Hello to our school district neighbors in Carter Lake, Council Bluffs and Crescent! Thank you for your interest in our schools and the successes of our community’s children. Together, with our Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, we present this quarterly magazine to keep you informed about our school district initiatives and achievements.
Inside this edition of our Achieve Magazine, I hope you will enjoy reading about how our school district is pioneering the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence as a life skill for students. We also preview on Page 7 an important ballot measure voters will consider affirming on the November 4th school election.
We are also pleased to showcase some of our outstanding students and a few of our dedicated staff members who support the development of each child throughout their educational journey.
Our 2025-26 school year is off to a terrific start! We opened a new Council Bluffs K-12 Online School for those who are not currently enrolled in our schools and prefer an online educational experience. We are also expanding our Innovation and Sports Center in Crescent to include eSports and broadcasting.
We are also continuing to shine a spotlight on the importance of attending school Every Day…All Day. Children who miss school also miss out on valuable learning with their teachers and their peers. Thank you for encouraging the young people in your life to be in school every day possible!
I am so proud of our collective efforts to ensure all of our students have every opportunity to learn to their full potential and take advantage of the wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities that elevate their school experience. Please follow us on social media to learn more or to suggest story ideas for future editions of our magazine. We would love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Dr. Vickie Murillo Superintendent
Facebook: CB Supt Murillo
Achieve With Us
Do you have something you want to share with the award-winning Achieve magazine? We always appreciate story ideas, photos or anything you’d like to share with us. Please email communications@cb-schools.org with your feedback or suggestions. Thank you!
This publication would not be possible without the generous support of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and community donors. We extend our most sincere appreciation for their continued support of our mission.
Council Bluffs Board of Education
The Council Bluffs Board of Education typically meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May. Meetings are held one Tuesday per month in June, July, August and December. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Educational Service Center, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, and they are aired live on Cox Channel 18 and the District’s YouTube channel, youtube. com/c/CouncilBluffsCommunitySchoolDistrict.
PHOTO: Ryan Loots teaches a class at Thomas Jefferson High School in an illustration, which includes components generated by Google Gemini, showing how AI could transform clasroom instruction. Read more about how the Council Bluffs Community School District is embracing AI tools starting on Page 4.
ABOUT: Achieve Magazine is proudly published by the Council Bluffs Community School District, with generous funding from the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and advertisers. A digital version of this publication can be accessed online at www.cb-schools.org. The content of this publication can be accessed through Google translate online. To request another copy of this publication, submit story suggestions, or place an advertisement, please call 712-328-6514 or email communications@cb-schools.org.
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Council Bluffs Community School District is to guarantee that every student graduates with the knowledge, skills and character to become a responsible citizen and to succeed in a changing world by creating a leading-edge, inclusive educational system, which provides challenging expectations, diverse experiences, engaging curriculum and innovative teaching within a collaborative, caring community.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: It is the policy of the Council Bluffs Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (for employment), national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status (for programs), socioeconomic status (for programs), physical or mental disability, religion, creed, genetic information, ancestry, geographic location, citizenship, political party preference or belief, familial status or any other protected attribute, in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the District’s Equity Coordinator, Tim Hamilton, 712328-6423, thamilton2@cb-schools.org, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.
COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Achieve Magazine | Issue 24 | Fall 2025
ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District
COVER
Angela Griner Board Member
Teresa Hardiman Board Member
Lauren Myers Board Member
David Coziahr Board Member
Jared Tripp Board President
Patrick Peters Board Vice President
Tracy Ozzello Board Member
So many fun firsts and genuine smiles during this first quarter of the school year as students met new friends, connected with their teachers, learned more skills, and continued on their path to success in school and beyond.
