Q&A
FOCUS IS ON PEOPLE FOR NEW PANORAMA SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT
Posted 10/11/2023
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times
Panorama Community Schools serves 800 students in kindergarten through 12th grade from the communities of Panora, Yale, Jamaica, Bagley and Linden, including the Lake Panorama area. On July 3, Kasey Huebner began work as the new Panorama superintendent of schools. In this month’s Q&A, Huebner talks about his background, plans for the new school year, and why he was interested in applying for this position.
Q. Let’s start with some background; where are you from, where did you attend high school and college, and what education positions have you held before coming to Panorama?
A. I was raised in Sioux Rapids and completed my high school education at Sioux Central High School. After graduating, I attended the University of Northern Iowa where I obtained my elementary teaching and coaching degree. I began my teaching career at Midwest Christian Services in Peterson, where I taught grades 3-11 special education. After one year, I took a position as a fourth-grade teacher at Spirit Lake, where my family and I have been the last 12 years. I was the elementary principal for the Spirit Lake School district the past seven years.
Q. Tell us about your family.
A. I met my wife, Terri, while we were students at UNI. She is the Mortgage Loan Processing Manager for Central Bank, which has branches in Des Moines, Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Cherokee, Sioux City and Sioux Falls. We have two boys, both at Panorama Elementary. Kedrick is in third grade, and Karter is in preschool. Karter also spends some time at Little Panther Daycare.
Q. What is the Panorama Schools mission statement, and how does that translate into serving students?
A. Our district’s mission statement is “Developing a community of learners who are responsible, motivated citizens with academic, career and volunteer experiences that prepare them for life’s next step.” In today’s rapidly changing world, students must possess critical thinking skills to effectively solve problems. It is essential that we approach problem-solving creatively and ensure students have ample opportunities to practice these skills during their education in Panorama. It’s estimated about 62% of Iowa high school students went to college last year, so we aren’t just preparing students to go to college. We also need to get them ready for the workforce. I think many leaders in our community would say critical thinking and creativity is something that should be a focus.
Q. What have you been doing since your first day on the job July 3?
A. I have been getting to know people and trying to remember names. Developing relationships and understanding what Panorama is all about. I appreciate everyone’s help throughout this transition. Everyone seems passionate about Panorama and that excites me even more as I get into the school year. My focus is on people, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. My hope is to be led by people’s needs and to resort to policy only when necessary. We now are diving into the day-to-day operations, which is exciting for me as it means we can finally start doing some important work. My ultimate goal is to create a fun and memorable culture for everyone. I always consider the purpose behind our decisions, and that purpose should be driven by our students. When making decisions, if it has a positive impact, then the answer is clear.
Q. Your family now has a home at Lake Panorama. Are you enjoying the lake community?
A. We are officially settled into our new home and definitely enjoying the area. The peaceful surroundings, trees, animal life and the feeling of being in nature have been very relaxing. We have used the beach multiple times, played pickleball on a few occasions, and spent a lot of time on evening walks.
Q. What are some things that prompted you to apply for this position?
A. One of the main reasons for my interest in Panorama is the alignment between their core values and my personal ones. Currently, the stated values for Panorama Schools are “Integrity, Perseverance, Growth.” The only one I would add is “Relationships.” During my application process, we did a lot of research on this Panorama community. I have noticed a strong sense of pride, close relationships, and numerous opportunities for families and kids, which only confirmed our decision to pursue this opportunity.
Q. Have you established some goals for the 2023/2024 school year?
A. In August, the school board and administration had a work session to establish our priorities in the areas of academic excellence, district culture and district operations. We’re making great efforts to ensure that our daily work is aligned with these priorities. Our focus on academic excellence goes beyond state assessment scores. It also means preparing our students for life after Panorama by putting a focus on life development. We want to create a culture of servant leadership under the district culture priority, setting a standard of service and leading by example. District operations are a priority as we aim to use resources efficiently and effectively while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We want to provide our staff and students with the necessary resources for success. Having a clear direction and purpose is crucial as it guides us towards making improvements each day. I firmly believe that, without a vision or purpose, there is no room for growth.
Q. Panorama Schools has three cross country meets on the 2023 schedule using a new course that begins and ends on school property, with most of the course on Lake Panorama’s south shore. What’s your take on this new partnership between Panorama and the Lake Panorama Association?
A. This partnership has opened up a unique opportunity for our students and community. The addition of the cross-country course has been an incredible experience for our runners, and we are excited to host three meets with over 20 teams participating. Other districts have shown an excitement in having their student-athletes compete in this type of environment. The athletic unions both jumped at the idea of having the state-qualifying meet on this course. I am truly appreciative of the hard work put in by the staff at Panorama Schools and LPA, and I hope we continue to work together for the benefit of our community. We are stronger when we work together.
Q. Any closing thoughts?
A. I want to say my family and I are excited to be in the Panorama area. The values and dedication to academic excellence are truly exciting, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community. I am looking forward to working with staff, students and community members to create a culture of growth and success. We have had a great start to this school year because of the administration and staff, and most importantly, our students. My door is always open, so I invite anyone to come in and have a conversation anytime.
