Yesterday afternoon, our district gathered for our Outstanding Volunteer Recognition Award Ceremony to celebrate the backbone of our educational community: our volunteers. We officially recognized 30 outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond, proving that a little time and a lot of heart can transform our schools and the lives of our students.
Cleveland Elementary School Volunteer: Tania Johnson
Tania Johnson is an invaluable asset to the Cleveland Elementary community. Her dedication as a volunteer directly supports both student achievement and classroom environment. Between assisting students and helping with events, she provides essential support that allows teachers to focus on instruction. Her consistent presence in her daughter’s kindergarten classroom goes beyond simple participation; she serves as a reliable mentor and a familiar face, fostering a supportive relationship with students and staff alike
Cedar River Academy at Taylor Elementary School Volunteer: Teri Schloss
Teri Schloss retired as school nurse from Cedar River Academy and Grant last year, but after devoting her career to serving others, she wanted to continue giving back to the community she has always cared so deeply about. After our building faced challenges sustaining our food pantry, which serves nearly half of the student population due to our high level of need within the community, Teri generously came to help. She volunteered her time weekly to organize and distribute the food pantry bags to more than 60 families each week. Her commitment and reliability ensured the program continued and that our students and families had support to meet their needs outside of school. During her time as our school nurse, Teri built good relationships with staff and students. It’s always nice to see her and we appreciate the service to our community. Her selflessness and support make her deserving of this recognition.
Erskine Elementary School Volunteer: Lynn Rogahn
While Lynn Rogahn can officially claim one Erskine Eagle as her grandson, she’s has managed to adopt a classroom full of kids as her own! “Grandma Lynn” as the 4th graders fondly refer to her, volunteers each week in our math class. Grandma Lynn usually pulls a few kids out of class to play a game that reinforces a new math skill or sits 1:1 with a student to complete a challenging assignment. Once she arrived at the end of our science lesson on Rocks and Minerals, she happily offered to help an ELL student finish his research on his birthstone. As a former special education teacher, she thrives on meeting students wherever they are and guiding them to success. I’m never surprised when she sends a follow-up email from her time in our classroom, highlighting exciting breakthroughs students have made, or some silly behaviors that required her extra patience. Her arrival in our room each week is announced by anxious kids hoping to be chosen to go “play” math games with Grandma Lynn. She’s a treasured member of our math class and the Erskine community.
Grant Elementary School Volunteer: Briana Castellanos
Briana is a valuable asset to Grant Elementary. She is the Co-President of our PTA, and has helped increase membership from 5 to 15 members. She has also taught Junior Achievement for the past two years, and has volunteered her time for several special events, including helping a class make gingerbread houses! Briana is always going above and beyond to help out not only her son’s class but the school as a whole. Thank you for everything you do.
Hiawatha Elementary School Volunteer: Lacey Becker
Lacey’s connection to Hiawatha runs deep. She is a former Hiawatha student who went on to become a teacher herself before pursuing other professional opportunities. Even though she left the classroom, Lacey has continued her passion for education and her commitment to supporting students. For the past several years, Lacey has generously volunteered in Amy Brown’s classroom, working closely with students to strengthen their reading skills. Through small group and partner work, she helps students build both accuracy and fluency, providing them with individualized support and encouragement. Lacey brings not only strong educational knowledge but also a genuine love for children, which students immediately feel when she walks into the room. Lacey’s dedication, kindness, and commitment to our students make a lasting impact on our school community. Hiawatha Elementary is incredibly grateful for her continued support and proud to honor her tonight.
Hoover Community School Volunteer: Ray Gongwer
Now in his seventh year volunteering at Hoover, Ray continues to make a profound impact across our entire school community. He is a dedicated mentor who helps students strengthen their reading and math skills with patience, encouragement, and individualized attention, making learning more accessible and turning academic challenges into confidence-building success. Beyond academics, Ray also plays a vital role in supporting our food pantry, ensuring students and families have reliable access to essential resources. What truly sets Ray apart is his constant availability and willingness to step in wherever help is needed. His reliability, versatility, and genuine care for both students and staff make him an invaluable presence in our school.