New 2025-26 teachers gather with their mentors
Mr. Darrington greets a Lewis & Clark kindergartener
Principal Cronk welcomes back a student at Rue Elementary
Carter Lake students show school pride at TJ homecoming parade
Preschoolers head to recess at Nelson Early Learning Center
EMBRACING THE POTENTIAL Artificial Intelligence Work Group Guides the Way
You’ve probably used artificial intelligence this week, even earlier today, without giving it a second thought or even recognizing that you were using AI.
Did you ask your phone for directions? That’s AI sorting through data points to find the fastest route. Did a streaming service offer you a personalized recommendation? Did you use a voice assistant like Siri or Alexa? Or receive an alert that the item you have been shopping for is now on sale?
AI is even used in facial recognition that many use to unlock their smartphone, in spam filtering for email, and photo filters on social media. AI isn’t some futuristic concept — it’s interwoven into the fabric of modern life.
So it’s no surprise it’s increasingly being integrated into lessons students in the Council Bluffs Schools receive from their teachers or in the work those teachers do to prepare lessons, provide support to students, and communicate with families and colleagues.
Artificial intelligence tools allow users to generate and translate text, create images, write computer code, recognize and generate speech, automate repetitive tasks and other functions that used to require human work.
After taking the time to develop a strategic approach, Council Bluffs educators are being bold and innovative by embracing the potential of AI while maintaining accuracy, integrity and safety.
Anita Penner, a social studies teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School, was among many Council Bluffs educators who
participated in a work group to determine those best ways to use AI across the district.
Penner said students will need to understand how to leverage AI to their advantage as they enter the working world after graduation.
“It’s revolutionizing every single thing we do in the world,” Penner said.
‘Thoughtful approach’
While AI has been around for years, the launch of ChatGPT’s generative AI model in late 2022 prompted many schools across the country to quickly block its use.
The Council Bluffs Schools launched a work group to chart a strategic approach to bring AI’s benefits to students across the district.
While the district still restricts many AI tools, students are allowed to use Google’s Gemini AI, which includes safeguards to avoid inappropriate uses and is integrated with students’ Chromebooks and the district’s use of Google Classrooms. Other approved AI tools also are being used in classrooms, such as Canva’s ability to generate images.
AI is like a graphing calculator in a math classroom. It can perform work that the students need to know how to do, but it also can be used to bolster student learning.
Tony Vincent, a consultant who is the AI/ STEM coordinator at the Council Bluffs Schools, said the school district is working to build capacity among its teachers while explaining both the limits and the potential to students.
“We’re still in the phase where the district
material, Vincent said, and while that can be uncomfortable, it remains important for students to do the work themselves — not to rely upon AI, a calculator or any other tool.
“We want to create learning experiences where we still have that struggle,” Vincent said. “We’re not just sending students off with AI and it’s doing all the thinking for them. I think the community should know that the Council Bluffs Schools is taking a thoughtful approach where we want what’s best for students, what works for teachers, and what will help students with their futures.”
Ready for the future
The Council Bluffs Schools has focused on preparing students to be successful, not only in today’s world, but in the future.
A student raises their hand in Anita Penner’s classroom at Abraham Lincoln High School.
College View Elementary educators meet during the Summer Academy to discuss artifical intelligence.
The district prepares students to be “future ready,” Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo said. Teaching AI and new technologies prepares students for the world they’ll experience as they continue their education and enter the workforce.
“Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept — it’s a fundamental part of the modern workforce and our everyday lives,” Murillo said. “Integrating AI into learning is one more way we are fulfilling our promise to help ensure every student is future-ready.”
Vincent said that AI is here to stay, so students need AI literacy — just as the district teaches internet safety and social media literacy.
“It’s a life skill,” Vincent said. “No matter what job or role they’re going to play, AI is going to be a part of it, and so we need our students to be AI literate — to understand what it can do, what it can’t do, and it could be a good leverage for them in the career path they choose.”
Beyond using AI, students also need to learn to be adaptable to adjust to “whatever technology is coming or how AI evolves.”
