The Ottumwa Community School District will be adding three new hires to its administrative ranks.
Brad McCloskey will be the new Associate Superintendent of the school district. McCloskey is currently the Middle School Principal and Director of Special Education at the Davis County Community School District. McCloskey began his teaching career at Ottumwa High School.
McCloskey is a graduate of Coe College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. He later earned his Master’s from Grand Canyon University in Education Administration and Leadership and will complete his Ed.S Program with Superintendency from Drake University in the fall of 2022.
In a news release, the district says McCloskey’s new responsibilities include direct administrative supervision of all PK-12+ curriculum and instruction. He will have oversight of important district elementary and secondary educational programs, at-risk, special education, ELL, and all building principals. McCloskey will play a critical role in supporting Superintendent McGrory’s implementation of the Vision of Excellence recommendations to transform Ottumwa Schools into a destination district.
The second individual is Kim Ledger, who will be the new principal of Pickwick Early Childhood Center. Ledger is currently the Elementary School Principal at the Pekin Community School District.
Ledger, a graduate of Ottumwa High School, earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s in School Counseling and her Educational Leadership endorsement in School Administration from Iowa State University.
Ledger will be leading a center that will be undergoing a transformation. Pickwick will become the home to all south side kindergarten classrooms starting in the 2022-2023 school year.
Stephanie Brownlee was named the new Communications Specialist. Brownlee previously served as a Marketing Specialist for the Fort Madison Community School District for the past two years.
Ottumwa Schools says Brownlee’s duties include creating brand awareness; promoting activities through social media and press releases; designing marketing materials; creating marketing campaigns for district buildings and programs; maintaining the district’s website; taking photographs and videos, and maintaining the visual standards that align with the district’s brand.
Brownlee is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Media Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. She plans to graduate in 2023.
Pending board approval, McCloskey and Ledger will start work on July 1st. Brownlee’s hire is effective May 15th.