Grant Names Iowa’s Assistant Principal of the Year

The School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) selected Karla Grant (MA ’99) as Iowa’s 2003-04 Assistant Principal of the Year. Grant is currently in her second year as assistant principal at Muscatine High School.

“She does an excellent job and we’re proud to have her representing MHS,” said Principal Dennis Heiman.

Troyce Fisher, executive director of SAI, said they are pleased to honor Grant for her contributions as a quality leader in education. “We commend her for her work with at-risk students and her leadership in school improvement initiatives,” she said.

Grant credits her success as an administrator to her skills of being a good listener, being visible, asking questions, and taking time to brighten someone’s day. “I also try to seek the simple pleasures that my job offers,” she said, “and I try to remember to have fun.”

Grant is currently taking courses for her Ph.D. focusing on leadership in the secondary school setting and is considering a dissertation study involving state funding for special education programs and services.

“Karla is clearly student centered in her approach to student learning and problem solving,” said Educational Administration Professor Larry Bartlett. “She is a reflective decision maker and has the necessary skills it takes to get parents, teachers, students, and the staff working on issues and concerns from the same direction.”

Before arriving in Muscatine, Grant was a principal for grades seven to 12 at the Tri-County Community School District in Thornburg for two years. Prior to that, she taught for ten years at the middle and high school levels as a behavioral disorder teacher.

“She’s very deserving,” said Tom Williams (BGS ’76), superintendent of the Muscatine school district. “We’re very lucky to have her here.”