“It’s really about having that mindset of flexibility, the mindset of some skepticism, of critique of what’s there,” Vincent said. “We don’t know what AI will look like exactly, but if we have the mindset, we can tackle problems. We can be problem solvers. We can take on whatever’s next.”
AI in the classroom
Penner uses an AI tool called Brisk Teaching to assist students in understanding materials they are reading on the internet by generating
questions to deepen their comprehension.
“Students can use the AI chat bot to answer and read along,” Penner said.
The AI can also help students understand the text they’re reading or translate it for those for whom English is a second language.
When teaching the Progressive Era, for example, Penner used the AI tool to quiz students on a History Channel article. Unlike a standard quiz, the chatbot could prompt students for a better answer if they hadn’t gotten enough information from the reading.
Penner also uses AI to generate questions for study quizzes, which help students review material they’ve learned. Even a mistake by AI can be an opportunity for learning.
“As a user of AI, something you should be doing always is going back and checking that work,” Penner said. “It is the same for students, if they were to use AI to generate a list of ideas on a research project, they should be going back and looking to see if it makes sense.”
Vincent said that teachers can also prompt a custom chat bot to interact with students. For example, a middle school teacher is using a Magic School AI bot to help students track and use vocabulary words. But rather than all students working on the same words, using AI allows for individualized vocabulary lists.
ACCURACY
As staff and students utilize and incorporate AI, they will ensure the information is accurate, non-biased, and relevant to the task at hand. Staff and students will analyze AI-generated information prior to publishing or sharing.
INTEGRITY
When using AI, staff and students will maintain transparency, and the user will let others know that AI was used in the creation of their work.
When using AI technology, the final product will be reviewed, revised, and the original work of the content creator overall. AI will never be the sole author or creator of a final product. AI will not replace thinking, ideas, or voice.
Products created using AI will be cited properly.
SAFETY
When using AI, staff and students will ensure the protection of the privacy and security of personal data (name, place/date of birth, student IDs, demographic data). Students and staff may not generate or facilitate content that includes harassing images/language, threats, or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other attributes.
Staff and district leaders will prioritize the education of AI literacy, digital citizenship, and responsible use of AI tools.
Abraham Lincoln High School social studies teacher Anita Penner works with students who are using artifical intelligence to support their learning.
Council Bluffs teachers have found creative uses for AI, too, allowing for more engaging classroom activities and projects that promote active learning by students.
Vincent said one teacher is using AI tools in Canva to create illustrations to accompany the compositions they are writing for class. They can also create alternative book covers to ask students which cover does a better job representing the themes and elements from the text.
Dan Black, a music teacher at Kirn, is using AI to isolate the vocal tracks from songs — allowing the musicians to perform reversekaraoke. That’s something that could be done manually but would be time-consuming and impractical without AI.
Black also enlisted students in his orchestra class to craft AI prompts to generate the design for a T-shirt for the group using Canva’s AI tools.
“I work in the arts, but I’m a heavy artificial intelligence user because we all write, we all use language, we all communicate,” Black said. “In my work as a teacher, in developing content and learning experiences for kids, it’s been a game-changer for me.”
Developing guidelines
The work group dedicated 18 months exploring how AI could be used in teaching and learning, and the group came up with guidelines for its use.
The guidelines require that AI be used only if it can maintain accuracy, integrity and safety. The AI use guidelines require students and teachers to avoid creating
guidelines avoid situations where AI might be doing too much.
“It would be like going to the gym, but having a robot lift the weights for you,” Vincent said. “You’re not getting anything out of it. You’re just going through the motions. And so we don’t want robot weightlifters.”
Teachers are being asked to be mindful when planning lessons so students aren’t as tempted to use AI or to assign work where AI isn’t as attractive to use as a tool. During the annual Summer Academy professional learning sessions, teachers were encouraged to make lessons more engaging for students and consider grading the process students use for tasks, such as research, rather than the end product of that work.
