precision measurement, drawing, drafting, and more.
Mr. Kuiper shares with me what he loves about his job, his philosophy of teaching, and more. In our interview, he also shares a heartwarming story of how he continues to be a teacher and mentor to students long into their professional careers after graduation. Here is our interview:
One of the best times I had last week was reading one of my favorite books of all time, “Giraffes Can’t Dance” to Shawn Helle’s class of second graders. All second-grade students have been gifted several books this year by the Knoxville Rotary Club, sponsored by Weiler and the South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency.
After the reading, we watched a short presentation about creativity, and how to be creative. I loved watching and listening to the class sing along. There is so much joy in the Knoxville Schools!
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