POINTS OF PRIDE: Williamsburg Community School District

Superintendent Carol Moritz and her Administrative Team

Across Iowa partnerships are what adds to the success of many school districts.  Williamsburg is no exception.  This school district has a strong partnership with Kirkwood Community College where there is an opportunity for students to earn more than 1200 credits.  Personalized Learning Links and AP courses are also offered.  Monsanto and Kinze are local companies that provde strong support to the Williamsburg School District, and parents actively participate in the district through the PALS organization.  Parent support runs high with 99-100% participation in conferences at the elementary level.  Williamsburg CSD is very fortunate to have a generous community donor who provides funding  for many of its projects.  It’s great to be a Raider!

Demographics:

Enrollment - 1146 (K-12)
Free and Reduced Lunch - 32%

ELL population – 65 migrant worker children

POINTS OF PRIDE for this district include:

• Cool Beans – a coffee shop run by the special education classes  
•  Child Development program - operates a preschool
• FCS - focuses on the development of leaders
• FFA – delivers meals to farmers during the harvest season
• Williamsburg Robotics Team made Nationals
• WHS has a global partner in Pakistan
• Sirens and In Harmony offer show choir performances as well as a strong band program brings music to this community

Wrestling Room and Tornado Shelter

There are multiple opportunities for the students of the Williamsburg District through sports, clubs, and special activities.  Initiatives in the school district this year are focusing on effective functioning of Learning Communities as they study Iowa Core implementation, research-based strategies to enhance instruction, and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to better meet the needs of all learners.  Non-neotiables in the classrooms include "I Can..." statements focused on priority standards and development of respect which creates an overwhelming feeling of safety within the schools.  The Career and Tech classes are working on 21st Century Skills especially in the areas of employability and technology competencies.  There are early dismissals each month so staff can focus on essential learnings and create Ed Camps focused on technology.  Differentiated professional development is offered so the learning needs of staff are met.

When you look at technology in the district, there is a 1:1 initiative with MacBook Airs and Smartboards at the elementary.  The district also offers after school programs and summer classes for the children of migrant workers because many leave for Texas in the late fall and return in the spring.

Both parents and the community hold high expectations for the Williamsburg School District, and their support provides a strong foundation that is very generous to its classrooms and its graduates.
Sabrina Bryan is quoted as saying, "You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support."   Williamsburg Community School District is a real-life example of all four!