Vincent said teachers are also being asked to explore how to use AI themselves, when it comes to lesson planning, crafting questions or other parts of their jobs. Professional development, such as this year’s Summer Academy, is aimed at “building that capacity in teachers, so the teachers can know how they use AI themselves,” he said.
Teaching AI literacy
While the use of AI tools in classrooms is not required, the district has launched AI literacy lessons for all secondary students. Students in middle and high school are being taught about AI as part of their advisement periods, which Vincent said will provide them “a baseline of
what AI is about, its possibilities and its drawbacks.”
“We call them ACE lessons. It starts with Awareness of AI — how it works, what it actually is — and then Critique of AI and its outputs and critique of our own use of AI, and then Exploration — putting it to use and how it’s used in careers,” Vincent said.
Penner said AL homerooms discuss AI every other Monday.
“We’re teaching students how to use it ethically, what kind of things they should be looking out for, what biases there might be and things like that,” Penner said.
National network
Penner went from being selected as a relatively new teacher for a Council Bluffs Schools AI work group to swimming with the sharks — or at least one shark, businessman Mark Cuban of “Shark Tank” fame.
Penner was selected for a yearlong Mark Cuban Foundation Teacher Fellowship to help bring AI best practices into her social studies classroom at Abraham Lincoln High School.
While implementing AI in her own classroom and promoting AI literacy, Penner is bringing in ideas from other schools across the country. Through the fellowship, she is building a network of contacts to consult as the Council Bluffs Schools expands its use of artificial intelligence.
The Mark Cuban Foundation Teacher Fellowship selects the top 5% of applicants to represent teachers from across the country
in a variety of subjects to work together on AI best practices.
The fellows are taught how to develop ethical AI policies, create projects, receive AI training and collaborate among a community of like-minded educators. They then will help facilitate Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps across the country in November, including one where Penner will assist in Johnston, Iowa.
“I will go work with students while a company from Johnston teaches them about how to use AI in their field,” Penner said.
Penner will work on a capstone project that will be presented at a national conference next summer.
“It has been super cool to learn how I can use AI in my classroom to better my teaching,” she said.
Productivity boost
Other Council Bluffs teachers are using AI to provide a boost to their work, enhancing efforts inside and outside the classroom. AI is being used to summarize information, suggest ways to start lessons, predict where students may struggle, provide individual feedback on work, find ways to reinforce content, brainstorm the best way to support behavioral expectations, interpret students’ responses and draft messages to send to families, according to a flyer distributed to teachers.
Whether the teachers or students are creating something themselves or using AI to help create it, “they’re responsible for what they’re putting forward,” Vincent said.
Kirn Middle School music teacher Dan Black teaches the rhythm section of a song to guitar students.
INVESTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Revenue Purpose Statement Goes Before Voters
As we go to the polls on November 4th, school district residents will have the opportunity to consider extending the existing Revenue Purpose Statement that designates how the statewide penny sales tax can be used locally for school building maintenance, updates, technology, and equipment.
The Council Bluffs Community School District have strategically used the funds to:
• Create secure and safe schools;
• Update carpet, furnishings and equipment on a rotating schedule;
• Maintain concrete, roofing, painting, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems;
• Purchase large equipment, Chromebooks and other classroom technology; and
• Complete projects outlined in the multiyear Facility Master Plan.
The state of Iowa is unique in that it collects this statewide one-cent sales tax specifically for school infrastructure. The Iowa Legislature, in 2019, extended the collection of the sales tax through January 1, 2051. As part of this extension, all school districts must renew a Revenue Purpose Statement before 2031 to affirm how SAVE funds will be used locally.
Voting YES affirms that the designated SAVE and PPEL funds can continue to be used as they have been for many years.
Voting NO does not lower taxes or eliminate the penny sales tax but could limit the District’s ability to respond to future school building needs.
Voters can find election information on the District’s website, www.cb-schools.org.
