Skip to main content

Articles by cyzem

Lincoln Elementary School Teacher Named 2025 Dubuque Schools Teacher of the Year

The Dubuque Community School District Teacher of the Year was named at the annual Educators’ Recognition Reception on May 8, hosted by the Dubuque Education Association.

Kelly Eigenberger, a Title I reading teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, was selected for the honor.

The Dubuque Education Association: Congratulations Teacher of the Year Kelly Eigenberger, 2025Eigenberger has spent her entire career at Lincoln and is currently serving as a Title I reading teacher at the school. She joined the district in 2006, serving as a multicategorical special education teacher from 2006 to 2012. From 2012 to 2015, she served as a special education coach and from 2015 to 2024 was a special education teacher, both at Lincoln. Eigenberger holds a bachelor of arts in education degree and a master of arts in education degree, both from Clarke University in Dubuque.

“[Kelly] consistently goes above and beyond to create resources that accommodate our curriculum. Her efforts provide our students with the scaffolds they need to succeed and build their confidence,” said a colleague who nominated Eigenberger. “[She] truly cares about each and every child. She is always looking at the whole child. She builds relationships by allowing students to join her for lunch in her classroom. She is always a smiling face in the hallway each and every morning. The students truly look forward to her being in our classroom. Her positive attitude and outlook are contagious…”

Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award were:

  • Nancy Berendes, a kindergarten teacher at Kennedy Elementary School
  • Glenda Davis, a science teacher at Hempstead High School
  • Chad Hamilton, an instructional coach at Bryant Elementary School
  • Tammie Harbin, a health and wellness teacher at Sageville and Eisenhower Elementary Schools
  • Amy Palm, eighth-grade math teacher at Roosevelt Middle School
  • Jake Rheingans, a career technical education teacher at Hempstead High School
  • Karen Rothert, a sixth-grade math teacher at Washington Middle School
  • Emily Schrader, a second-grade teacher at Audubon Elementary School
  • Wendy Winger, a sixth-grade science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School

Also at the event:

The Dubuque Education Association: Congratulations TEAM Award Recipient Greg Lehman, 2025Jefferson Middle School Principal Greg Lehman received the TEAM (Together Educators and Administrators Make-it-happen) Award presented to an administrator for exemplary support of teacher success. Lehman’s nomination notes his exceptional leadership and advocacy for staff, students and families. The nomination points to Lehman establishing a culture of safety and camaraderie at Jefferson; promoting staff collaboration and valuing their input; and creating systems that allow staff to grow and contribute meaningfully.

Community Information Sessions on Facility Planning, April 16 and 28

The Dubuque Community School District will host two upcoming community information sessions for those interested in learning more about the district’s facility planning work.

The sessions will be held on Wednesday, April 16, and Monday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at the district offices, 2300 Chaney Road.

The meeting will feature a recap the district’s facility planning work, led by INVISION Architecture and informed by a community facility planning taskforce. The session will recap the taskforce’s work to review previous and new facility efficiency scenarios, look at results of a community survey regarding facility planning, and discuss potential funding mechanisms to support any future projects.

In particular, the planning team has reviewed and updated options for middle school consolidation to move the district from three to two middle schools. This consolidation was previously and continues to be identified as the option creating the greatest financial efficiencies while ensuring equivalent middle school facilities for all students.

We can’t wait to welcome you to kindergarten!

We can’t wait to welcome your student and family – and the rest of the Class of 2038 – to our Kindergarten Welcome Event on Thursday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m.!

We are ready for you!

WHAT TO EXPECT
When you attend the Kindergarten Welcome Event at your home school, you will have the opportunity to meet our school staff and see the building where your student will begin their educational journey.

To allow us to maximize the space, and focus fully on our kindergarten students, we ask that only parents and new kindergarten students attend the Welcome Event if possible.

During the event, our staff will deliver presentations for families on a variety of topics such as staff introductions, annual verification process, and get all the must-know information about our school. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Most importantly, we are excited to show you all the things that make our school community so special.

Students will have the chance to participate in short, fund activities with our kindergarten team. This gives us a chance to get to know your student better and gives your student a chance to get a taste of their soon-to-be new school!

We look forward to welcoming you on April 24 and working with you and your student as you make the transition to kindergarten! Please feel free to contact our school office with any questions in advance.


View this information in your language! At the top of the page, click the arrow next to Select Language for a listing of available languages.

إلى هذه المعلومات باللغة العربية عبر زيارة

Pristupite ovim informacijama na bosanskom jeziku!

获取中文信息!

