POINTS of PRIDE: Garner-Hayfield/Ventura

It seems like a long time since I have blogged about districts around Iowa.  I have several that still need to be described.  I must admit since my trip to Haiti in July I have been under the weather.  I guess international travel does not always agree with an American body.  It's time to provide more points of pride and today I begin with Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.

Superintendent Tyler Williams talks proudly of the culture and climate found at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura.  Their reorganization is a testament to communities coming together in the best interest of their students.  In September 2014, the reorganization vote passed with 96% approval.  This school district has successfully partnered with their parents.  Early Childhood through grade 4 is educated in Garner, grades 5-8 in Ventura, and 9-12 in Garner.  There are 1100 students in the district and a Free/Reduced lunch rate of 31%.

Fine arts is just one of the things valued in this district.  Some of the activities provided to their junior high and high school students include:  a junior high play two times a year, marching band, jazz band, assorted fine arts, trap shooting, and the Broken Arrow Club (an archery club).   Concurrent enrollment classes with NIACC are organized into hubs:  Health and Entrepreneur.  College engineering, biology and ag classes are offered as well as night welding classes.  Job opportunities are immense in this area with two manufacturing companies in town who employ more people than the school district.  Their district boasts a successful house building project taught by a business man who went back and got certification as a teacher.  They have completed their 18th house.  The city reserves lots, a company is hired to pour the basement, and the students build the house.  This district takes great pride in its industrial tech program. In the area of technology, GHV has 1-to-1 Mac Book Pros in both the junior high and high school.  At the elementary they are 1-to-1 with iPads.


Many people come together in this district to do what is best for their students.  A special education coordinator evaluates all of the special needs teachers and attends all IEPs in the district.  The curriculum director organizes all of the professional development and makes sure that new programs are implemented with fidelity.  

This district firmly believes that all students deserve to be taught by a teacher who is  Kind, Caring, and Compassionate.  It also believes in the importance of building partnerships.  Why?  Because it is good for students.  Being student-centered makes this district a great place to learn.