Wiebers Named Director of Student Support and Equity

A familiar face will move from Summit Middle School to the Administrative Resource Center this summer.

Joy Wiebers

Joy Wiebers

Joy Wiebers has been hired as the Johnston Community School District’s Director of Student Support and Equity. She has been the principal of Summit Middle School (grades 6-7) since 2012.

This position is a re-purposing of the Director of Behavioral Programming, which was filled on an interim basis for the 2016-17 school year, following the retirement of Dr. Barb Rankin. It is a budget-neutral hire.

In her new position, Wiebers will focus on:

  • Leading district efforts to design and implement a cohesive K-12 Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in the areas of reading, math, and behavior (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports-PBIS;
  • Ensuring supports for students with mild-to-moderate special needs and other struggling learners are provided by staff with deep content expertise and training;
  • Developing a coordinated system of social, emotional, and behavioral supports to promote student well-being.

As the Director of Student Support and Equity, Wiebers will also oversee the district’s Extended Learning Coordinator, ESL Teachers, and ESL Support Teacher. She will work closely with all areas of student support services, including special education; teaching, learning, and innovation; and building student support facilitators. This position will also provide professional learning for all staff, particularly the TLC teachers, on MTSS supports.

“We are thrilled to have Mrs. Wiebers joining the district leadership team,” said Superintendent Corey Lunn.  “She has 16 years of experience in teaching, along with school administration and innovative professional learning strategies that have served our district very well. Her passion for teacher and student learning will be an incredible asset to our focus on student well-being in Johnston.”

Wiebers was hired as the Summit principal in 2012. Since assuming the lead role at Summit, Wiebers has served on a number of district-wide committees and in 2015 worked in a part-time position as the TLC Administrator Support, where she worked with principals to implement leadership and professional development at the administrative level.

Prior to coming to Johnston, she served as the principal and school improvement leader at Hiatt Middle School (Des Moines Public Schools) from 2010-12 and 2009-10, respectively. She has also worked as an elementary dean of students, special education support teachers, and resource room teacher, all for Des Moines Public Schools.

Wiebers earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2007 from Drake University, with a PreK-12 Principal/Special Education endorsement, Supervisor License, and Evaluator Approval. She has a bachelor’s degree from Central College in K-6 Elementary Education, with certifications in K-6 multi-categorical and reading.

“It’s an exciting honor to step into this new role,” Wiebers said. “I’m looking forward to working with educators across the district to implement best practices in student support methods.  These methods will result in increased student achievement and teachers who are equipped to educate learners with a variety of needs.”

Wiebers will begin her position on July 1, 2017, pending board approval at the April 24, 2017 meeting. She will be housed at the district’s Administrative Resource Center, but will spend the bulk of her time in buildings, working with teachers, support staff, and students.