John Laverty – Candidate for Director At-Large - Cedar Rapids Community School District

EDUCATION

• The University of Iowa  - Graduate College, M.A., Higher Education Administration, Student Services Administration Emphasis:  1991
• The University of Iowa - College of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of General Studies:  1988
• Fort Dodge Senior High School:  1983

 FAMILY

• Married close to 17 years to Anne (Stanley) Laverty who attended K-12 public schools in Cedar Rapids
• Two children; one at Erskine Elementary School and another at McKinley Middle School
• Have lived in Cedar Rapids for 15 years
• 42 years old

 WORK

• Associate Director of Admissions – Office of Admissions, The University of Iowa. Have worked in this same office since 1991. Prior to that, worked at Office of Admissions, Cornell College

 ACTIVITIES & AWARDS

• Parent Volunteer and PTA Member – Erskine Elementary School and McKinley Middle School
• Member – St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, including Scholarship Grant Committee
• Leader – Linn County Iowa Club, UI Alumni Association
• Member – Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation – Scholarship Committee since 2005
• Member & Conference Presenter – National Association for College Admission Counseling
• Member & Conference Presenter – Iowa Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC)
• Chair – IACAC Professional Education Committee, 2000 – 2004; developed School Counselor Workshop in collaboration with the Iowa School Counselor Association; lobbied Iowa Legislature for several years to reinstate the requirement for school counselors and media specialist in our schools.
• IACAC - Admission Professional of the Year Award, 2003

·         M.A. research published in the September 1999 issue of Career Development Quarterly (Sagen, Dallam, & Laverty); published in the October 2000 issue of Research in Higher Education.

 POSITIONS & GOALS

• Serving nearly 18,000 students with a budget of nearly $200 million, the Cedar Rapids Community School District needs to reassure the citizens that money will be spent judiciously and for the greatest benefit to students and the community;
• Finances should be available for public accountability in as transparent a format as possible, including new income from the 1% “school improvement” tax;
• Prepare our younger students in elementary and middle school  with the encouragement and skills necessary to succeed in high school and strive towards further education, whether it be for job training, a college degree or just for personal development;
• Find creative solutions to ensure that funding, both public and private, is available to support the performing and fine arts within our schools starting in the elementary levels to complement the emphasis on mastery in core subject areas such as math, science, and communication;
• Ensure basic needs are met, such as safe learning environments and proper heating and cooling, so our students, teachers, and staff can perform effectively;
• Increase dialogue with parents, teachers and the community to find new partnerships to support student success; and
• Carefully review redistricting options so students optimally can attend the school nearest their home while minimizing extra busing and overcrowding of classrooms.