There is a story often told about rural America, a narrative of decline, of dwindling populations and boarded-up main streets, of young people leaving for brighter city lights and never looking back. It is a story of quiet diminishment. But in the northwest corner of Iowa, nestled in the heart of a hardworking, blue-collar town, the Sheldon Community School District is telling a different story altogether. It is a story of growth, of innovation, of state and national recognition, and of a community so deeply invested in its children that it is actively reversing the trend, drawing families in and building a future that feels not just stable, but exceptionally bright.
To understand Sheldon, you have to understand that the school district is not just a collection of buildings where education happens. It is the town’s heart, its central nervous system, and its most powerful engine of progress. It’s a place where a state-of-the-art, high school renovation, funded by a community-approved bond, is rising as a testament to a collective investment in the future. It’s a place of collaboration, where the school, local community college, and city understand they are better when they work together, as evidenced by their investments in a shared athletic complex. A place where, for over 50 years, the school auditorium has transformed into a magical, multi show summer theatre season, a tradition unmatched anywhere else in Iowa, and perhaps across the country.
This is a story about a school district that has achieved the rarest of feats: it has held onto the deep-rooted values of its past while relentlessly innovating for the future. It is a story about how, through a quiet commitment to excellence, a small Iowa town built something truly extraordinary.
From Humble Schoolhouses to a National Blue Ribbon
The history of the Sheldon Community School District is a microcosm of American educational evolution. It began in the late 19th century with humble schoolhouses, scattered points of light on the prairie. Over the decades, through strategic consolidations with the communities of Ashton, Archer, and Matlock, and the steady march of progress, it evolved into the modern district it is today, serving a growing population of nearly 1,200 students from Pre-K through twelfth grade.
This evolution is guided by a mission statement that is both simple and profound: “The mission of the Sheldon Community School District is to prepare all learners to be productive citizens.” This is followed by a motto that is less a platitude and more a daily practice: “Striving for Excellence in Education.”
And strive they do. While many rural Iowa schools have seen their enrollment numbers shrink over the years, Sheldon’s certified headcount has been on a gradual, upward trend for the better part of a decade, a clear, data-driven sign that something special is happening here. The accolades speak for themselves. In 2024, East Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School and is one of only 16 schools in the entire state of Iowa, placing it in the top 2%, to earn an “Exceptional” rating. Sheldon teachers continue to excel, as demonstrated by a second educator in the past three years being named a finalist for the Iowa Teacher of the Year. The district’s leadership is also top-tier, with two of its principals, Jason Groendyke at the elementary school and Cindy Barwick at the middle school, having been named Iowa Principal of the Year. This is not a district that is just getting by; it is a district that is leading the way.
A Place for Every Learner
The secret to Sheldon’s success is not a single program or a flashy initiative. It is a deep, systemic commitment to meeting every single student where they are. The foundation of this commitment is their Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), a framework designed to ensure every student’s academic and social-emotional needs are met.
“Our focus begins with strengthening Tier 1 instruction,” the district’s leadership explains, referring to the high-quality, evidence-based teaching that every student receives in the general classroom. This is the bedrock. From there, a comprehensive web of support is woven around it. The K-8 Title I program provides targeted literacy support. The K-12 At-Risk program identifies and assists students who may face barriers to success. And a comprehensive K-12 English Learner (EL) program, serving a growing multilingual population, uses careful screening upon enrollment and ELPA scores to provide tiered newcomer classes and targeted pull-out services, all while maintaining a strong focus on integration within the main classroom.
This philosophy of inclusion extends to every type of learner. The Talented and Gifted (TAG) program offers enrichment opportunities from the earliest grades, evolving into advanced, self-directed learning experiences in high school, complete with career exploration and academic coaching. The district also boasts strong Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways in Agriculture, Industrial Technology, Family and Consumer Science, and Business, which work in concert with a robust Work-Based Learning program to provide students with real-world experiences through internships and job shadowing.
But perhaps the most powerful and human example of Sheldon’s commitment to inclusion is its unique partnership with Village Northwest Unlimited (VNU), a supportive community for adults with disabilities. “This partnership creates wonderful opportunities for our students and staff to build meaningful relationships with VNU residents,” the district shares. Through these interactions, students learn the profound importance of inclusion firsthand, and help VNU residents live lives filled with purpose and dignity. It is an opportunity that enriches the entire school community, fostering a level of empathy and understanding that can never be taught from a textbook.