I-access ang impormasyong ito sa Filipino!

Lale melele kein ilo kajin Marshallese!

دا معلومات په پښتو ژبه ترلاسه کړئ!

¡Acceda a esta información en español!

اردو میں اس معلومات تک رسائی حاصل کریں!

Truy cập thông tin này bằng tiếng Việ

Header art gallery 2025 02

Fall/Winter 2024 Student Art Gallery Now Live!

We are pleased to present the Fall/Winter 2024 K-12 Virtual Student Art Gallery, highlighting the amazing artwork of our students.

The exhibit features the ability to virtually walk through a curated gallery of work — and we hope you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the exhibit as the vision of these talented student artists comes to life.

VIEW THE VIRTUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION

High School 8th-Grade Open Houses, Jan. 27

We are excited to welcome 8th-grade students and their families to our HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES at Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School on Monday, January 27.

Each open house begins with a short program at 7 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium.

Not sure what your home high school is? Find your school based on your home address.

Following a short program, students and families will have the opportunity to:

  • Visit with teachers to learn and ask questions about specific courses
  • Attend demonstrations by academic departments to learn about course offerings
  • Visit with activity advisors and athletic coaches to check out clubs, organizations, fine arts and sports offerings
  • Learn about special programs including senior year plus (earning college credit while in high school), gifted and talented, and special education services
  • Meet school counselors and administrators, who can answer questions regarding the registration progress
  • Explore the building and meet other members of the Hempstead High School community

All incoming students and families are encouraged to attend. This event is a chance to learn about the experiences and opportunities available over the next four years.

Dubuque Community Schools Job Fair, Jan. 16

Ready to join our A+ Team?

Learn about all of the amazing career opportunities available in the district at our Dubuque Community School District JOB FAIR on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 1-3 p.m. at the district’s main offices at 2300 Chaney Road!

Representatives from departments across the district will be on hand, including:

  • Transportation
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Buildings and Grounds
  • and Schools with Paraprofessional Openings

Interviews will be conducted ON SITE during the fair!

PLUS, many position coordinate with the school calendar so you can be aligned with your child’s schedule!

Looking for a more flexible as-needed role? Learn about becoming a substitute teacher or paraprofessional at the fair!

CAN’T WAIT AND READY TO APPLY? Start your application today!

Preschool Header

Free Four-Year-Old Preschool Enrollment Opens December 9

Enrollment for FREE four-year-old preschool in the Dubuque Community School District for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on Monday, Dec. 9.

This includes all 12 Dubuque public elementary schools as well as the district’s Seedlings Preschool Center on Chavenelle Road offering preschool through the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program. (Note: Seedlings Preschool Center has optional, fee-based wraparound care available at the adjacent Dubuque Community Y Childcare.)

Parents and guardians may enroll students ONLINE beginning at NOON on Monday, December 9, at www.dbqschools.org/preschool.

All district elementary schools and the district’s main office will have computers and staff assistance available beginning December 9 for families needing internet access to complete preschool enrollment.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Free four-year-old preschool is open to students residing in Iowa who are four by September 15. Proof of age (preferably a birth certificate) and proof of residency are required to enroll a student and may be uploaded during the enrollment application process or provided in hard copy to the district enrollment office at 2300 Chaney Road.

Your student’s enrollment application will not be considered complete until these documents have been received.

For the enrollment process, families should have the student’s main household and health information readily available.

PRESCHOOL SITE OPTIONS

Space may be limited in some facilities and enrollment applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for preschool is not based on geography and all sites are open to Iowa residents. Applications will be time-stamped and families will be able to select up to three locations and time slots in order of preference.

Applications completed by January 10 (including submission of proof of age and proof of residency) will be considered in the first round of placement notifications beginning on January 15.

In addition to spots in Dubuque’s public schools, a variety of community preschool partners also offer free four-year-old preschool.

QUESTIONS?

For additional enrollment questions, individuals should contact the district enrollment office at enrollment@dbqschools.org.

For questions about preschool programming, contact the district early childhood office at earlychildhood@dbqschools.org.

The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is funded by the State of Iowa and facilitated locally by the Dubuque Community School District.

Social dcsd education event scroll less live more have fun

Dubuque Community Schools Lecture Tackles Always-Connected, Screen-Based World, Nov. 13

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, best-selling author and award-winning journalist Catherine Price shared her expertise on the impact of our screen-based world, and in particular of phones and social media. She also helped audience members discover how they can break up with their phone and have more authentic fun in life.

