From the Desk of the Superintendent of Schools 

WELCOME to the SCSD! 

First, it is an honor to be a member of this great staff and this premier school district. We continue to provide outstanding programming and instruction to all students. Our staff values are simple. All staff: 1) “Champions for all Students” 2) “Expect Excellence (not perfection) from Each Other” 3) “Carry the Banner for the School” 4) We will be “Merchants of Hope.” As superintendent, I must embrace, model, and hold myself and others to these culture standards.

As I enter my 37th year in education, I continue to be energized about the work and challenges that are part of our calling in education. The children deserve our best efforts in all areas. As I have shared many times, the graduating class of 2034-35 is in our school now! We look forward to partnering with our parents to make each year special!

The SCSD has a long-standing tradition of focusing on effective teaching and deep learning. The quality of our teaching and support staff is what makes it possible! Their work enhances the programming offered to our students. Their caring, professional efforts is why District assessment scores are consistently above State of Iowa benchmarks.

The District’s Board of Education endorses a continuous improvement approach to all school matters. They recognize the quality of our staff and programming, but they are not satisfied with status quo. Feedback received and observed during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years has led us to a key initiative designed to ensure that the district remains its rightful place as one of the best school districts in Iowa.

Here are a few of our more recent improvement efforts:

✓ Enhance School Security - The Board invested over $300,000 in a state-of-the-art camera system last year. We have great partnerships with the Sheriff Department and other crisis support agencies.

✓ Infrastructure Improvements - The Board has approved the selling (no tax increase) $7 million in bonds to fund a $6.25 million of infrastructure improvements for Sigourney elementary school. The work will begin in the summer of 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in the summer/ fall of 2025.

✓ Portrait of a Learner – During the 2022-2023 school year, more than 125 members of the community, including students, parents, staff members, board members, business leaders, and public officials contributed the development of the District’s Portrait of a Learner competencies. A Portrait of a Learner is an agreed-upon set of school or district- level aspirations for what every learner will know and be able to do when they leave school. That exit may happen at the end of elementary school, middle school, high school graduation or at any other checkpoint along the way. The Sigourney Community School identifies the skills students need to be prepared for an ever-changing world that is driven by technology, human interaction, and innovation. This portrait gives school leaders and teachers the framework to design instruction in a way that promotes real-world competencies and job readiness. This work helped us identify a set of district-level aspirations and soft skills that we want our students to be great at: Teamwork, Responsibility, Adaptability, Communication, and Critical Thinking!

✓ Elevate Teaching and Learning -
o Enhancing School-to-Work (Work-based Learning) opportunities with the addition of a shared Curriculum & Work-Based Learning Coordinator!
o Focus on research-based, effective teaching and learning strategies.
o Enhance 21st Century curriculum and programming for all students
o Attract and retain a quality teaching and support staff
o Continuing our study of extensive improvements to Sigourney Jr. Sr. High School.

Finally, the District has enhanced its partnerships with the city officials, local and regional businesses, and community-based organizations. It is critical that we unite to make the town of Sigourney and our surrounding towns the best places to live, work and raise a family. So, there is no doubt that the next few years will be a pivotal moment for the SCSD and the community overall. We will do the hard work needed to keep our great schools great!

Mr. Hatfield, Superintendent of Schools

kevin.hatfield@sigourneyschools.com