Cedar Rapids Community School District

Meet Doug Thompson. For nearly three decades, he’s helped keep Cedar Rapids Community School District buildings clean, safe and ready for students and staff.

But at Grant Wood Elementary, where he serves as building engineer, Thompson’s impact extends beyond the responsibilities in his job description.

He’s also helping students hit their stride… literally.

Thompson started with CRCSD in the late 90s, working most of his time at Grant Wood. As building engineer, he wants to “make sure the building’s clean and safe for the kids and staff.”

It’s a role he enjoys because he says no two days are exactly the same.

“I just like the variety of different things, being with the kids and helping the teachers out,” Thompson said.

One of those “different things” has become a longtime passion: helping with Grant Wood’s running club.

Thompson is quick to point out that he didn’t start the club. Instead, he serves as an advisor and helps make sure everything is ready for the students, parents and other volunteers who make it possible.

“We’ve got a lot of volunteers and parents that help out with the running club, and I just help kind of get things ready for them,” he said.

The club meets two mornings a week during six-week sessions in both the fall and spring. On Tuesdays and Fridays, students who want to participate arrive at 8 a.m. and spend about 40 minutes running on the trail around Grant Wood.

And everyone is welcome.

Students from preschool through fifth grade participate, with Thompson estimating that an average morning brings up to 60 young runners to the trail.

The students aren’t just running laps. Each session gives them something to work toward. In the spring, the group has trained for the Cedar Rapids Fire Memorial Run, while the fall running club prepares for a PTA-organized fun run.

“They really enjoy working toward an ultimate competition,” Thompson said. “Hopefully they can continue running and continue doing that in high school.”

After helping with the program since around the time it began in 2008, Thompson has had the opportunity to watch a lot of young runners discover they can go farther than they thought.

“I just like the progress that the kids make from when they first start running to the end,” he said.

The benefits can carry back into the classroom, too. Thompson said teachers have noticed a difference in students after they participate in the morning activity.

“A lot of the teachers comment about how calmer they are when they start school,” he said.

For Thompson, the running club is also a reminder of what can happen when staff members find ways to connect with students outside of their regular responsibilities.

“You just don’t know the capability that the students have beyond their learning,” he said.

It’s one reason Thompson encourages others to consider a career with CRCSD. There are opportunities throughout the district to become part of students’ lives in ways that might not be obvious from a job description.

“All the extra activities that the school district has,” Thompson said, are part of what has made his career rewarding.

A Cedar Rapids native, Thompson’s commitment to service doesn’t end when he leaves Grant Wood. Outside of work, he volunteers with Dogs Forever, a Cedar Rapids organization dedicated to helping dogs find homes.

“I just like to keep busy.”

Big news, district families! 🚀 Our brand-new website and official mobile app are live!

We’ve made staying connected to your child’s school easier than ever. With our new mobile app, everything you need is right in the palm of your hand:
📱 Customized Calendars & News: Never miss an event or announcement! Select and follow only the specific schools and athletic calendars that matter to your family.
💬 Direct 2-Way Classroom Chat: Communicate safely and directly with your student’s teachers, message school staff, and stay in the loop on classroom updates—all in real time.

Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3:
1️⃣ Search for CRCSD Connections in the App Store or Google Play Store and download for free.
2️⃣ Open the app and pick your favorite school feeds to follow.
3️⃣ Log in using your Infinite Campus parent portal email, click "Forgot Password," and follow the steps to set your password and log in to unlock 2-way teacher chat!

📲 Download today so you’re fully connected for the new school year! Link to download and step-by-step guide below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YYo6Lpd3eL-z2xFx8LbS_SAQI8ealpA/view?usp=sharing

A big thank you to the Indivisible Group for their generous support of Van Buren Elementary. We appreciate your back to school donations of backpacks and other needed classroom supplies that will help our students and teachers start the year ready to learn. Your kindness and commitment to supporting our Charger community make a meaningful difference.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure our students have the tools, they need to succeed!

A weekly popcorn perk for staff at the Educational Leadership and Support Center (ELSC)!

Every Wednesday a rotation of employees signs up to man the machine in the break room. Today it’s Lisa McMillen-Boese (technology integration) and Olivia Pikokivaka (purchasing manager).

For 25 cents you can snag a bag of buttery goodness with the money going toward the hospitality fund. Bonus, an array of flavorings await.