ATTEND TODAY: Data Shows Students See Benefits
The Council Bluffs Community School District’s dedicated focus on regular school attendance is paying off. New data shows that the strategic efforts from the last school year have successfully moved the needle, leading to an overall 3% increase in students who attended regularly as of the end of last school year..
The District’s campaign “Attend Today. Achieve More Tomorrow!” emphasizes “every single day counts” toward a student’s future success. The goal set by the Board of Education is that 80% of all students must be at school at least 90% of the time.
This year’s focused efforts include continuing the awareness, incentives and rewards for regular attendance, but it is even more focused on the importance of being at school every day and all day.
Attendance for the first month of this school year was well above the 80% goal, signaling strong momentum and setting up the district for a successful year.
Incentives have also helped to encourage students, and District partners have helped reward the students who show up on time and attend school regularly.
“It really is about showing up and being there every day,”
Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo
Research shows there’s a direct link between regular attendance in school and academic success, which is why attendance is critical.
said. “School is fun and engaging for students. School sets that stage for them, and we need them to be there every day so that they can have those experiences.”
Students who attend school every day are more likely to follow a path to earn their Diploma +1, which adds a second degree or industry-recognized credential to their high school diploma.
Families that are struggling with attendance issues can reach out to their school for more resources and support. Attendance teams at schools meet weekly to discuss solutions to help chronically absent students make school attendance a priority.
“I always tell the freshmen that, you know, you don’t — ‘Oh, you’re too tired to come, well, that’s twice as much work that you need to do tomorrow,’” TJ senior Chloe Wieland told 3 News Now in a story celebrating the growth in attendance, including 70 more students at TJ who hit their goals.
At the end of last year, about 250 more students across the District were meeting the board’s attendance goal. Most of the gains were at the middle and high school level.
Jared Tripp, president of the Board of Education, stressed the work that goes into each school day and the important opportunities for children that they create.
“Everyone really puts their heart and soul into ensuring that our schools not only shine but they make sure that our kids have every opportunity to grow, expand, discover for themselves and have opportunities for the future,” Tripp said.
“It’s important for kids to attend school because it’s where they build community, it’s where they find their confidence, it’s where they can find their passions,” said Bridgette Watson, Executive Director of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, which provides funding for the attendance efforts.
We are proud to share that more students than ever before are taking advantage of our Diploma Plus One pathways to earn not only their high school diploma but also a second credential. It is gratifying to see so many students earning their second credential by participating in pathways that will lead them to a meaningful career in a high-paying job or to post secondary college experiences in their fields of interest.
At Iowa Western Community College, your future is our focus. No matter your passion, we’ll guide you through our 80+ programs with experienced advisors, small classes, and free tutoring.
Experience a vibrant campus life at our Council Bluffs location filled with opportunities to connect and grow. From laser tag and casino nights to therapy dogs and student government, there are countless ways to get involved, make new friends, and create lifelong memories. With everything you need to thrive, your college experience starts here!
To learn more, visit iwcc.edu/worldiswaiting
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Join the tradition of excellence. With 26 athletic teams and 37 national championships, wearing the blue jersey means becoming part of the #AlwaysAReiver legacy.
Start your journey today at one of our five Iowa Western locations in Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Clarinda, Harlan, or Shenandoah.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Jackets, Lynx Find Success in Fall Activities
Featured AL students, from top left: Carter Wymore, Malak McDaniel, Maverick
photo courtesy Joe Shearer, Council Bluffs Nonpareil
courtesy Joe Shearer, Council Bluffs Nonpareil
Classroom Grants in Action
Community Generosity Supports Educators, Students
The Council Bluffs Schools Foundation is proud to support our educators through our Annual Grants Program, which provides valuable funding to enhance student learning and well-being. The program includes Classroom Grants for innovative projects that enrich the classroom experience, Student Enrichment Grants to support field trips, clubs, fine arts, and other co-curricular activities, and Emergency Assistance Grants to help students in urgent need of essentials like clothing, shoes, or glasses.
