Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) have selected Tom Lane to be its legislative liaison. Lane is the 2012-13 Superintendent of the Year selected by peers through the School Administrators of Iowa. He recently retired after 10 years as superintendent at Carlisle Community School District, where he also served as elementary principal.
Lane began his education career as a social studies teacher and has also been a counselor, coach and secondary principal. A graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in counselor education, Lane earned his administrative certification, specialist’s degree and doctorate in education leadership from Drake University.
“I’ve always valued the work of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies and had a passion for kids with special needs,” Lane said. “I am focused on building advocates for the AEAs at the grassroots level.”
Education is definitely a family business. His wife, Kathy, retired after a career as a first grade teacher. Son, Mark, is an elementary principal in Urbandale and son, Kelly, is an elementary PE teacher in Colorado Springs, CO. Daughter, Darcy, is legal counsel for the Board of Educational Examiners.
“I live 15 minutes from the Capitol, and I’ve always believed that talking and working with legislators was part of my responsibility to my colleagues,” Lane said. “As I considered other opportunities for work, I ultimately chose this work because it’s a great match for my passion and beliefs. I can’t imagine any better way to continue being involved in education.”
Dr. Norman Borlaug arguably did more to alleviate world hunger than anyone in history. To help celebrate his legacy, Iowa’s leaders have proclaimed October 16 as Dr. Norman Borlaug – World Food Prize Day. The World Food Prize Foundation has organized a series of events throughout the state for a week-long celebration and has coordinated with the AEAs to distribute a poster to promote awareness of Dr. Borlaug and global food security issues. A poster, accompanied by a letter from Gov. Branstad, will be delivered to each school via van delivery in the next two weeks.
On September 18, the Iowa Department of Education launched a public opinion survey of Iowans regarding the Next Generation Science Standards. The survey is part of a broader state effort to seek input on the new science standards, which represent a multi-state effort to develop a common set of learning expectations for students in kindergarten through high school.
The standards are internationally benchmarked and identify science and engineering practices and content with a focus on preparing K-12 students to go to college or to enter the workforce. To read the Next Generation Science Standards, visit http://www.nextgenscience.org/.
The survey will be open through Friday, October 11. To participate, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JBQM56P.
For more information about the Next Generation Science Standards Task Force, visit http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2951&Itemid=5238.
