Literacy Standards Revision & Review Teams

The Iowa Department of Education Literacy Standards Revision Team (first team) is charged with revising the current literacy standards and making proposed draft recommendations to the Department. This team serves in an advisory capacity to the Department.

State standards across all subject areas are reviewed regularly to ensure the content is current and aligns with best practices. 

Iowa’s academic standards provide a set of common expectations for school districts across the state while allowing for decisions regarding curriculum and how it is delivered to be made locally. The standards establish what students must learn to be prepared for success after high school. 

Following this work the Department will seek public input on the proposed changes. A Standards Review Team (second team) will then be assembled to examine stakeholder feedback and recommend proposed changes to be included in a final draft for consideration. The final standards proposal will go before the State Board of Education for consideration. If adopted, the revised literacy standards will be required for school districts. For additional information see the About Student Standards webpage.

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Revision Team Meeting Dates & Agendas

Feb. 27, 2024

March 7, 2024

March 12, 2024

March 19, 2024

March 21, 2024

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Revision Team Membership

Co-Facilitators

  • Leigh Bellville, Iowa Department of Education, Literacy Consultant
  • April Gosselink-Lemke, Iowa Department of Education, Elementary Literacy Consultant
  • Wanda Steuri, Iowa Department of Education, Dyslexia and Science of Reading Consultant

Members

The Literacy Standards Revision Team (first team) includes representation from various stakeholder groups across the state, including but not limited to higher education, content specialists, administrators, teacher leaders, classroom teachers, parents, industry and community members.

  • Britney Baker, Mount Ayr Community School District
  • Courtney Bentley, Keystone AEA
  • Kelsey Bowers, Central Rivers AEA
  • Kandi Brittain, Urbandale Community School District
  • Kelsi Christensen, Woodward Granger Community School District
  • Gretchen Conway, St. Teresa of Calcutta (Archdiocese of Dubuque)
  • Molly Dabroski, Grant Wood AEA
  • Jessica Dirks, Linn Mar Community School District
  • Kimberly Easton, North Polk Community
  • Stephanie Edgren, Iowa Reading Research Center
  • Valery Fuhrman, Northwest AEA
  • Kirstin George, Dubuque Community School District
  • Trina Hill, Tipton Community
  • Stefanie Latimer, Mississippi Bend AEA
  • Nina Lorimor-Easley, Iowa Reading Research Center
  • Lexa Mahr, Washington Community School District
  • Rhonda Nelson, Bettendorf Community School District
  • Melissa Nelson Chiprez, Burlington Community School District
  • Ginger Peterson, Iowa PBS
  • Tara Pfantz, West Marshall Community School District
  • Megan Powers, Sioux City Community School District
  • Noel Price, North Scott Community School District
  • Jess Quandahl, Grant Wood AEA
  • Carl Rankin, Bedford Community School District
  • Wendy Robinson, Heartland AEA
  • Katie Sharp, Denison Job Corps
  • Sarah Shelquist, Heartland AEA
  • Sumayya Staab, Iowa City Community School District
  • Laura Stansberry, Storm Lake Community School District
  • Sheritta Stokes, 1619 Freedom School (Waterloo Community)
  • Jennifer Thoma, Drake University
  • Vicki Trueg, Bosco Catholic School System
  • Jill Tussey, Buena Vista University
  • Jennifer Urlaub, Council Bluffs Community School District
  • Kara Veach, Great Prairie AEA
  • Cynthia Woodhouse, Cedar Rapids Community
  • Tessa Yackle, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District
  • Sarah Yoder, Iowa City Community School District
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Review Team Meeting Dates & Agendas

 April 19 2024

April 24, 2024

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Review Team Membership

Co-Facilitators

  • Leigh Bellville, Iowa Department of Education, Literacy Consultant
  • April Gosselink-Lemke, Iowa Department of Education, Elementary Literacy Consultant
  • Wanda Steuri, Iowa Department of Education, Dyslexia and Science of Reading Consultant

Members

The Literacy Standards Review Team (second team) includes representation from various stakeholder groups across the state, including but not limited to higher education, content specialists, administrators, teacher leaders, classroom teachers, families, industry and community members.

  • Patty Alexander, Indianola Community
  • Cassie Ascheman, Bergman Academy
  • Tina Brennan, Sioux City Community School District
  • Claire Cole, Knoxville Community School District
  • Rachel Dierickx, Bettendorf Community School District
  • Kara Dietrich, Ballard Community School District
  • Betsy Gale, Woodbine Community School District
  • Kate Garner, First Citizens Bank
  • Melanie Gast, Osage Community School District
  • Lindsay Harrison, Grand View University
  • Jill Johnson, Drake University
  • Melissa Kissell, Great Prairie AEA
  • Gwen Marra, Dordt University
  • Jill Miller, Urbandale Community School District
  • Christine Peterson, Mason City Community School District
  • Ami Proctor, Grant Wood AEA
  • Christina Rice, Storm Lake Community School District
  • Cheryl Runsestad, Boone Community
  • Angela Sanford, Lamar Advertising
  • Rhonda Schmidt, West Des Moines Community School District
  • Angela Shannon, Southeast Polk Community School District
  • Cori Stanley, Indianola Community School District
  • Janelle Thompson, Heartland AEA
  • Sarah Weber, Dubuque Community School District
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