By Susan Thompson
Lake Panorama Times
Panorama Community Schools serves 800 students in kindergarten through 12th grade from the communities of Panora, Yale, Jamaica, Bagley and Linden, including the Lake Panorama area. On July 3, Kasey Huebner began work as the new Panorama superintendent of schools. In this month’s Q&A, Huebner talks about his background, plans for the new school year, and why he was interested in applying for this position.
Q. Let’s start with some background; where are you from, where did you attend high school and college, and what education positions have you held before coming to Panorama?
A. I was raised in Sioux Rapids and completed my high school education at Sioux Central High School. After graduating, I attended the University of Northern Iowa where I obtained my elementary teaching and coaching degree. I began my teaching career at Midwest Christian Services in Peterson, where I taught grades 3-11 special education. After one year, I took a position as a fourth-grade teacher at Spirit Lake, where my family and I have been the last 12 years. I was the elementary principal for the Spirit Lake School district the past seven years.
Q. Tell us about your family.
A. I met my wife, Terri, while we were students at UNI. She is the Mortgage Loan Processing Manager for Central Bank, which has branches in Des Moines, Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, Cherokee, Sioux City and Sioux Falls. We have two boys, both at Panorama Elementary. Kedrick is in third grade, and Karter is in preschool. Karter also spends some time at Little Panther Daycare.
Q. What is the Panorama Schools mission statement, and how does that translate into serving students?
A. Our district’s mission statement is “Developing a community of learners who are responsible, motivated citizens with academic, career and volunteer experiences that prepare them for life’s next step.” In today’s rapidly changing world, students must possess critical thinking skills to effectively solve problems. It is essential that we approach problem-solving creatively and ensure students have ample opportunities to practice these skills during their education in Panorama. It’s estimated about 62% of Iowa high school students went to college last year, so we aren’t just preparing students to go to college. We also need to get them ready for the workforce. I think many leaders in our community would say critical thinking and creativity is something that should be a focus.
Q. What have you been doing since your first day on the job July 3?
A. I have been getting to know people and trying to remember names. Developing relationships and understanding what Panorama is all about. I appreciate everyone’s help throughout this transition. Everyone seems passionate about Panorama and that excites me even more as I get into the school year. My focus is on people, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. My hope is to be led by people’s needs and to resort to policy only when necessary. We now are diving into the day-to-day operations, which is exciting for me as it means we can finally start doing some important work. My ultimate goal is to create a fun and memorable culture for everyone. I always consider the purpose behind our decisions, and that purpose should be driven by our students. When making decisions, if it has a positive impact, then the answer is clear.
Q. Your family now has a home at Lake Panorama. Are you enjoying the lake community?
A. We are officially settled into our new home and definitely enjoying the area. The peaceful surroundings, trees, animal life and the feeling of being in nature have been very relaxing. We have used the beach multiple times, played pickleball on a few occasions, and spent a lot of time on evening walks.
Q. What are some things that prompted you to apply for this position?
A. One of the main reasons for my interest in Panorama is the alignment between their core values and my personal ones. Currently, the stated values for Panorama Schools are “Integrity, Perseverance, Growth.” The only one I would add is “Relationships.” During my application process, we did a lot of research on this Panorama community. I have noticed a strong sense of pride, close relationships, and numerous opportunities for families and kids, which only confirmed our decision to pursue this opportunity.
Q. Have you established some goals for the 2023/2024 school year?
A. In August, the school board and administration had a work session to establish our priorities in the areas of academic excellence, district culture and district operations. We’re making great efforts to ensure that our daily work is aligned with these priorities. Our focus on academic excellence goes beyond state assessment scores. It also means preparing our students for life after Panorama by putting a focus on life development. We want to create a culture of servant leadership under the district culture priority, setting a standard of service and leading by example. District operations are a priority as we aim to use resources efficiently and effectively while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We want to provide our staff and students with the necessary resources for success. Having a clear direction and purpose is crucial as it guides us towards making improvements each day. I firmly believe that, without a vision or purpose, there is no room for growth.
Q. Panorama Schools has three cross country meets on the 2023 schedule using a new course that begins and ends on school property, with most of the course on Lake Panorama’s south shore. What’s your take on this new partnership between Panorama and the Lake Panorama Association?
A. This partnership has opened up a unique opportunity for our students and community. The addition of the cross-country course has been an incredible experience for our runners, and we are excited to host three meets with over 20 teams participating. Other districts have shown an excitement in having their student-athletes compete in this type of environment. The athletic unions both jumped at the idea of having the state-qualifying meet on this course. I am truly appreciative of the hard work put in by the staff at Panorama Schools and LPA, and I hope we continue to work together for the benefit of our community. We are stronger when we work together.
Q. Any closing thoughts?
A. I want to say my family and I are excited to be in the Panorama area. The values and dedication to academic excellence are truly exciting, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community. I am looking forward to working with staff, students and community members to create a culture of growth and success. We have had a great start to this school year because of the administration and staff, and most importantly, our students. My door is always open, so I invite anyone to come in and have a conversation anytime.