During her presentation, Catherine shared a variety of resources to learn more:

VIEW ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM CATHERINE


ORIGINAL POST:

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce that award-winning journalist and best-selling author Catherine Price will be the featured speaker in the district’s family and community engagement series when she presents “Scroll Less. Live More. Have Fun.” on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Dubuque Senior High School Cafeteria. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Admission to the event is free, and families, students and community members are encouraged to attend. The event is made possible through a generous grant from the DRA.

“As a district, we are committed to engaging our families and students – especially when it comes to educating about current topics facing today’s young people,” said Rebecca Fellenzer, the district’s director of student services. “There is probably no more notable issue facing today’s students and adults alike than navigating a world reliant on screen-based technology at our disposal instantaneously at all times. We look forward to learning from Catherine as she shares her expertise with us on how to disconnect from our screens and add more authentic fun into our lives.”

Hailed by The New York Times as the “Marie Kondo of brains,” Price has authored numerous books, including her bestsellers How to Break Up With Your Phone and The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again. Her popular Substack newsletter How to Feel Alive (and its companion podcast) features conversations, inspiration, ideas, and evidence-backed advice for how to fill life with more fun, adventure, joy, connection, and delight.

As the creator and founder of Screen/Life Balance, Price and her work have been featured in outlets including The Best American Science Writing, NPR, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, TIME Magazine, Wired, VOX, Refinery29, BBC World News Service, CNN, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, and Rachael Ray, among many others.

New Partnership to Create New High School Esports Team

The Dubuque Community School District and the Dubuque Esports League (DEL) are pleased to announce an innovative partnership that will establish a new esports program for students enrolled at Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School.

One of the fastest growing activities in the world, esports is a form of competitive video gaming where players compete against each other in organized tournaments and leagues. Often connected to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, extracurricular esports programming helps students develop strong bonds with their school and classmates while developing critical mental and physical skills such as teamwork, strategy, communication, mental toughness, hand-eye coordination, technical skills, time management and more.

“Esports has skyrocketed in popularity across the world and it’s been a regularly requested addition to our extracurricular offerings,” said Coby Culbertson, the district’s chief technology officer. “This new partnership gives us the chance to connect our students up with the expertise and facilities of the Dubuque Esports League. It’s a true partnership with everyone dedicated to giving students outstanding opportunities to compete while developing them as individuals.”

Through this new partnership, the district will recruit students to participate in esports and provide a staff liaison to coordinate programming at the high schools. The Dubuque Esports League, which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, will provide students participating with access to the organization’s state-of-the-art esports facility as well as coaching support and training opportunities for the esports teams. Funding the for the district’s initial year of programming was made possible through a generous grant from the DRA, a Dubuque-area philanthropic organization.

This is the first extracurricular offering in the Dubuque Community Schools that is facilitated through a partnership with an outside organization – and it’s a model that both groups believe could spark additional future innovation in activities programming.

“We’re excited to see this partnership come to life and offer Dubuque Community Schools students new esports opportunities,” said Shelby Wartick, DEL co-founder and co-executive director. “Our goal has always been to create a safe, welcoming community where students can thrive. We’re grateful to partner with a school district that innovates to engage students in their passions and help them grow through skills like teamwork and leadership through platforms like esports.”

“As college scholarships for esports continue to grow, this partnership offers students a pathway to compete and pursue educational opportunities through esports,” said Susie Quinn, DEL co-founder and co-executive director. “We’re excited to kick off our winter season with games like Overwatch 2 and Rocket League, both of which are also played at the collegiate level. The possibilities ahead are incredibly exciting!”

High school junior varsity and varsity teams will begin forming this fall and the district anticipates joining the Iowa High School Esports Association, which currently oversees esports competition between high schools in the state.

Dubuque Senior High School to Host Open House of Updated Facilities, Oct. 5

As part of its homecoming festivities, Dubuque Senior High School will host a community open house on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon to showcase the school’s recently completed renovation.

The district recently completed a $34 million second-phase renovation of Dubuque Senior, which included a newly renovated Lamb-Hedeman Auditorium and Nora Gymnasium, as well as new performance physical education space, a wrestling room, a restructured music wing and classroom updates.

This most recent renovation also added two additional elevators to the school and completed full climate control of the building so all spaces are now air conditioned. The project, which was completed on time and on budget, was funded through the district’s portion of the statewide SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education) sales tax fund.

The first phase of renovations at the school, which were completed in 2018, included a new secure entrance and office area, commons areas, a new cafeteria and library, and an additional gym. Together, the two phases fully renovated the school updates designed as a 50-plus year solution to ensuring up-to-date high school facilities for decades to come.