The Heartbeat of the Community
In Sheldon, the school day doesn’t end when the final bell rings. The district is a vibrant hub of activity, offering a vast array of extracurriculars that rival those of much larger communities. There are the traditional Iowa sports, such as football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, soccer, and more; and a host of clubs for every interest, including Game Club, Science Club, Spanish Club, Library Club, FCCLA, FBLA, and Skill USA.
However, two areas stand out as pillars of the Sheldon experience: the arts and community connection. The district has been a multi-year national award winner as one of the Best Communities for Music Education, a reflection of a deep and sustained investment in band and choir. And then there is the summer theatre. For over 50 years, Sheldon has proudly run its one-of-a-kind summer theatre season, a beloved tradition that brings together students, staff, and the entire community for a celebration of creativity and storytelling.
The school district’s role as a community hub is woven into its operations. It hosts Family Nights to strengthen the bond between home and school, and runs a Summer Lunch Program providing free meals and transportation to all youth in the community, regardless of which school they attend. The partnership with the City of Sheldon to build new ball fields is another tangible example of this deep integration, which led to the community being recognized as an ‘All-Star Community’ by the Iowa League of Cities.
This sense of community extends to a robust support system for students. Dedicated school counselors provide critical academic and emotional support, collaborating with regional agencies to ensure students have access to behavioral and mental health services when needed. The impactful Champions Mentorship Program pairs high school student mentors with elementary students, fostering cross-grade relationships that support the development of younger learners.
Leadership from Within
The engine driving this culture of excellence and opportunity is a unique and empowering leadership model. Sheldon is a “Leader in Me” school district, a philosophy that focuses on building leadership capacity in all students and staff. The school believes developing student leadership skills is vital to preparing students for future success by fostering responsibility, confidence, and the ability to positively impact those around them.
One key avenue for teacher leadership is the Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) model, led by exceptional instructional coaches who support and empower their peers. This model provides teachers with a diverse menu of leadership opportunities. They can become a Lead Teacher, a Professional Development Presenter, a Mentor to new educators, or serve on critical bodies like the Building Leadership Team (BLT), a Lighthouse Team, or the Leadership Alliance. But the most unique component is the “Passion Project,” a truly innovative program that allows teachers to provide leadership in areas they are personally passionate about, fostering a deep sense of ownership and personal investment in their professional growth. This collaborative work is often done through the Professional Learning Community (PLC) process, ensuring that data and best practices are shared effectively.
This collaborative and compassionate ethos is mirrored in the district’s Superintendent, Cory Myer. “I lead through collaboration, guided by compassion, and rooted in common-sense decision making,” he says, “just as we ask our students to lead in their classrooms, activities, and communities.” He speaks with immense pride about his dedicated staff, who “go above and beyond to support every child,” and about the district’s ability to achieve impressive academic outcomes across all student groups, even as the student population grows in diversity and economic need.
It is this commitment to equity that has led the district to provide what it calls a “truly free education.” Recognizing that its families come from a variety of financial circumstances, Sheldon charges no school fees and even provides free driver’s education and activity tickets for its high school students. It is a tangible, powerful statement that every child, regardless of their family’s income, deserves access to every opportunity.
Striving for an Even Brighter Future
Despite its long list of accolades, Sheldon is not a district that rests on its laurels. The motto, after all, is “Striving for Excellence.” The district is in a constant state of self-improvement, with several key initiatives designed to strengthen teaching and learning even further.
A major focus for the coming year is professional development centered on the “7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom,” a framework designed to support all learners, particularly the growing EL population. To enhance mathematics instruction, the district is exploring an updated secondary curriculum and intensifying its focus on closing skill gaps, supported by a staff book study on the “5 Best Practices in Mathematics Instruction”. And to help students become more effective and confident writers, educators will receive training in the “thinkSRSD” framework, a research-based approach to writing instruction.
These initiatives are a clear signal that for Sheldon, excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey. As the superintendent, Cory Myer says to current and prospective families, “Sheldon is a place where your child will be known, supported, and challenged. We’re proud of where we are, excited about where we’re going, and would be honored to have you as part of our school family.”
It is a compelling invitation, backed by a legacy of achievement that includes not just academic awards, but an Olympic legacy as well—three Sheldon alumni have competed in the games, two in wrestling and one in the hammer throw. It is a final, powerful reminder that from this small corner of rural Iowa, anything is possible. In a world full of stories about what’s being lost in rural America, the Sheldon Community School District is a powerful, inspiring story about what is being built.
Quotes
“Sheldon is a place where your child will be known, supported, and challenged.”
“We’re proud of where we are, excited about where we’re going, and would be honored to have you as part of our school family.”
