OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Oskaloosa Schools has transformed, and educators feel the difference. What was once a district facing communication challenges and high staff turnover has transformed into a place where staff feel valued, heard, and empowered. The latest staff culture survey results tell the story—Oskaloosa’s workplace culture score soared from 37 to 44, crushing the global industry average of 14.9.
A remarkable transformation continues at Oskaloosa Schools, and teachers say the results speak for themselves. Staff survey results from the second trimester show a continued improvement in workplace culture.
“The overall culture within the school district is fantastic,” said Beverly Jenkinson, president of the Oskaloosa Education Association. “Communication has been phenomenal between teachers and administration, and conversations about decision-making have been great.”
The most notable shift came at Oskaloosa Middle School, where scores from the first trimester to the second trimester surged by 18 points. The high school saw a 10-point gain, and the elementary school improved by one point.
Second Trimester Culture Data
Elementary: +1 point (47 → 48)
Middle School: +18 points (31 → 49)
High School: +10 points (28 → 38)
District Overall: +7 points (37 → 48)
Global industry average: 14.9
The survey reveals that 84.5% of Oskaloosa educators rated the district a 7 or higher when asked if they would recommend Oskaloosa Schools to job-seeking friends or as a place to send their children.
A Culture of Communication and Respect
Educators credit the district’s leadership with fostering an environment of collaboration and trust. “Teachers are way more involved in every decision now,” Jenkinson said. “Years ago, it was all top-down information. Now, we have school leadership teams and a district leadership team, all working together.”
Jenkinson recalled a time in the past when communication was strained. “There was no alignment between administration and the superintendent,” she said. “Turnover was constant, and principals weren’t on the same page. Now, that’s changed.”
Tamara Knudston, a veteran science teacher at Oskaloosa High School, echoed that sentiment. “It is amazing,” she said. “We’ve had such a shift into a nice climate and culture. Everybody feels like they’re cared for.”
For Knudston, the changes go beyond policy—they’re personal. “I don’t get a sick feeling when I walk into the building anymore,” she said. “This is a place where I love coming to teach each morning.”
She compared the district’s current environment to her past experiences. “I taught at a really supportive school district before coming here, and I have that same feeling now—but even better.”
At Oskaloosa Elementary School, educators are also seeing the benefits of a positive cultural shift. Third-grade teacher Keri Pietan, who has been with the district for eight years, notes a significant transformation in how teachers collaborate and make decisions.
“The culture is in a better place now than it’s ever been,” Pietan said. “A lot of that comes from having healthy teams within our grade levels. We know we have the support of our administrators and each other, which gives us the confidence to make the best choices for our students.”
Pietan compared today’s environment to when she first started at Oskaloosa Elementary. “Eight years ago, it was a lot of ‘This is how we do things, don’t ask questions,’” she said. “Now, we’re encouraged to try new things, reflect, and grow. If something works, great. If not, we talk about it and learn together.”
That culture of trust and collaboration has helped teachers feel empowered and supported, creating an environment where both staff and students thrive.
Leadership Coaching Boosts School Success
Leadership coaching and advice from professionals have helped our schools make big improvements. Just like top companies use coaching to build strong leaders, improve communication, and create a positive culture, our schools are using these same ideas. By helping our teachers and school leaders grow and work together, we create a better learning environment for students. Expert guidance from outside education has made a real difference in strengthening our schools and supporting student success.
“Executive coaching has been a game-changer for me as a leader,” says Clint Gingerich, Oskaloosa Middle School Asoc. Principal. “Having a thought partner, outside perspective, and tools to utilize have given me strategies to be a better listener and ultimately build capacity in our teams at the middle school. This has strengthened collaboration in our building, which has led to growth in our culture scores. Coaching has been essential in strengthening our team culture as we are more equipped to live our cultural commitments and ultimately keep our focus on moving students forward.”
The Road Ahead
As Oskaloosa Schools continue to build on this progress, educators remain optimistic about the future. The district is only points from moving from a “favorable” workplace to becoming an ‘Excellent’ workplace, according to a national Employee Net Promoter Score, and Jenkinson says, “Together, we are getting there.”
For teachers like Knudston, the changes have been nothing short of transformational. “This is a great community to be in,” she said. “And it just keeps getting better.”
And Pietan echoes that sentiment as well, “It’s a great place to be. I love working here. I love coming to work.”
