Iowa Department of Education

Iowa Department of Education On this page... Vision and Mission Organization and Structure Director of the Iowa Department of Education History Iowa Education System Through leadership and service to the state education system, the Iowa Department of Education works to ensure all students are ready for college and career training and receive the postsecondary support they need to succeed. The Department provides oversight to the state education system that includes public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies, community colleges, and teacher preparation programs. Vision and Mission Vision Iowa learners experience high levels of success and develop the capacity to continually grow as successful, healthy, and productive citizens in a global community. Mission Creating excellence in education through leadership and service. Back to top Organization and Structure The DE employs approximately 220 people in four major divisions: Division of Community Colleges, Division of School Finance and Support Services, Division of Policy and Communications, and Division of Learning and Results. Although the state libraries, vocational rehabilitation, and public television remain affiliated with the Department of Education, their operations have expanded and developed into independent entities with independent boards. DE Table of Organization DE Directory by Division DE Alphabetical Directory of Grimes Building Personnel Customer Service Guide Back to top Director of the Iowa Department of Education The Iowa Department of Education director is appointed by the Governor to serve a four-year term, subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate. The director's role is to provide leadership for the department as it carries out the policies and programs prescribed by state law and the State Board of Education; and to ensure department personnel are providing the necessary oversight and support for all schools, educators and students to meet their academic goals. The department director also serves as the executive officer of the State Board of Education, a nonvoting role. Director Ann Lebo Dr. Ann Lebo most recently served as the Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, where she had been since 2016. She was previously a secondary principal in Grundy Center, an adjunct faculty member in education and leadership at Waldorf University, and serves as Iowa's Chief Talent Officer for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Lebo was an athletic coach and English instructor at the secondary and postsecondary levels for 17 years and worked in the private sector for five years. Lebo also served on the statewide Teacher Leadership and Compensation Task Force in 2012 and was appointed to the Governor's STEM Advisory Council in 2017. Dr. Lebo holds an Ed.D. and Ed.S. both in Educational Administration, a M.A. in English Language and Literature, a B.A. in English Education, and a B.A. in Speech Communication. Back to top History The Department was created by the 35th General Assembly in 1913 and was originally called the Department of Public Instruction. The current name was adopted in 1986. In its early years, the Department was charged with working with the many small, isolated school buildings to build a formal system of public education that included organized districts with defined duties and boundaries, as well as specific qualifications for teachers. While the state department was established to provide oversight, local schools maintained the authority to set many of the rules and requirements for their own students. This system of "local responsibility" - based on the belief that local residents have the greatest interest in assuring their children's success - continues today. As Iowa progressed over the decades with greater diversity in business, industry, and population, the public education system evolved to reflect and encompass those changes. In the mid 1960s, a system of 15 public, two-year community colleges was established to provide more students the opportunity for continued education and training beyond high school. In the mid-1970s, the system of AEAs was developed to provide regional support for local schools and their teachers. Originally, the community colleges and the AEAs shared the same service area boundaries. In recent years, several AEAs have merged to provide greater efficiency in regions with declining populations. Related story: A walk through Iowa’s one-room schoolhouses Back to top