Johnson STEAM Academy Volunteer: Mary Rasmussen
Mary Rasmussen is a constant and caring presence in our kindergarten classrooms. Day after day, Mary shows up with patience, warmth, and an unwavering commitment to our youngest learners. She works side by side with teachers, offering an extra set of hands and a calm, reassuring voice that makes a world of difference. Whether she is guiding students through early reading skills, helping them sound out tricky words, tying their shoes, wiping tears, or celebrating small victories, Mary brings consistency and compassion to every moment. Our kindergarten students know they can count on her, and that sense of security helps them build confidence as they learn and grow. Teachers deeply appreciate her flexibility, initiative, and the positive energy she brings into the room. Mary doesn’t just volunteer her time—she gives her heart to JSA. Her quiet dedication strengthens our school community and reminds us all of the power of showing up faithfully for children. We are incredibly grateful for the impact she makes each and every day.
Kenwood Leadership Academy Volunteers: Sophie Johansen & Callum Elwood
I am thrilled to honor Sophie Johansen and Callum Elwood as our Outstanding Building Volunteers. They are seniors at Kennedy High School and have volunteered in my afternoon preschool class for the entire year. As seniors, they have many ways that they could use their time, but they have chosen to spend countless hours with three, four, and five-year-olds in our building. These high schoolers sit criss-cross applesauce on the carpet with their preschool best buddies and help them stay focused during carpet time. They help put clothes on baby dolls and hold hands with tiny friends on the way to the playground. They help to mop up spilled milk and listen, and kindly responded to the silliest preschool snack conversations. Most importantly, these two are wonderful role models for our students. How amazing that my students, who are just beginning school, got to learn from two of our soon-to-be graduating seniors. Thank you so much, Sophie and Callum, for giving us your precious time and for making such a big impact on our preschool class!
Nixon Elementary School Volunteer: Chopper Brown
We are thrilled to honor Chopper Brown as Nixon Elementary’s Outstanding Building Volunteer. Affectionately known as “Pastor Chopper,” he has been a pillar of our school community for many years, building meaningful relationships with students through his consistent support and lunchtime conversations. He also leads an amazing holiday assistance program for our Nixon families. He and his volunteer group help clean up the Nixon school grounds before school starts every summer and volunteer at Nixon Family Nights. They also provide meals during parent-teacher conferences for our staff. We greatly appreciate Pastor Chopper and all of his dedication in making Nixon a great place for everyone! Thank you, Pastor Chopper!
Pierce Elementary School Volunteer: Amy Worden
It is truly an honor to recognize our Outstanding Building Volunteer, Amy Worden. Amy has been an exceptional parent, partner, and an incredible presence in our school community. From day one, Amy was all in—volunteering for classroom parties, donating supplies and snacks, volunteering on our PTA, and basically showing up in every way possible. She always asks, “How can I help?” Amy has graciously taught Junior Achievement and makes a point to learn every child’s name in just a few short sessions. On a personal note, Amy is someone you feel lucky to know. Staff share that from the very first conversations, her positivity and genuine care stand out. I wholeheartedly agree. She listens, she connects, and she truly cares about our students, our staff, and our families. Amy is simply the kind of person who makes our school better. Amy, thank you for everything you do. You make us better!
Trailside Elementary School Volunteer: Gennie Martens
Gennie Marten is truly deserving of Trailside’s Outstanding Building Volunteer honor. As our PTO President, Gennie dedicates countless hours to supporting the Trailside community. Much of her work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt by our students, families, and staff every day. Gennie plays a key role in organizing many of Trailside’s favorite PTO events, including Movie Night, Bingo, Penny Wars, and so many more. Thanks to her leadership and organization, these events are not only fun but well-planned and meaningful for everyone involved. She is also constantly thinking about how to support our teachers and staff, helping ensure they have the supplies and resources they need. Gennie is a familiar and trusted presence at Trailside, and her dedication shows in everything she does. Through her leadership, commitment, and care for our school, Gennie helps make Trailside a better place for students, staff, and families alike.
Truman Early Learning Center Volunteer: Marie Johnston
It is an honor to recognize Marie Johnton as the Truman Early Learning Center’s Outstanding Building Volunteer this year. Marie has a wonderful gift for quilt-making. She has shared this talent with us at Truman Early Learning by making students a quilted blanket to use during quiet time. They are beautiful and bring such joy to students as they use these cozy quilts to rest their busy little bodies during the day. Beyond the countless hours she spends sewing the quilts, she also supports our school by donating Hy-Vee receipts and books to help stock our library. She is a true treasure to us at Truman Early Learning, and we are grateful for her kindness.