Here’s what’s poppin’ at ELSC.

Ready to make this school year the best one yet? 📚✏️

Back-to-school season is officially here! Whether your family is returning or joining us for the first time, here are 4 simple tips to help set your students up for a smooth, confident start:

1️⃣ Reset the Clock: Start shifting bedtime and morning routines 15–30 minutes earlier this week so those early alarm clocks don't come as a shock.
2️⃣ Set Up a Homework Station: Find a quiet, well-lit spot at home stocked with basic supplies—a dedicated space helps build focus!
3️⃣ Talk It Out: Ask your student how they’re feeling about the new year. A brief chat can ease first-day jitters!

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back!

Behind every great school year is a lot of heart, vision, and preparation! 📚✨

Our executive leadership team just wrapped up an intensive two-day period dedicated to planning, collaborating, and aligning our goals for the upcoming school year. From analyzing key district priorities to fine-tuning support systems for our incredible teachers and staff, this time was all about making sure every single student in our community is set up to thrive.

We are leaving these sessions energized, focused, and deeply committed to making this our strongest year yet. We can’t wait to welcome our students and families back into our buildings! 🎒🍎🚌

Congratulations to the Kennedy High School Band on being selected for the prestigious Music for All National Concert Band Festival! 🎷🥁 This national recognition is a testament to the dedication, talent, and hard work of our incredible students and directors. We couldn't be prouder!

🚨HUGE NEWS🚨
The CR Kennedy Band has been selected the highly prestigious Music For All National Concert Band Festival! This festival is the premier high school band festival in the entire country. This is a first for Kennedy Band and they are the only school representing all of Iowa! They will travel to Indianapolis in April to perform, get feedback from the top band clinicians in the country, and attend workshops! We are incredibly proud of this achievement! Congrats to all of the students and our amazing directors, Mrs. Fleer and Mrs. Williamson! 🎶🎵🎷🥁🎺

Read More: https://musicforall.org/announcing-2027-ensembles-music-for-all-national-festival

Meet Matthew Eveland. For six winters, he lived a dream in Colorado then returned home to support staff as a Human Resources Specialist for the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD).

After graduating from Kennedy High School and then the University of Iowa in 2017, the Cedar Rapids native headed west to Summit County, Colorado, about an hour outside Denver. His goal was simple: He wanted to ski.

“I’d always had a dream to become a skier,” Eveland said. “I’d been skiing infrequently growing up, but I really wanted to embrace that and fulfill that dream after college.”

So he did.

Eveland spent six winters skiing nearly every day at some of Colorado’s world-class resorts. He also made the mountains his workplace, starting out running ski lifts before eventually helping organize and run a ski lift department.

“It was a dream come true,” he said. “Every day was truly a dream come true.”

Ask him about his favorite runs and he can still name them: Dragon’s Teeth at Vail, Rambo at Crested Butte and Flying Dutchman at Keystone among them.

But eventually, Matthew felt it was time to come home.

“You can’t live in Neverland forever,” he said.

Being in Colorado meant missing time with his family, and he also wanted to pursue work in public service. CRCSD offered an opportunity to do both.

“I wanted to return to my family and also return to something more public service related,” Eveland said. “I thought this was a good fit upon my return, and so I’m happy to be back with family and also to support an institution I’m a product of and have benefited so much from.”

Today, approaching three years with the district, his work supports some 2,500 employees.

“Every day is a little different,” Eveland said. “Right now in the summer, we’re working to process new hires, transfers and make sure everyone is in their position for the first day of school.”

He discovered early in his career that people sometimes need someone to help them successfully navigate the workplace, especially young employees.

“I recognized that they needed support, direction and someone to kind of bridge the gap as a young person to professional standards in the workplace,” he said.

For him, employee relations ultimately comes down to making sure people feel supported where they work.

“I believe employees are entitled to a nice, easy-going work environment,” he said. “However I can help to support that for them, for their administrators and ultimately for the students, I’m happy to support that.”

His skiing days aren’t completely behind him.

“I still ski, very rarely, much less than I used to,” Eveland said. “But every day is the best day ever when you’re on the mountain.”

That enthusiasm now extends to the community he came home to serve. He encourages others to consider the impact they can make through careers in public education.

“I would recommend community members embrace public service, support local institutions and do whatever you can to support the next generation,” Eveland said, “to ensure that the public institution of education remains strong and prominent and impactful for generations to come.”