The Council Bluffs Schools Found
classroom through our Annual Gr
Classroom grants provide fundin
experiences for students and sup
Trista Pitt, Reading Interventionist Franklin, received funds for her p High Frequency Words and Read Practice.”
New this year, we’ve introduced Mini-Grants, offering quick, flexible funding designed to support immediate classroom needs, teacher well-being, and creative ideas that may not fit into traditional grant categories.
The Annual Grants Program, along with the projects that it funds, would not be possible without the generosity of our community of donors. Join us in supporting the children,
“This grant impacts our students b opportunities for fluent reading practice. Handson letter and word practice directly impacts student confidence in reading as well as reading test scores ”
cbsf.org.
Classroom Grant In Action
Mariah Grigsby was recently awarded a Classroom Grant from the Foundation for her Classroom Enrichment project. With her grant, Mariah was able to purchase several books, shelving, and flexible seating to increase student engagement, improve focus by providing a new and engaging learning
atmosphere, as well as cater to the diverse learning needs of students in my classroom.
“I believe that reading is incredibly important for kids and helps develop valuable skills such as vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension,” Grigsby said. “In order to get my students reading, I tried to find chapter book sets that are age-appropriate for my students as well as series that they have expressed interest in.”
Through this project, Grigsby hopes to foster a love of reading and learning for each of her students.
families, and staff of the Council Bluffs Community School District by giving today at
STUDENT STARS
Recognizing Students Who Go Above and Beyond
Thanks to the sponsorship of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, outstanding students receive Student Star Awards, and are recognized by Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo and the Board of Education.
AP SCHOLARS
Samantha Edwards
Madilyn Kuhn-Colburn
Isaac Hamilton
Nawal Mbura
Kaitlyn Redmon
Jolvin Annin
Alexandra Underwood
Preston Wade
AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR
Lexie Nelson
Mason Olson
Hayden Vandervort
Bryan Wall
AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION
Daniel Cannon
Blake Haggerty
Dutch Smith
AP Scholars must score a 3 out of 5 or higher on at least 3 AP exams. To earn Honor, they also must average 3.25 on at least 4 exams. To earn Distinction, they must also average 3.5 on 5 or more exams.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLAR
Daniel Cannon
Awarded for a strong score on the PSAT/NMSQT national exam.
NATIONAL MATH STARS
Gladly Kemp-Schlemmer
Rosalyn Miller
Archer Johnson
Syaris Salyers
Devin Loeffelholz
Kyler McDowell
Atticus Mathews
Olivia Belt 3rd - Basketball
Kyler Blunt 2nd - Bowling
Mason Bonham 1st - Basketball
Rylee Brown 1st - Bowling
Thomas Byers 5th - Bowling
Audrey Colburn 1st - Bowling
DISTRICT SUMMER INTERNS
Grzeskowiak
Dorothy O’Brien
Quinn Gue
The Iowa Department of Education and National Math Stars recognize the Top 2% of math students on the ISASP.
IOWA STATE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Ashton Coleman 4th - Bowling
Gavin Dewitt 2nd - Bowling
September Eisenauer 1st - Basketball
Tristyn
Hernandez 3rd - Basketball
Quintin Hockabout 1st - 50m Dash
Madalyn Honig 2nd - Bowling 2nd - Basketball
Devante Lewis 2nd - Basketball
James Lincoln 1st - Basketball
Emmalie Morris 1st - Basketball
Tyson Penry 1st - 25m Walk
2nd - Bowling 2nd - Basketball
Everly Rageth 2nd - Bowling
Kayden Ryan 4th - Softball
Throw
Jackson Riggle 2nd - Basketball
Alejandra
Torrez 1st - Bowling
Cooper Walker 2nd - Basketball
Elementary Education
William Keller
Lelah Good
Zoey Ives
Facilities & Maintenance
Shayla Nelson
Trystan Wilcox
Information Technology
Jorge Camarena
Nam Do
Alexis Franks
Henry Hendershot
Josh Shamblen
Marlowe
GOING THE EXTRA MILE: Summer Staff Recognized DRIVEN TO TEACH: Edwards Gives Back to Teachers
Edwards Auto Group celebrates the teachers in the Council Bluffs Community School District by handing out keys to a loaner vehicle each month. “We’re excited to kick off the 2025-26 school year awards in partnership with the district,” Edwards co-owner Todd Edwards said. The auto dealership is continuing its Driven to Teach program for the 2025-26 school year.
