Message from Superintendent Cathy Molumby
by Cathy Molumby
Superintendent Cathy Molumby's Educational Philosophy: Learning deeply and broadly in the Valley Community!
What does that mean? The Valley Community School District exhibits successes in academics and in student activities with high percentages of student participation! Our small, rural school system creates a learning environment that provides every student the opportunity to participate in multiple activities through collaboration between all teachers, coaches, and directors and supported by the administration and the board! Hence, nearly 75% to 90% of our student population is not only successful in academics (deeply learning), the same students are in at least one, and typically multiple, activities (broadly learning) that include the fine arts, athletics, as well as increasing the involvement in service to our community, respect to all, and “place based” education. Place based education is the purposeful efforts to integrate our learning in math, science, reading, and other areas, such as technology and 21st Century skills with an appreciation for and involvement in learning and valuing “our place” including our communities, nature, and local environment. This concept has also been called “nature literacy.” At Valley, we make extra efforts in educating our youth, considering the “whole child” and our goal is to become recognized as a district addressing more areas than just the high stakes testing areas in our state. We have vision to increase our opportunities for students to integrate reading, math, science, technology while valuing “our place,” nature, leadership and relationship-building experienced through quality activities.
Evidenced by recognition that our graduates have continued to succeed beyond high school, as well as state recognition, championships, participation in multiple areas (in fine arts, athletics, and vocational areas) Valley’s Learning Community philosophy is working! Commitment to focus all efforts on the positive growth, health, and well-being of our youth is evident through the support of the Valley Board of Education, administration, instructional and coaching staff, the support staff, the parents, and the community businesses and stakeholders! We have many 4-Generational families among our Valley students and alumni. We have our 20 and 30-somethings returning to our communities to provide the educational opportunities and quality of life within “the Valley” to their own children and families.
As the superintendent of the Valley Community School District since 1999, (and as a returning Valley alumni) the passion for and the belief in the Valley educational opportunities are embedded deeply in this shared philosophy and vision for the future of the Valley Community School District.
Join us! Experience the quality experiences that impact learning for a lifetime!
Cathy Molumby
Superintendent
Biographical Information:
I graduated from the Valley Community High School in 1976. I attended the University of Iowa for Art Education and graduated with a B.A. in K-12 art education in the spring of 1980. I began my teaching career at my alma mater, Valley Community School in 1980; teaching art through 1986. In 1987 I attended the University of Northern Iowa, receiving my M.A. in Educational Leadership with certification for both elementary and secondary administration. I began my principalship in 1989, serving two years at DeSales School in Ossian, Iowa. In 1998 I became the K-6 principal for MFL Community School which later merged into the MFL Mar Mac Community School District, Monona, Iowa and served the youth and families in those communities as principal until the spring of 1999. In the fall of 1999 I returned to the Valley Community School District as superintendent of my alma mater with much excitement and passion for the common goal of the Valley board of education, to have a vision and create a ten-year plan for the future success and quality programs for the youth in our communities. It’s been ten years! We are now a PreK-12 facility with a new Early Childhood Center, a new Jr. High wing, new science labs; we are a wireless campus increasing our technology accessibility, Valley graduates have been tracked at the state universities and have retained high grade point averages (in rigorous courses) placing our high school 13th in the state for the three-year trend of achieving high GPA’s for college freshmen! Valley also ranks 60th out of 413 (or in the top 15%) in the state; meeting the state criteria in the Traveling Challenge Cup; reflecting outstanding performance by its students in both academic and athletic performance--regardless of the size of the school district (1A to 4A). Valley youth ranked 4th in the state for all 1A schools. Mission accomplished! Valley celebrated its 50th year as the “Valley Community” district during the 2007-2008 school year! We have been continuing to look to the future and continually revisiting plans with our school and community to create the plan for the next 10 years! So again….JOIN US! The planning and envisioning has always created incredible and successful opportunities for our Valley youth!
