Iowa City School District Announces Several New Building Administrator Hires

Iowa City School Media Release

In preparation for the 2013-2014 school year, the Iowa City Community School District has recently filled several administrative positions in the district.   Superintendent Murley states, "we are very pleased to have selected new administrators who will carry on the excellent tradition of quality leadership in our buildings."

Colby Miller – West High Asst Principal

Colby Miller comes to the Iowa City Community School District after most recently serving as an administrator in Cedar Rapids. In 2001, Colby received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from the University of Iowa, and in 2009, he received his MA degree in PK-12 Administration from the University of Northern Iowa.  Colby taught language arts for ten years at Roosevelt Middle School in the Cedar Rapids Community School District prior to becoming an administrator. He has six years of administrative experience as the Activities Coordinator and Learning Facilitator.

Matt Degner – SEJH Principal

Prior to joining the ICCSD Administrative Team, Matt Degner served as the associate high school principal at Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, Iowa.  He has held this position for two years.  While in Bettendorf Matt has led their movement to become one of Iowa’s largest 1:1 school districts.  He is passionate about engaging students in their learning and developing meaningful relationships to connect students to their school.

Prior to his time in Bettendorf, Matt was in the Williamsburg Community School District for eight years.  Four of those years, he was the junior high principal and assistant high school principal.  Matt was a strong advocate for migrant students and developed their English Language Learner program.   As a teacher he taught junior high and high school social studies, coached basketball, and was the student council advisor in Williamsburg.  He is currently a PhD student at the University of Iowa in Educational Leadership.  Matt received his Master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2006 and a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in 2002.

Carrie Martinez - Lemme Elementary Principal

Carrie Martinez has been an educator in the Iowa City Community School District for over 10 years.  She has served in a variety of positions and most recently served as Interim Principal at Helen Lemme Elementary School for the 2012-2013 school year. Prior to that Carrie Martinez was Assistant Principal at Irving Weber Elementary School, a Special Services Coordinator for District and Behavior Strategist for the district.   She also spent seven years as a Special Education teacher at Kirkwood Elementary School and Coralville Central Elementary School.

Carrie received her elementary teaching certification from Mount Mercy College and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Morningside College.   She continued her graduate work at Drake University by receiving a second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and PK – 12 Administration.

Dennis Harnack – Hoover Elementary Principal

Dennis Harnack is a native Iowan from Manly, IA. Dennis attended The University of Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education.  He then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Illinois University, and completed the coursework for a Doctorate in Education from National Louis University.  Dennis has taught art, as well as been a successful principal in Suburban Chicago for many years, and most recently a principal in Mesa, AZ.

Emily Dvorak – City Assistant Principal

Emily Dvorak has worked for the ICCSD for the past 11 years.  After graduating from the University of Iowa, Emily began her education career as a Behavior Interventionist under Carmen Dixon and worked in over 10 ICCSD elementary.  Following this, Emily worked at Horace Mann Elementary as a 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) Director overseeing an academic after school program that served over 60 students every year.

In 2006, Emily returned to school and earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and accepted the Welcome Center Position at City High.  She served in this position for four years, and most recenetly served as the interm City High School Assistant Principal.  In addition, Emily recently graduated with her Specialist degree in Educational Leadership.

Karrie Merriweather – Lucas Elementary

Karrie Merriweather is originally from Racine, Wisconsin.  She received her BS in Elementary Education from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Karrie joined the Cedar Rapids Community School District in 1995 as an elementary classroom teacher.  In 1999, she earned her MA in Educational Leadership from Drake University in Des Moines and in 2005, her National Board Certification in Reading and Language Arts.  In addition to being a classroom teacher, Karrie was an instructional coach as well as a special education building facilitator with the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
In 2007, she earned her Advanced Studies Certificate in Educational Leadership from UNI in Cedar Falls.  Karrie joined the Iowa City Community School District in 2010 as the Assistant Principal at Wood Elementary.  She has served as the Interim Principal at Lucas Elementary for the 2012-2013 school year.

Terry Coleman – City High AD

Terry Coleman most recently served as City High’s assistant principal; he served in the role since 2008. Prior to that, Coleman’s administrative experience includes serving as Associate Principal at North Scott High School, and as Science Curriculum Coordinator for the Iowa City Community School District. In the athletic realm, Coleman served as head coach of City High School’s girls’ track and field program. During his 10 years as head coach, Coleman’s teams won four state championships and finished runner up an additional four times. His teams won seven Mississippi Valley Conference championships. Coleman was named state or regional Coach of the Year in nine out of his ten years as head coach.  Prior to his role as a school administrator, Coleman was a successful science teacher at City High from 1993-2007. In 2005, Coleman was named the Iowa City Education Association’s Teacher of the Year.

Joe Divoky – Grant Wood Assistant Principal

Joe Divoky obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology, and earned a minor in Politics and Law from the University of Northern Iowa. In addition, Joe completed a second Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Education, as well as his masters in School Principalship from Northern Iowa. Joe started his teaching career in Marshalltown, Iowa where he taught high school social studies and coached football and basketball.

Wanting to be closer to my home and family in the Iowa City area,  Joe left Marshalltown after two years and began teaching 6th grade social studies at Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During his final year in Cedar Rapids, he was a Learning Facilitator at Roosevelt and Wilson Middle Schools where he worked in many different ways with the students, staff, and families of both schools. For the last year, Joe has served as the Interim Assistant Principal at Grant Wood Elementary in Iowa City.