(ICCSD news release)
ICCSD names Interim Superintendent
The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors has selected Assistant Superintendent Matt Degner to serve as the Interim Superintendent for the District beginning July 1, 2020. Board Directors voted unanimously during their April 21, 2020 Board Meeting to appoint Degner to the role. The Board previously expressed their intent to appoint an Interim Superintendent following the announcement that Superintendent Stephen Murley accepted the Superintendent of Schools role with the Green Bay Area Public School District effective July 1, 2020.
Matt Degner has been with the Iowa City Community School District for the last seven years, serving as an Assistant Superintendent for the last four years. Prior to that, he served as the District’s Director of Schools for one year and the Principal of South East Junior High for two years. Before joining the District, Degner served in both the Williamsburg and Bettendorf school districts as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal.
Degner is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and received his Master’s Degree and Educational Specialist Degree from the University of Iowa. Degner has children at South East Junior High and Lucas Elementary. His wife, Dr. Kate Degner, is a teacher at South East Junior High and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Iowa.
During his time with the Iowa City Community School District, Degner has led the opening of Liberty High School and the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa. He has also led the implementation and creation of the District’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, the transition to a 1:1 Chromebook environment, and has continued to refine the Secondary Multi-Tier System of Supports model. Under Degner’s leadership, secondary schools in the District have seen a decrease in behavior referrals and suspensions and an increase in the number of students in Advanced Placement courses.
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to serve all students, families, and staff in the Iowa City Community School District,” said Degner. “I am passionate about ensuring success for all students and bringing innovative practices to education. We will continue to build on the District’s goals toward academic excellence, with a core focus on equity, to drive us to be better for all families that we serve. I am committed to creating and leading a culture of empathy, inclusion, and success for all students and staff. While there are many pieces and components to that, I am confident and excited that the Iowa City Community School District is a place where we can see all of that come together.”
The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors plans to conduct a national superintendent search with the intent to make a selection to fill the permanent role.
“The Board is extremely pleased with the appointment of Matt to the Interim Superintendent role,” said Janet Godwin, Iowa City Community School District Board President. “We have confidence in his ability to lead the district and continue to drive forward on our most important priorities. We also have great trust in his unwavering commitment to serving students, families, teachers, and staff in our district. We are excited to begin working with Matt in this new role.”