Van Buren Elementary School Volunteer: Julie McLaughlin
Julie McLaughlin is truly the heart of volunteerism at Van Buren and is incredibly deserving of our Outstanding Building Volunteer recognition. For the past 6 to 7 years, she has faithfully devoted her time each week to supporting students and staff in her daughter’s 2nd-grade classroom, where her impact is both meaningful and lasting. Julie volunteers for an hour or more each week, helping with clerical tasks and working one-on-one with students to practice reading and high-frequency words. Her patience, kindness, and encouragement help build both skills and confidence. She consistently looks for ways to make life easier for teachers and brighter for students. Her thoughtful contributions range from sharpening every pencil at the start of the year to collecting Hy-Vee receipts and helping students earn Book Bonanza books. She also donates backpacks, school supplies, treasure box items, and classroom extras to ensure our classrooms and students have everything they need to thrive. She also makes an impact outside the classroom by donating food and funds to the food pantry, providing clothing for the nurse’s office, supporting Field Day with supplies and time, and regularly asking how she can help meet emerging needs. Julie gives quietly, consistently, and wholeheartedly. The care she shows her daughter’s classroom reflects her deep commitment to our entire school community. Van Buren is better because of her.
Viola Gibson Elementary School Volunteer: Carrie Gray
Carrie Gray’s children attended Viola Gibson years ago, but over the past year, she has found a meaningful way to give back to our school community. She began volunteering last year and has continued this year, dedicating multiple days each week to supporting our school in any way needed. Carrie started by listening to students read one-on-one to help them build fluency. From there, her role quickly grew. She now volunteers at least two times a week, has recruited her daughter to volunteer as well, and supports students far beyond reading. She assists during math instruction, helps students complete their work, and supports all of second grade with many behind-the-scenes tasks that help classrooms run smoothly, such as cutting laminated materials, hanging student work, and organizing materials. She consistently arrives ready to help, takes on any task we give her, and is always asking, “What can I do next to help?” We truly appreciate all of Carrie’s support; her generosity, flexibility, and dedication have made a lasting impact on both our students and staff.
West Willow Elementary School Volunteer: Doug Van Oort
Doug Van Oort, affectionately known by students as “Grandpa Doug,” is a former teacher who has chosen to continue his legacy of service at West Willow Elementary. Doug brings a unique blend of professional expertise and “grandparent energy” to our 1st-grade classrooms, where his warm and welcoming presence ensures every child feels seen and valued. His impact is most evident in the growth of our young readers. Through dedicated one-on-one sessions, Doug uses his endless patience and kind nature to help students master tricky words and build fluency. Because of his consistent, weekly commitment, students don’t just improve their skills—they develop a genuine eagerness to learn. Doug is the true embodiment of school volunteerism. His year-over-year dedication and heart for service make West Willow a better place, and we hope our students have the privilege of working with him for many years to come.
Wright Elementary School Volunteer: Carol Stuckenschneider
We are happy to have Carol Stuckenschneider as our Wright Elementary’s Outstanding Building Volunteer. She has made an incredible impact on our kindergarten classroom as well as the rest of the Wright community through her dedication, kindness, and unwavering support. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she walks through our doors ready to help, bringing with her years of experience and a genuine love for children. Having served as a paraprofessional at Wright Elementary for 11 years, carol has transitioned into retirement but still continues to serve our community. before retiring, she continues to share her support in the most generous way. She works closely with students with reading, writing, and classroom activities, always with patience and encouragement. Her calm presence and nurturing spirit create a positive learning environment where children feel supported and confident. She also provides assistance to the classroom teacher during everyday learning, ensuring each child receives the attention they need. She has said that the best part of her week is volunteering in the classroom. Her commitment to our students and school community truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a volunteer, and we are deeply grateful for the difference she continues to make in the lives of our learners.
Franklin Middle School Volunteer: Marissa Kolander
Marissa has been a tremendous asset to our school, serving as a pillar of support in helping our school succeed. While her leadership within the PTA has been instrumental in launching vital initiatives, her impact extends far beyond campus walls. Marissa serves as a powerful advocate for our school, acting as a dedicated liaison to both the broader community and the Board of Education to ensure our voices are heard and our needs are met. She is 100% supportive of both our faculty and students and is constantly striving to make Franklin a better place, not just for the time being, but for future generations as well. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with her passion, energy, and foresight in our corner. Thank you, Marissa, for all you do for us!
