For the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Superintendent of the Council Bluffs Community School District. Since 2017, I’ve worked with our dedicated team, school board, and community to create a future-focused, innovative education system that provides every student more opportunities to achieve to their fullest potential.
The role of a superintendent is broad and deep, overseeing academic achievement, facilities, finance, student support, and community engagement, but for me, the heart of the work has always been about impact: creating a system where every student has more choices and a pathway to thrive.
The North Star
When I began in Council Bluffs, I introduced a guiding vision we call our North Star: Every student will graduate with not only their high school diploma, but also a second credential, an associate degree or an industry-recognized certification.
In 2017, the concept of "Diploma Plus One" pathways was not widely part of the educational discourse. However, I have consistently maintained that when students demonstrate readiness, educational systems should not impose arbitrary delays on their advancement. If students possess the capacity and support necessary to pursue postsecondary degrees or industry-recognized credentials while still enrolled in high school, why would we make them wait? It is both equitable and prudent to facilitate those opportunities without deferral.
“Whether it's college credit acceleration, trade apprenticeships, or the Early College Academy, our programs meet students where they are and take them where they want to go”
That vision quickly became the foundation for everything we built. Today, it’s woven into the culture of our district from elementary through high school.
Equity Through Opportunity
My educational journey began in a large urban district, where I experienced inequities firsthand. Those experiences shaped my belief that true equity means creating access and removing barriers for all students, not just some.
Upon my arrival in Council Bluffs, it became evident that the most significant student subgroup within the district comprised those experiencing economic disadvantage. Recognizing that advancing systemic equity required intentional and comprehensive action, I prioritized the removal of financial barriers to postsecondary opportunities. This involved ensuring equitable access to our pathways, which included college-level coursework and career certification programs, by covering all associated costs, including tuition, instructional materials, and transportation.
We were fortunate to have strong support from our Board of Education, from the state of Iowa which provides a .5 reimbursement to districts for concurrent and CTE credits and funding from local foundations. By braiding those funds together, we eliminated the financial burden. In 2017, just two students graduated with an associate degree. This year, more than 130 students earned a degree or credential walking the college graduation stage before their high school one.
Using the 3E Approach
Preparing students for postsecondary success doesn’t start in high school; it begins much earlier. That’s why we employ the 3E approach many organizations cite for preparing students for meaningful career choices.
• Exposure in elementary school
• Exploration in middle school
• Experience in high school
This approach ensures that students progressively explore and pursue their individual interests through authentic, real-world learning experiences that prepare them for both college and career pathways. Whether through college acceleration, trade apprenticeships, or participation in the Early College Academy, our programs are designed to meet students where they are and support them in reaching their goals.
We have five key pathways and additional market value assets under our “Diploma Plus One” umbrella:
College Credit Acceleration: Students graduate with at least 24 college credits.
Career & Academic Pathways: Students earn credentials in health science, culinary arts, early childhood education, and more.
Early College Academy: Juniors and seniors attend Iowa Western Community College full-time.
TradeWorks and TradeWorks at Iowa Western Community
College: Students complete two years in high school and two years at the community college, moving straight into apprenticeships or journeyman programs.
Market Value Assets: Other opportunities to earn second credentials include students showcasing their skill and knowledge with an ACT National Career Readiness Certificate, the Seal of Biliteracy, a Google Certificate, a Transition Alliance Certificate or the Air Force JROTC Leadership Employability Skills Certificate.
Innovative Requests: To our surprise students began reaching out with new ideas for new pathways. One student asked, “Could we add the FFA Commercial Drone Pilot certification?” If it’s something our students are interested in and it’s accessible for them to complete before graduation, the answer is yes. When students are helping to shape a system in which graduating with a second credential is the norm, that’s when you know the vision is truly alive. I welcome their innovative ideas.
Early Learning as a Cornerstone
Our work doesn’t begin in kindergarten. With support from the community, state leaders, and private donors, we built a 18 million dollar Early Learning Center serving more than 500 children from infants to four-year-olds. As a public school district, we’re proud to offer high-quality childcare and preschool in a fully funded facility.
There’s nothing better than starting your day visiting babies from crawlers to walkers to toddlers knowing that 14-18 years later, they’ll walk across the stage with a diploma and a second college or career credential.
Our commitment is a seamless support system, from cradle to career.
A New Kind of High School
Council Bluffs is geographically landlocked, bordered by Omaha, Nebraska, and rural Iowa which limits our room to grow. However, limitations often spark innovation.
That’s why we are moving forward with plans to open an innovative, STEM high school designed to serve approximately 400 students. The school will feature a nontraditional, interdisciplinary, project-based learning model with a strong focus on career pathways in medical field, engineering, and technology. We are also integrating elements of the P-TECH model, along with continuing a robust robotics program that has already experienced remarkable growth, providing our students with opportunities to compete on global stages, including international competitions in China.
This school will be the first of its kind in the region, giving local students a pathway to advanced STEM experiences and helping them build their confidence and capabilities to succeed.
Advice for Fellow Leaders: Find Your North Star
If I could offer one piece of advice to fellow superintendents or educational leaders, it would be this: Find your district’s North Star, the one transformational goal that can change students’ lives. Build toward that vision with data, consistency, and heart.
In 2017, we had just two students graduating with a second credential. After the pandemic, in 2021, 62 percent of our students earned one. In 2022, it was 73 percent. This year, 90 percent of our graduates left with more than just a diploma.
And when students begin contacting me as the superintendent with ideas for new pathways eager to co-design their own learning experiences, you know the vision has taken root and become a shared reality.
We’re not finished and we never will be. Continuous improvement is at the heart of our work, because we believe that every step forward helps build a stronger, more empowered future for the next generation.
