The Montezuma School Board has hired a new secondary principal.
The new principal is Kelly O’Rourke.
Based on applicant-supplied materials, reference checks, and alignment to board and district goals, the board and superintendent selected three of the 17 applicants to interview on May 17.
Various district and community stakeholders interviewed the finalists and provided the superintendent and school board feedback about the candidate’s qualifications and fit for the position. Mr. O’Rourke is serving as a fourth grade teacher at Viola Gibson Elementary School in Cedar Rapids.
His teaching career has been geared toward the empowerment of students. He expresses a strong passion to educate young minds and help them blossom into well-rounded, responsible, and successful individuals.
Throughout the course of his career O’Rourke has focused on the implementation of “Universal Design for Learning” by focusing on personalized learning in a flexible lenvironment.
He has been passionate in his commitment to three things: maximizing individual student performance; inspiring students’ interest in technology; and instilling a sense of self-worth among all students.
His skills include collaborative leadership, development in technology, creating flexible learning environments, creative thinking, and the ability to communicate to all stakeholders.
Mr. O’Rourke said he seeks strong working relationships with everyone involved in his school. He has also spent several seasons serving as a coach. In his time as an assistant varsity baseball coach, his team at Cedar Rapids Washington made the state tournament in back-to-back years. This was highlighted by a state runner-up finish in 2019.
Over the past four years, he returned to the youth side of coaching with 212 Sports Academy. Within this organization he has had the opportunity to organize and host tournaments along with coaching athletes from grades 4-11.
Mr. O’Rourke lives in Williamsburg with his wife, Kaylee, and their son, Koy. O’Rourke said, “The O’Rourke’s are excited to join the Montezuma community and we look forward to getting to know students, staff, and community members.”
Montezuma Superintendent Nathan Wood said, “We are extremely excited to have Mr. O’Rourke join our team, and lead the secondary building starting in July.”
“It was clear to me that Mr. O’Rourke’s passion for learning, positive attitude and demeanor, and work ethic all align with our school goals to be the best in everything we do, Wood said.
“Mr. O’Rourke spoke directly with myself and the board about how he plans to collaborate with staff and student families to provide all of our students with the academic and social skills and experiences to make them successful students, and ultimately, successful adults.”
O’Rourke will take over responsibilities as the Montezuma Community School secondary principal on July 1.
Story source: Montezuma Community Schools