News Releases

Rich Hatcher

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Rich Hatcher as the new principal of Kennedy Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year, pending approval by the Board of Education at its March meeting. Hatcher, who currently serves as assistant principal at Western Dubuque High School, replaces Nick Hess, who was recently named principal of Marshall Elementary School in the district.

As principal of Kennedy, Hatcher will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operations of the school, which serves approximately 585 students and has over 81 professional and support staff.

Hatcher assumes this new role after serving as assistant principal of Western Dubuque High School since 2017. Prior to his time in the Western Dubuque Community School District, he was a student needs facilitator at Jefferson Middle School in Dubuque from 2014-2017 and was an instructional coach and talented/gifted facilitator at Jefferson from 2007-2014. Prior to that, he was a science and geography teacher at Williams Intermediate School and F.L. Smart Middle School, respectively, which are both in Davenport, Iowa.

“Rich is an energetic, relationship-driven administrator who thrives on building connections with families, student and staff,” said Superintendent of Schools Amy Hawkins. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to the Dubuque Community School District and we are excited for all he will bring to this role at Kennedy.”

Hatcher holds a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, a master of educational leadership degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill.

We are pleased to present the Spring 2022-2023 K-12 Virtual Student Art Gallery, highlighting the amazing artwork of our students.

The exhibit features the ability to virtually walk through a curated gallery of work — and we hope you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the exhibit as the vision of these talented student artists comes to life.

VIEW THE VIRTUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION

Registration for free four-year-old preschool in the Dubuque Community School District will begin on Monday, Jan. 9. This includes all 12 Dubuque public elementary schools offering preschool through the Statewide Voluntary Free Preschool Program.

Parents and guardians may register students in person at the selected site, beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, January 9.

Proof-of-age, preferably a birth certificate, is required to register a student. Other accepted proof-of-age documents include a passport or signed immunization record.

Preschool registration paperwork is available to complete in advance beginning on the district’s preschool webpage or in-person at all elementary schools. You can also find registration details and forms, as well as additional preschool information, online at www.dbqschools.org/preschool.

Free four-year-old preschool is open to students who are four by September 15. For additional registration questions, individuals should contact the school they are interested in registering at.

Space may be limited in some facilities and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for preschool is not based on geography and all sites are open to residents within the Dubuque Community School District.

In addition to spots in Dubuque’s public schools, a variety of community preschool partners also offer free four-year-old preschool.

The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is funded by the State of Iowa and facilitated locally by the Dubuque Community School District.

Need help registering your student?
Looking for a job in an amazing school district?

We are hitting the road and bringing the district to you!

Visit our registration and human resources teams at one of our stops throughout the community from Monday, July 26, through Tuesday, August 3.

At each stop:

• Our registration team will be on hand to assist families in completing online registration for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.
• Our human resources team will take applications and conduct on-the-spot interviews for a variety of district jobs, including paraprofessional, transportation and food/nutrition positions.
• Computers with internet access will be provided – and we even have a few treats in store!
• NOTE: A Marshallese interpreter will be available at each stop.

Join us at one of the following times:

Monday, July 26, from 1-3 p.m.
Bee Branch (in the parking lot near the 22nd street bridge)

Tuesday, July 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Dubuque County Fair (Admission to the Dubuque County Fair is FREE this day!)

Wednesday, July 28, from 9-11 a.m.
Comiskey Park

Thursday, July 29, from 9-11 a.m.
Asbury Park

Friday, July 30, from 1-3 p.m.
Flora Park

Monday, August 2, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Heritage Pond

Tuesday, August 3, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Murphy Park

We look forward to seeing you!

The Dubuque Community School District has again been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

This is the fourth consecutive year the district has received the honor.

Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“The district has long recognized the value of music education in our schools, and music remains an integral part of our curricular and extracurricular offerings,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “Our district commitment is underscored by tremendous partnerships throughout our community that support our work to expose students to music education. This honor is truly a community honor.”

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

We are pleased to present the 2021 Dubuque-Area K-12 Virtual Art Exhibition, a way to highlight student work in a year that makes in unable to do so in person.

The exhibit features the ability to virtually walk through a curated gallery of work — and we hope you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the exhibit as the vision of these talented student artists comes to life.

VIEW THE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION

HOSTED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

In order to assist in providing support for students and families needing internet connectivity, the Dubuque Community School District has purchased and installed outdoor wireless access points to provide free Wi-Fi access in parking lots at all 19 school buildings in the district. The district will be adding signage to these locations in the future.

These access points provide free internet access between 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. District-owned devices issued to staff and students will connect automatically to the district network as they do normally. Users with non-district devices can select the “DCSD-Public” Wif-Fi network. Those utilizing a Wi-Fi zone will be able to do so from their vehicle in order to reinforce appropriate physical distancing efforts.

Locations are as follows:

• Alta Vista Campus: Bus Lane
• Audubon Elementary School: Staff Parking Lot
• Bryant Elementary School: Staff Parking Lot
• Carver Elementary School: Bus Lane
• Eisenhower Elementary School: Upper Staff Parking Lot
• Fulton Elementary School: Staff Parking Lot
• Hempstead High School: Bus Lane and Main Entrance (Flagpole) Parking Lot
• Hoover Elementary School: Staff Parking Lot
• Irving Elementary School: Main Parking Lot
• Jefferson Middle School: Rear Parking Lot
• Kennedy Elementary School: Bus Lane
• Lincoln Elementary School: Bus Lane
• Marshall Elementary School: Staff Parking Lot
• Prescott Elementary School: Bus Lane
• Roosevelt Middle School: Front Drop Off by Library and Rear Bus Lane
• Sageville Elementary School: Bus Lane
• Senior High School: Bus Lane and Main Parking Lot Near Dalzell Field Ticket Booth
• Table Mound Elementary School: Main Parking Lot Near Entrance
• Washington Middle School: Parking Lot Near Smokestack

Brenda Duvel

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Brenda Duvel as the district’s next executive director of special education. Duvel will assume this position after serving as principal of Kennedy Elementary School during the 2018-2019 school year.

In this role, Duvel will be responsible for the overall management and coordination of the district’s special education program, while also serving as a liaison between the district, the Area Education Agency, parents and the various community agencies.

“As our search progressed, it became increasingly clear that Brenda possesses the right special education expertise, leadership experience and interpersonal skills to lead this critical area of the district into the future,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of schools. “We are pleased to welcome her to our executive leadership team.”

Read More about “Kennedy Principal Named District Executive Director of Special Education”

The Dubuque Community School District has named new principals at Bryant Elementary School and Kennedy Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year, pending School Board approval at its April 9 meeting.

Megan Richardson, currently an instructional coach at Irving Elementary School, will assume the principal role at Bryant Elementary School. Brenda Duvel, currently an assistant principal at Roosevelt Middle School, will assume the principal role at Kennedy Elementary School.

“Megan and Brenda have both exhibited outstanding leadership in our district and they possess the skills and enthusiasm we look for in members of our leadership team,” said Superintendent of Schools Stan Rheingans. “They stood out among a pool of extremely strong candidates and we are excited to have them moving into these new roles.”

Read More about “District Names New Bryant and Kennedy Principals for 2018-2019”