Gary DeLacy, superintendent of the Clinton Community School District, was a finalist for the 2023-24 Iowa Superintendent of the Year award sponsored by the School Administrators of Iowa.
“SAI is pleased to celebrate the contributions and leadership of school superintendents dedicated to serving students and their communities,” said Lisa Remy, the association’s executive director.
The Clinton Community School District has recently expanded career options for students to support the Iowa Future Ready Initiative. The district has adopted a Portrait of a Graduate with input from the community and is currently looking to implement the skills of collaboration, critical thinking, adaptability, productivity and accountability, and social awareness. Clinton High School offers the Synergy program, an offshoot of the Iowa Big program which allows high school students to work hand in hand with community businesses and organizations to solve real life problems. Clinton High School also participates in the Clinton Career Awareness Center which offers nine career pathways for students to explore and get credentialed in. Clinton High School still offers a rigorous Advanced Placement program for students wanting to attend a four year college.
The district also has added support for social/emotional needs of students. The district has implemented Capturing Kids Hearts which provides staff and students procedures and routines to develop stronger relations. Clinton School District has entered a relationship with Life Connections to provide a mental health therapist in every building. The district has a therapeutic classroom at the second grade level. Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School have implemented the iJag program which supports students that are showing signs of dropping out of school.
This is DeLacy’s second tenure serving the Clinton Community School District. From 1985 to 2001, he served as a mathematics instructor and basketball coach at Clinton High School. After spending nine years as a principal at neighboring Camanche and seven years as a superintendent in Danville, Iowa, DeLacy returned to Clinton in 2017 as superintendent.
Nominated for the award by his peers, DeLacy will be recognized by the association at its Annual Conference in August 2024, along with Storm Lake Superintendent Stacey Cole who was recently selected as the recipient.
SAI, a statewide organization founded in 1987, represents more than 2,000 Iowa educational administrators. SAI's mission is to support, encourage and develop Iowa’s educational leaders and learners.
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For more information contact: Lisa Remy, SAI executive director
515-267-1115 | lremy@sai-iowa.org