Harding Middle School Volunteer: Sarah Mersch
Sarah Mersch is a dedicated and supportive parent volunteer who generously gives her time on Saturdays to help with show choir performances. She plays a key role in assisting with costumes, helping students with quick changes, and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Sarah also helps organize and maintain the costume room, making sure costumes are sorted, labeled, and ready for performances. Her positive attitude, attention to detail, and willingness to jump in wherever help is needed make a big difference on busy performance days. Both students and staff benefit greatly from her commitment, and her support is an important part of the show choir program’s success.
McKinley STEAM Academy Volunteer: Ashley Baird
McKinley is proud to recognize Ashley Baird for her outstanding dedication and service to our school community. As the Vice President of McKinley United (PTO), our PTO, and a founding board member of the McKinley Athletic Club (MAC), Ashley plays a vital role in supporting both our academic and athletic programs. She manages the MAC and PTO social media, helping tell McKinley’s story in the community and keeping families informed, engaged, and connected. Ashley is a constant presence at school events, always showing up to support students, staff, and families. She generously volunteers her time throughout the year—running concessions, supporting school events, and stepping in wherever help is needed. In collaboration with other dedicated volunteers, she helped bring back the BEAR Walk, McKinley’s largest fundraiser, strengthening school spirit and community involvement. Ashley is a passionate advocate for McKinley, and her leadership, teamwork, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our school. We are incredibly grateful for all she does.
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy Volunteer: Kate Weber
Kate Weber has been a tremendous support and resource to the staff and students of Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy for the past two years. Kate has dedicated her personal time to providing professional learning and coaching to our leadership team, as well as facilitating professional learning for our student leadership team on the 5Es, which are modeled after Van Meter’s 5Ps, where Kate is the Human Resources Manager. Kate was also integral in supporting Roosevelt in acquiring a generous donation that has provided over 100 free haircuts thus far, with more than 100 haircuts planned before the end of the school year. Kate has also joined us at several student celebrations, recognizing students for their leadership and contributions to a positive school climate. Kate is a valuable asset to the Cedar Rapids community and school district. We are honored to have her as a member of our team and as Roosevelt’s Outstanding Building Volunteer.
Taft Middle School Volunteer: Megan Heims
Megan has been an amazing volunteer at Taft this year. She has worked hard to analyze potential improvements that can be made at Taft this year and has found creative ways for the PTA and Taft staff to work together for the betterment of our staff and students! Through collaboration with admin, secretarial staff, and teachers, Megan has successfully updated Taft’s school store, created a fun field day for all students in the spring, and implemented multiple layers of support to help teachers. Megan clearly cares for the teachers, students, and support staff at Taft, and everyone has benefited from her time as a volunteer. Thank you for all you do to make Taft great!
Wilson Middle School Volunteer: Jessie Owens
Jessie is not only a dedicated parent, but also a proud alumni and valued community partner. She consistently goes above and beyond to serve Wilson. Jessie has devoted numerous volunteer hours and has played a key role in gathering donations. From financial contributions to food for staff and students, and essential items for our community pantry, she has helped to ensure that our school community has the resources it needs to thrive. She has been instrumental in getting the Wilson PTO up and running, helping to build a strong foundation for continued family and community involvement. Jessie has been incredibly reliable, passionate about our mission, and has a “get things done” attitude. She takes initiative and challenges us to do more for our school community.
City View High School Volunteer: Kelly Koppel
Kelly supports City View’s learning model by helping develop our dynamic scheduling system. She has developed a practical solution for coordinating students’ varied schedules, including Kirkwood dual enrollment classes, internships, job shadows, and community projects, that would otherwise be difficult to manage manually. Her work enables students to access personalized learning pathways that combine traditional coursework with real-world experiences. Beyond the technical coordination, she builds genuine relationships with our students, helping them identify and work toward their post-graduation goals. Her consistent presence and problem-solving approach have made our flexible learning model more functional and accessible for both students and staff.
Jefferson High School Volunteer: Tara Olsen
As our inaugural Event Coordinator for the Band of Blue, Tara Olsen is doing more than coordinating logistics; she is designing a culture of belonging. She intentionally takes on daunting ‘special projects’–from sewing 30 practice flags to constructing a 30-yard flyover–and turns them into collaborative opportunities. She spends countless hours behind the scenes, not only planning our events and organizing teams to execute them flawlessly, but she also leads our Uniform Team. She spends countless hours ensuring that students get measured and uniforms are tailored to fit, cleaning and washing color guard flags, and leading a team of parents to ensure every student is outfitted to look their best on the field and on the stage. Beyond these specific roles, she is an active problem-solver and helps in designing other program-wide initiatives. Her counsel actively shapes the future of the Jefferson band program and the Jefferson Band Parents Association. What sets Tara apart, though, is her intentionality with our newest parents. She doesn’t just find them something to do; she deliberately invites them into our organization and then ensures they feel seen, valued, and essential. She is fostering a culture of appreciation and a community of parents who support the students in the Jefferson band program.
