Governor appoints council to look at education system

Governor Tom Vilsack has appointed a 38-member “Iowa Learns Council” to help make the state’s preschool through college system “seamless.” Vilsack says Iowa has a reputation as one of the best states in the country in which to raise and educate children, but he says the goal should be to make Iowa “the best.” The Council will meet over the next 12 months, focusing on improvements for early childhood education; better connecting teachers in elementary, junior high and high school and working to ensure high school grads easily move into college and the work world. Vilsack says he wants to make sure students don’t have any problems at the next stage of education, or if they go into the workforce, that they are appropriately prepared for the challenges of the future. Vilsack says Americans need to be the most creative, the most innovative and the most entrepreneurial to survive the world competition, and to do that, he says Iowa needs the best education system possible. Here’s a list of the “Iowa Learns Council” members: Dr. Jose Amaya, Ames; Frederick Buie, West Des Moines;Dr. Patricia Cain, North Liberty; John Calhoun, Sioux City; Christopher Carman, Cedar Rapids; David Christensen, Mt. Pleasant; Terri Christopherson, Toddville; Dr. Nicholas Colangelo, Iowa City; Dr. Gwen Countryman, Iowa City/Dubuque; William Decker, Iowa City; Anne Jacqueline Dout, Pella; Dr. Mark C. Draper, Council Bluffs; Dr. Catherine Dunn, BVM, Dubuque; Kathryn Erickson, Bettendorf; Chris Evan-Schwartz, Cedar Rapids; Judi K Eyles, Urbandale; Dr. Ron Fielder, Swisher; Dr. Sally Frudden, Charles City; Nancy Gardner, Iowa City; Michael Haluska, Jefferson; Laurie Hempen, New London; Dr. Robert Koob, Cedar Falls; Janice Kuhl,Ankeny; Connie Maxson, Creston; Dr. Fred Moore,Storm Lake; Dr. Michael Morrison, Mason City; Dr. Norm Nielsen, Cedar Rapids; Phil Patton,Cedar Falls; Jane Peck, Ft. Madison; Max Phillips, Woodward; Kathie Readout, Marshalltown; Barry Schaffter,Cedar Falls; Mary Stewart,Ottumwa; Father Thomas Toale, Cascade; Marisa Van Dorn,Waterloo; Dinh VanLo, Des Moines; Karen Vickers, Clinton; Darlene Von Weihe, Carson.