After the first six-months on the job, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Superintendent Joe Nelson answered some burning questions about the last several months and what is ahead for the district.
What have you enjoyed about your first six months on the job as the new Superintendent?
That’s easy, I love seeing the success our students have on a daily basis in our classrooms, competitions, and performances. I’m 100% unapologetic and biased, but we truly have the most respectful, talented, and kind students I’ve ever worked with. Until I came to Clarion, I’d never even heard of a school where the kids thank the Superintendent for coming to their events and visiting their classrooms. Our kids are so respectful, and they motivate me to keep working hard every day.
When you accepted the Superintendent job you moved from West Des Moines to rural Iowa, Wright County. What has that been like?
In one word, I’d say “peaceful.” I grew up in Slater, Iowa which is half the size of Clarion, so small-town Iowa is where I was born and raised. I was fortunate that Scott Stecher was willing to sell me his acreage a few miles northwest of Clarion. I love country living and I only wish I would’ve done it sooner in life. I think people from outside of Clarion might be surprised at how self-sufficient our community is. I’m a simple man to please, and I can get just about everything I need in or around the town square in Clarion. I love our local businesses in all three communities, and I do everything I can to buy local because that’s how I was raised, and I think it’s important.
How has COVID-19 affected your first year as a Superintendent?
This might surprise you, but I honestly think it’s brought us closer together as a group of CGD employees and staff members. We decided back in July our number one goal was to keep all kids in school every day with the strictest safety measures possible. Thanks in part to the great flexibility of our entire workforce, we’ve been able to meet that goal from August 24th to Christmas Break. As proud as I am of our staff, I’d be remiss if I said it’s been easy because it’s taken a huge effort from everyone involved. To that end, I think we can all agree it’s been worth it, and our kids and families deserve it. I just have so much respect for our employees and the extra work they’ve done to make this possible.
What challenges are ahead at CGD?
The answer to this question could be an entire column for any school district but I’ll do my best to be brief. For starters, I think we’d all like to see our enrollment numbers grow in the upcoming years. There are so many reasons to send your students to CGD, and we plan to work intentionally to make sure everyone in and around Clarion knows that. Along those same lines, we need to be intentional in our vision and plan to keep upgrading the facilities we have in place to serve our students. Our best days are ahead at CGD, I say it and I believe it everyday. I wouldn’t want to be any place else.
