What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

Ready to join our A+ Team?

Learn about all the amazing career opportunities available in the district at our Dubuque Community School District JOB FAIR on Thursday, July 24, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the district’s main offices at 2300 Chaney Road!

We are HIRING NOW for the start of the school year – and the fair will have representatives on hand from departments across the district, including:

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

Interviews will be conducted ON SITE during the fair!

PLUS, many positions 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, substitute paraprofessional, or substitute food service worker at the fair! It’s a great way to get familiar with the district and all we have to offer on our A+ team!

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

We are pleased to present the Spring 2025 K-12 Virtual Student Art Gallery, highlighting the amazing artwork of our students.

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools competed in the Iowa High School State Track and Field Championship at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from May 22 – May 24th.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

4A State Medalists

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

High Jump – 3rd Place

• Cambel Drapeau

3000M Run – 8th Place

• Emily Gorton

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

4x400M Relay – 8th Place

• Ayla Osterkamp, Piper Birkenholz, Evie Henneberry, Mallory Tomkins

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

400M Hurdles – 5th Place

• Garrett Schumacher

4x400M Relay – 7th Place

•  Zachary Heiar, Garrett Schumacher, Kael Stickley, Charles Crow

Girls Para Medalists

200M Wheelchair – 1st Place

• Ally Darter

400M Wheelchair – 1st Place

• Ally Darter

800M Wheelchair – 1st Place

• Ally Darter

Shot Put Wheelchair – 1st Place

• Ally Darter

4A State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

3000M Run

• Evie Henneberry

4x100M Relay

• Kassidy Buhenau, Autumn Sanchez, Kaylee Carley, Mallory Tomkins

4x200M Relay

• Ayla Osterkamp, Kassidy Buhenau, Kaylee Carley, Mallory Tomkins

4x800M Relay

• Mylee Lange, Natalie Leitzen, Paige Pitz, Evie Henneberry

Sprint Medley

• Kassidy Buchenau, Kaylee Carley, Ayla Osterkamp, Mallory Tomkins

Distance Medley Relay

• Autumn Sanchez, Addi Wright, Piper Birkenholz, Paige Pitz

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

• Sydney Feldhacker, Rebecca Roling, Savannah Bailey, Mady Morrison

Alternates

• Eva Stevenson
• Paris Mickelson
• Akeelah Anderson
• Josie Kallback
• Jullian Renne
• Ella Brosius

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

800M Run

• Emma Chesterman
• Neveah Kessler

1500M Run

• Emma Chesterman
• Emily Gorton

3000M Run

• Claire Hoyer

4x800M Relay

• Emma Chesterman, Emily Gorton, Claire Hoyer, Lise Hoyer

Shot Put

• Eden Lee

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Discus

• Chase McElmeel

Long Jump

• Jordan Plummer

400M Low Hurdles

• Owen Leitzen

4x400M Relay

• Avery Keehner, Jordan Plummer, Owen Leitzen, Thomas Brashaw

4x800M Relay

• Owen Leitzen, Brandon Kass, Colin Henn, Vinny Scherr

Distance Medley Relay

• Robert Ivy, Jan Roller, Hayden Harper, Vinny Scherr

Sprint Medley Relay

• Brendon Zheng, Jaden Montogmery, Avery Keehner, Thomas Brashaw

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

• McCoi Knox, Christian Adolf, Jaylen Hodgson, Gavan Brotzman

Alternates

• Henry Maloney
• Ben Ellerbach
• Eli Curry

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

400M Sprint

• Charles Crow

Shot Put

• Timothy Parker

Sprint Medley Relay

• Joshua Schwab, Kael Stickley, Garrett Schumacher, Charles Crow

4x100M Relay

• Joshua Schwab, Marshawn Dukes, Kael Stickley, Mekyael Hall

4x200M Relay

• Joshua Schwab, Zachary Heiar, Kael Stickley, Garrett Schumacher

4x800M Relay

•  Zachary Heiar, Garrett Schumacher, Kael Stickley, Charles Crow

4x110M Shuttle Hurdle

• Owen Anderson, Jacob Haug, Matthew Haug, Calvin Lueken

Alternates

• Mason Birch
• Daylin Moore
• Sam Kook
• Jack Kirman
• Ben Hohmann
• Jonah Fry
• Elijah Roach
• Cooper Shannon
• Carver Cornell
• Anderson Lambert

We are pleased to live stream the 2025 Dubuque Community School District graduation ceremonies!

Hempstead High School 2025 Graduation, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Dubuque Senior High School 2025 Graduation, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Dubuque Online School 2025 Graduation, Friday, May 30, 2025

The Dubuque Community School District will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide no-cost meals to students weekdays from July 7 through August 1, coinciding with the district’s Summer Academy Program.

The district will provide no-cost breakfast and lunch to any child 18 years old or under, with no enrollment necessary. No infant formula or infant food will be served. Meals will be served on site.

