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The Iowa State Board of Education (State Board) works with the Iowa Department of Education (Department) to provide oversight, supervision and support for the state education system that includes all public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies (AEAs), community colleges, and teacher preparation programs.
Back to topVision & Mission
Vision
Building an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.
Mission
Ensuring all students experience a world-class education.
Back to topDuties, Goals & Outcomes and Equity Statement
Back to topMeeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
2025
Jan. 9, 2025
Feb. 6, 2025
March 20, 2025
April 17, 2025
May 8, 2025
June 19, 2025
July 16, 2025
Aug. 7, 2025
Sept. 11-12, 2025
Oct. 16, 2025
Nov. 19, 2025
Dec. 4, 2025
2024
Jan. 11, 2024
Feb. 8, 2024
March 21, 2024
April 26, 2024
May 9, 2024
June 20, 2024
Aug. 1, 2024
Sept. 12, 2024
Nov. 13, 2024
Dec. 5, 2024
Back to topBoard Members
Brooke Axiotis, Vice President
Brooke Axiotis of Des Moines joined the State Board in 2014. She is an attorney at Iowa Workforce Development. She is a member of the Iowa Bar. Her community activities involve the Iowa PBS Board of Directors, the immediate past Chair of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Board of Directors, and Links, Inc. She earned her law degree from Drake University.
brooke.axiotis@iowa.gov
Cindy Dietz
Cindy Dietz of Cedar Rapids is the director of state government relations at RTX where she advocates for policies on business operations, workforce and the aerospace industry. Previously, Cindy led many communications functions at Collins Aerospace, an RTX business. She has been a part of Iowa’s STEM initiative, serving on the STEM Advisory Council and as its Interim Executive Director in 2018. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Iowa State University and is on the board of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and several local nonprofit organizations.
cindy.dietz@iowa.gov
Cassandra Halls
Cassandra Halls of Carlisle is the President of 2 THE TOP, a business consulting organization that focuses on strategy development, training facilitation, research and analysis for corporations, nonprofits, colleges, universities and governmental agencies. Cassandra holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from William Penn University along with an associate degree from North Iowa Area Community College. She serves on the Greater Carlisle Community Foundation and the Carlisle Friends of the Park and is a member of the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce.
cassandra.halls@iowa.gov
Brian J. Kane
Brian J. Kane of Dubuque was appointed to the State Board in 2020. He is the President, Shareholder and Founder of Kane, Norby & Reddick, P.C. Brian has practiced law for 37 years and is a graduate of Loras College and the University of Iowa College of Law. He is also a CPA. Brian’s legal work is primarily in corporate and business, taxation, real estate and estate and trust planning. Brian has served on many local Catholic school boards of education and has participated as a board member, chair and president of many local charities.
brian.kane@iowa.gov
Mary Meisterling
Mary Meisterling of Cedar Rapids was appointed to the State Board in March, 2023. She retired from Alliant Energy in early 2022 as a manager supporting business/industry attraction and expansion in the State of Iowa. Mary is a graduate of Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, with a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and business administration. She served on the Cedar Rapids Community School District Board of Directors from 2002 to 2019, Grant Wood Area Education Agency Board from 2005 to 2018 and STEM Advisory Council from 2014 to 2022.
mary.meisterling@iowa.gov
John Robbins, President
John Robbins of Iowa Falls joined the State Board in 2020. He retired in 2019 as superintendent of schools in Iowa Falls and Alden after a tenure of 20 years. He was previously a high school principal in Iowa Falls, a secondary principal at CAL (Latimer), and teacher/athletic coach at CAL. Robbins has been actively engaged in school improvement for decades including leading efforts to embed improvement initiatives in his own school districts. Robbins holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
john.robbins@iowa.gov
Beth Townsend
Director Townsend is the Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), a state agency that helps Iowans find jobs and employers find a skilled workforce. As a result of realignment in 2023, IWD now administers all WIOA programs including Vocational Rehabilitation, various state workforce programs, the unemployment insurance program and disability determination services for the state of Iowa.
Director Townsend has been in her current position since 2015, was reappointed in 2019 and 2023, and confirmed by the Iowa Senate each time. Director Townsend practiced law in Iowa until she was appointed as the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission in 2011. Director Townsend previously served in the United States Air Force as a member of Judge Advocate General and retired in 2010 as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force Reserve after 21 years of active and reserve duty.
Michael McClelland, Student Member
Michael McClelland is a Junior at Interstate-35 High School where he is involved in cross country, track, band, student council, and National Honor Society. He serves as the drum major of the marching band, secretary of student council, and the student representative on Interstate-35’s School Improvement Advisory Committee. Outside of school, he attends Calvary Baptist Church and youth group. He works at the Little Roadrunner Childcare Daycare and the South-Central Iowa Trampoline and Tumbling Team. He volunteers with Wildwood Hills Ranch of Iowa.
michael.mcclelland@iowa.gov
Student Membership
Each year the Governor appoints a student to serve as a nonvoting member of the Iowa State Board of Education. At the time of application, the student must be a full-time, regularly enrolled tenth or eleventh grade student in an Iowa school district.
Application
Applications are closed for the 2024-25 school year.
Look for the application for the 2025-26 school year.
The term of the student member starts in May and ends the following April. The State Board meets at least seven times during that term, with most meetings taking place in the Grimes State Office Building in Des Moines.
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