District Webpage Translation Tool
Having a website that is accessible to all our students, staff, and families is very important to us, and because of our diverse population, a translation tool has always been a feature on our website.
The Translation Tool for the website will now be in the top right corner of the webpage (see image). You will click this button and then select your desired language from a drop-down menu.
Closed Captioning and Live Transcription in Zoom
Because Zoom has become so essential, we'd like to highlight accessibility features that can help you be more inclusive in your meetings and webinars. Zoom now provides closed captioning and live transcription for those with a pro, business, Education, Enterprise accounts. (ICCSD staff using their work accounts will have access to this feature). This tool is helpful for everyone, not just for those who are hearing impaired.
Click here to see full instructions about how to set up this feature for your meetings. You can also watch the video below for more information.
COVID-19 Updates
We know that many are understandably concerned about COVID-19. Please click here to see our district COVID-19 Information. This is a developing situation, so check back frequently for any changes or updates.
To view federal and state guidelines for COVID-19, please click here to see the most up-to-date Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance and click here to see the most up-to-date CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
How to Report Bullying, Harassment, & Other Forms of Victimization (Students)
We want all of our students to feel safe and supported. Harassment, bullying, hazing, and other forms of victimization are prohibited in the Iowa City Community School District. If you or someone you know has been victimized, you are encouraged to report the incident(s) in one of two ways:
- Report bullying, sexual harassment/assault, or a school safety concern anonymously by text:
- TEXT: @SAYIT
- TO: 833-769-0372
- Contact your school administration to file a complaint.
Please report as soon as possible.
Visit https://www.iowacityschools.org/SaySomething for more information.
This month our Community Cares volunteers from the University of Iowa Athletics visited Alexander Elementary and Horn Elementary. Our students were greeted as they entered into school, had athletes visit their classrooms to take photos and to answer questions, and certain grade levels were able to participate in a panel discussion.
As always, we are blown away by these Athletes dedication and support they show our students!
There are some exciting things happening at Shimek Elementary this February, particularly in Jamie Davis' Kindergarten class!
In January Jamie's class celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by reading aloud and learning about his life. The class compared how life was "then" and "now" and discussed the heroic actions of Dr. King and how we can see those actions in ourselves and "everyday" people.
During Black History Month Shimek teachers plan to focus on biographies of Black Americans who changed history!
Hills Elementary has created TONs of activities for Black History Month this year. They not only came up with individual activities for teachers but also wanted to do something school-wide. Teachers came up with activities for their individual classes, such as talking about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speeches, and learning about Amanda Gorman's poems, and to take this school-wide teachers were provided with choices of lessons, and students/classes will make a video of their choice to put on Flipgrid!
Hills is also working to get a "Trailblazers" day on the 24 of Feb where we bring in Black Trailblazers to talk to the kids!
We're very excited that all this great work is happening at our elementary schools!
Daisy Gatson Bates
Bates selected the 9 black students who would later be known as the 'Little Rock 9', and she also drove them to and from school and protected the children from the crowds. She continued her work for the Civil Rights movement throughout her life, and there is now a holiday to celebrate her legacy in Arkansas!
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) was an American dancer, director, choreographer and activist. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) which supported Black artists and worked to show the world the African American experience through dance.
As a Black gay man, Ailey overcame racism, homophobia, and discrimination, and continued to make extraordinary contributions to American culture. He even posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his achievements.
Dr. Charles Hamilton Houston
Through his work he earned the title of "The Man Who Killed Jim Crow". He not only fought tirelessly to have a hand in almost every civil rights case put before the Supreme Court from 1930 to the 1950's, he also mentored some of the greatest activists in history such as Thurgood Marshall who would go on to become the first Black Supreme Court Justice!
To learn more about Dr. Charles Hamilton Houston, click here.
Some of you may not be aware, but back on June 24, 2021 after a unanimous vote by the Johnson County board of Supervisors changed the namesake of the county to recognize Lulu Merle Johnson, Ph.D. The county was previously named after an enslaver who was formerly a Vice President and was born in Kentucky.
Lulu Merle Johnson was an amazing woman who made history right here at the University of Iowa when she became the first Black woman to hold a Ph.D from the institution, and the 10th Black woman to earn her Ph.D at a U.S University. When she was attending university there were only 14 Black women enrolled.
She received her bachelors and her master's degree by 1930, and in 1941 she successfully defended her dissertation, earning her PhD. While she faced discrimination and injustice during her time at the University of Iowa, she persevered and taught history at historically black colleges, and continued to educate the next generation!
Resources:
February 1st, 2023 is World Hijab Day! This is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan back in 2013 to encourage women from all backgrounds identities to try wearing a hijab for a day, and/or to educate and spread awareness on why hijabs are worn, and to dispel disinformation about those who choose to wear them. Later, in 2017, New York State officially recognized World Hijab Day, and since its creation, over 140 countries worldwide now participate.
We acknowledge that while wearing a head covering in our community may be voluntary, in other areas of the world, that isn't necessarily the case. We feel that it is still important to celebrate this day, and support those that choose to wear a hijab while holding space in our hearts for others experiencing inequity and discrimination.
In the Iowa City Community School District, many of our students, staff, families, and community members choose to wear hijabs or other types of head coverings. We want to celebrate the diversity of our community, and the rich experiences that we all bring to the table.
Happy Holidays!
- Imbolc - Wednesday, February 1st
- Candlemas - Thursday, February 2nd
- Setsubun - Friday, February 3rd
- Thaipusam - Sunday, February 5th
- Tu Bishvat - Sunday, February 5th
- Mulk - Tuesday, February 7th
- St. Valentine's Day - Tuesday, February 14th
- Nirvana Day - Wednesday, February 15th
- Maha Shivaratri - Saturday, February 18th
- Lailat al Miraj - Saturday, February 18th
- Ash Wednesday - Wednesday, February 22nd
- Lent Begins - Wednesday, February 22nd
- Ayyám-i-Há (Begins) - Sunday, February 26th
Laura Gray, Executive Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness
Email: gray.laura@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations
Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Luke Dillon, Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction
Email: dillon.luke@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Charita Martin, Equity Coordinator
Email: martin.charita@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Brad Kelly, Restorative Justice Coordinator
Email: kelly.brad@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Fred Newell, Inclusion and Outreach Coordinator
Email: newell.frederick@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Priscilla Culp, Diversity and Equity Coach
Email: Culp.Priscilla@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 Dodge St Ct, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Andrea Jayne, Equity Specialist
Email: jayne.andrea@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status 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 Eric Howard, Director of Equity & Employee Relations