NELSON AWARD: Teachers Celebrated for Excellence
The Nelson Family Foundation celebrated three Council Bluffs Schools teachers in a ceremony held in late April with the annual Excellence in Teaching Award.
The annual awards program recognizes educators for their work helping young people in and out of the classroom
Jessica Aldrich, Alison Smith and Carrie Pope were this year’s recipients. Each received $5,000 plus $250 in Sonic gift cards to use for incentives for students.
Aldrich has been a fifth grade teacher for 18 years in the Council Bluffs Schools. She teaches at Franklin Elementary, but she started her career at Washington Elementary then went on to teach at Kirn Middle School and Abraham Lincoln High School. She is involved with school committees and initiatives to create an inclusive school culture.
“Winning this award is a true
honor and a reminder that showing up every day matters,” she said, according to a story by the Council Bluffs Nonpareil. “It’s a realization that the hard work and dedication I have put forth
has not gone unnoticed.”
Smith has been a teacher in the district for 26 years and currently teaches first grade at Roosevelt Elementary, where she previously taught third and fourth grade.
She leads the school’s running club and organizes events such as Winter Wonderland and the annual school picnic.
“I love what I do, and I believe in my heart that the only way to a better, successful future begins with an education. That is what I want for my students, no matter their path in life,” she said.
Of Pope’s 29 years teaching in the Council Bluffs School, 28 had been working as an art teacher. But she transitoned to teaching a sixth grade college and career exploration class at Kirn.
She helped launch the careers curriculum and created the first summer art curriculum in 2010.
“I love having a ringside seat as children find a passion, discover something new about themselves and the world, and grow and change into amazing human beings. It makes my heart happy every single day,” she said.
Matt Scheidle — Behavior Consultant, Elementary Camp Summer Explore Lisa Deal — Paraprofessional, Extended School Year
OCTOBER: TINA JONES Preschool Teacher
Anne E. Nelson Early Learning Center
From left, Jessica Aldrich, Alison Smith and Carrie Pope celebrate their Excellence in Teaching Awards on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Updates From Our Social Feeds
Texas Roadhouse stopped by College View Elementary and dropped off their check for the Little Lynx. Texas Roadhouse has been a great supporter of our schools and has hosted our school fundraisers this fall and raised more than $1,000 for each of the schools!
The Alumni & Friends Trophy makes an annual trophy tour and stops by each elementary school within our district before making its final stop at the Wickersham Stadium to be presented to the winner of the Battle for the Bluffs football game between AL and TJ. The Lynx won this year 14-8.
Find more information at www.cb-schools.org
District resident students have a new option through a unique school district partnership with Edmentum and its EdOptions Academy.
Taught by Iowa certified teachers, students can still participate in extracurricular and cocurricular activities like athletics and the arts.
The auditorium at Thomas Jefferson High School is under renovation to improve the stage and audience experience. New theatrical lighting, sound, rigging and curtains will be accompanied by new carpet, painting, seating, window coverings and light fixtures. Accessibility upgrades are also being made along with a refresh to the auditorium’s stairs and entrance for a “wow” factor.
Meet the sponsors supporting the scoreboard at the Wick Anchor Partners
Any businesses interested in partnering with the Council Bluffs Schools for advertising can email communications@cb-schools.org to request information on opportunities.
Council Bluffs Community School District challenges learners at every level to achieve more by providing more choices, more opportunities and more ways to succeed.