Kennedy High School Volunteer: Amy Blomquist
Amy has not just led but taken complete ownership of improving our gardens, trees, and entire landscape at Kennedy. Between the summer and fall of 2025, she herself has put in close to 100 hours, and organized probably around 500 man-hours of volunteer labor, to get all of our garden beds cleaned up, covered, mulched, and added dozens of new bushes and plants. And then she went and got a $2500 grant from the DNR and an additional $500 from Raining Rose to plant over 25 new trees on our campus, which took place this last fall! We are eternally grateful for the dedication she and her family have shown to this project and the support of the PTO as well!
Metro High School Volunteer: Josiah McClurg
Josiah is an engineer at Collins Aerospace and has been volunteering with the METRO Robotics team and the METRO STEAM Academy for the past two school years. His experience and curious nature make him a natural fit to support and lead our students in project-based learning. Josiah and his employer generously allot 2 hours per week from Josiah’s schedule for volunteering at METRO. We are so thankful to have Josiah providing mentorship and project support to our students. Coding, automated systems, the FarmBot, Arduino Microcontrollers, and a host of other projects have benefited greatly from Josiah’s guidance and support.
Washington High School Volunteer: Ann Day
Ann Day has been an exceptional asset to Washington High School through her long-standing service with our athletic booster organization, the Washington Athletic Club (WAC). For many years, Ann has generously volunteered her time in the concessions stand, directly supporting fundraising efforts for our athletic programs. She previously served as President of the WAC, where she provided strong leadership and oversight for numerous events, including a golf outing, the homecoming parade and bonfire, and junior-level basketball and volleyball tournaments. WAC provides critical financial support to all 23 sanctioned sports at Washington High School, making Ann’s contributions vital to the success and growth of our athletic programs. Her dedication and leadership have expanded opportunities for our student-athletes and strengthened the overall athletic experience at WHS. The impact of her service is immeasurable, and we are deeply grateful for the countless hours she has devoted to our school community.
Home School Assistance Program Volunteer: Ashley Nohns
Ashley has been a key contributor to our Robotics team this year. Her exceptional work and unwavering support have been instrumental to the success of The White Arrows. Ashley consistently goes above and beyond, dedicating countless hours to mentoring students, organizing logistics, and ensuring all team members have the resources they need to thrive. During the First Lego League season, she acted like a mom to all the kids, not just her own kids. Sometimes students got frustrated, but Ashley knew how to calm them down and remained patient, even when the kids yelled at the robots! She fosters an environment of collaboration and passion, making her an invaluable, inspirational force within the team.
Each year, the district invites a committee to select one volunteer from all of our honorees to be named our “Outstanding District Volunteer of the Year.” We are pleased to announce that Jenna Jandik, a volunteer at Grant Wood Elementary, has been selected for this year’s honor.
Grant Wood Elementary School & Outstanding District Volunteer/Governor’s Volunteer Award Honoree Volunteer: Jenna Jandik
Jenna has quietly gone above and beyond to help enrich and positively affect the lives of all of our Grant Wood students and staff. For the last three years, Jenna has helped lead our Ice Cream Social and Bingo for Books, which are two of our most popular events that are well attended by many families. She has also led the Staff Appreciation program, spoiling our staff throughout the year, along with being honored during our annual Staff Appreciation week. Jenna has been a constant classroom volunteer, where she has used her teaching background to help with small groups of Kindergartners and 2nd graders with math, along with any other needs the teachers may have. Ms. Evan-Schwartz, a 2nd grade teacher, added, “Jenna provides a calming presence that helps students stay engaged in their learning regardless of what is going on.” Lastly, when the funding was cut for Challenge to Change, Jenna and her mom created their own curriculum for our school to use so we could continue to bring mindfulness skills to all students. When asked what the greatest benefit of volunteering is, Jenna replied, “I feel that the greatest benefit is being part of a community of people at Grant Wood who want to bring a great school experience to our kids!”
Jenna will also be the District’s designated nominee for the 2026 Iowa Governor’s Award for Volunteerism. Governor Reynolds will present these awards this summer. Congratulations, Jenna!