Meals will be offered at Prescott Elementary School and Table Mound Elementary School Monday through Friday between July 7 and August 1, with breakfast being served from 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch being served from 11-11:30 a.m.

Meals will also be offered throughout the summer by the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque at a variety of community locations.

VIEW THE FLYER OF ALL COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS

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USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410; or

2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Non-Discrimination Statement:
It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Ave, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

The Dubuque Community School District was recently recognized for its communication efforts in the 2025 Iowa School Public Relations Association (ISPRA) Communication Contest, honoring outstanding school communication throughout the state.

The district received 10 awards in the contest, with each entry evaluated and scored independently by school communication professionals in other state chapters of the National School Public Relations Association.

Based on a scoring rubric, entries receiving a winning score are selected to receive either an Award of Excellence or a Blue and Gold Award, which is bestowed upon entries receiving a perfect score from judges in each criteria category. For 2025, the Dubuque Community School District received the most Blue and Gold Awards of any school district in the state.

The district was honored with the following:

BLUE AND GOLD AWARD

• Category: Special Purpose, Entry: READY. FOR YOU. 2024-2029 Strategic Plan
• Category: Public Engagement Campaign, Entry: Kindergarten Sneak Peek
• Category: Marketing/Branding Campaign, Entry: Seedlings Preschool Center Identity
• Category: Social Media, Entry: Dream Big: Kyle Konrardy
• Category: Photography, Entry: Elementary Track Meeting: Marshall Strong

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

• Category: Public Engagement Campaign, Entry: Multilingual Family Night
• Category: Video – Singular, Entry: JJ and Logan
• Category: Social Media, Entry: #ThankAnEducator
• Category: Social Media, Entry: Audubon Attendance
• Category: Excellence in Writing, Entry: School Performance Profiles Paint an Incomplete Picture

“As a district, we believe that having outstanding schools relies on having an engaged, informed community,” said Mike Cyze, chief communication officer. “Our amazing team is committed to proactively and transparently communicating with those we serve, and it is an honor to be recognized as among the best school communication work being done across the state.”

Hoover Elementary School will host an open house celebrating the legacy of the school on Thursday, May 22, from 5:30-7 p.m. The community is invited to attend. Hoover will close at the conclusion of the school year. At the open house, school staff will be on hand and self-guided tours will be available.

During the 1965-1966 school year, a purchase agreement was signed for land to build a new elementary school. This site would eventually become Hoover Elementary School, which was dedicated in 1968 at its current location on St. Anne Drive in Dubuque. The school was named after Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the United States, who was born in West Branch, Iowa.

At the time, the unique structure of the building was recognized for its innovative design in which classrooms were situated in clusters with a shared learning center in the middle. Initially an open-concept facility, it had few permanent walls and doors.

During the 2025-2026, the Hoover Elementary School site will serve third- and fourth-grade students from Irving Elementary School, who will relocate to that site for the year while Irving is under construction to receive a new HVAC system including full air conditioning.

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.

Eigenberger 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:

Jefferson 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.

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools will compete in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from April 24 – April 26th. Known as America’s Athletic Classic, this event is considered one of the top track and field events in the United States.

Congratulations to the following student qualifiers:

Dubuque Senior High School

Boys 400M Hurdles

• Garrett Schumacher

Girls 3000M Run

• Emily Gorton

Boys 4x100M Relay

• Josh Schwab
• Marshawn Dukes
• Mahdi Al-Atabi
• Meek Hall

Boys 4x200M Relay

• Zachary Heiar
• Kael Stickley
• Garrett Schumacher
• Charlie Crow

Boys 4x400M Relay

• Zachary Heiar
• Charlie Crow
• Kael Stickley
• Garrett Schumacher

Girls 4x800M Relay

• Naveah Kessler
• Claire Hoyer
• Emma Chesterman
• Emily Gorton

Alternates

• Mason Birch
• Matthew Haug
• Lisa Hoyer
• Jack Kirman
• Daylin Moore

Hempstead High School

Co-ed 400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

Boys 4x100M Relay

• Hayden Harper
• Avery Keehner
• Brendon Zheng
• Jaden Montgomery

Girls 4x100M Relay

• Kassidy Buchenau
• Mallory Tomkins
• Kaylee Carley
• Ayla Osterkamp

Boys 4x400M Relay

• Micah Fern
• Hayden Harper
• Avery Keehner
• Thomas Brashaw

Girls 4x400M Relay

• Mallory Tomkins
• Piper Kirkenholz
• Evie Henneberry
• Ayla Osterkamp

Boys 1600M Distance Medley

• Jaden Montgomery
• Avery Keehner
• Thomas Brashaw
• Micah Fern

Alternates

• Sydney Feldhacker
• Mylee Lange
• Natalie Leitzen
• Owen Leitzen
• Paige Pitz
• Jordan Plummer
• Jillian Renner
• Jan Roller
• Autumn Sanchez
• Addi Wright