OSKALOOSA, Iowa – In a conference room in the basement of the MidWest One bank with a far different feel than a traditional classroom, Oskaloosa students are learning what it means to communicate professionally, collaborate with adults, think critically under pressure, and take responsibility for work that matters. These moments are not accidental. They are the intentional result of a five-year effort by Oskaloosa Schools to define what graduates truly need beyond high school and then build learning experiences that bring those competencies to life.

At the center of that work is the district’s Portrait of a Learner, a framework that identifies six key competencies every Oskaloosa graduate should demonstrate: coachability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, curiosity, and citizenship. Rather than treating those traits as abstract ideals, the district has focused on embedding them into authentic learning opportunities that students experience every day.

Programs like Building Trades, Spirit Cafe, Oskaloosa Video Production (OVP), Work Experience, and the Innovation Hub have become living laboratories for these competencies. Each program places students in real-world environments where success depends not on memorization, but on how students interact, problem-solve and adapt.

“Businesses have been asking for these skills for years,” said Oskaloosa High School Principal Jeff Kirby. “They’re not asking schools to train kids for one job. They’re asking for people who can collaborate, communicate, show up prepared and solve problems. That’s about developing productive citizens.”

Those expectations are especially visible in the Innovation Hub, an off-campus learning program where students work on real projects for local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations. Students choose their projects, manage their time, and respond to feedback from external stakeholders.

Lana Watters, an Innovation Hub student, said that accountability changes how students approach their work.

“How well we do it and how efficiently we get it done will either make or break who will work with us in the future,” she said. “If we do a good job, more people will trust us.”

That sense of responsibility directly reflects the Portrait of a Learner’s focus on citizenship, which emphasizes acting in the best interest of others and understanding one’s role in the larger community. When students know their work affects real people, the learning carries weight.

Communication is another competency students say develops quickly. Taylor Roovda recalled working with a local business and receiving direct feedback on professional expectations.

“They gave us a lot of feedback on what we were wearing,” she said. “We came straight from school in sweatpants, and that didn’t fit the setting. We learned fast how important that is.”

For district leaders, those lessons are exactly the point. Marcia DeVore, Director of Teaching and Learning, has said the Portrait of a Learner is about ensuring students can transfer skills across settings, not just succeed in one classroom.

“When students connect their learning to real-life experiences, engagement goes up, and transferability goes up,” DeVore said. “They’re not just learning a skill, but also when and how to apply that skill in multiple contexts.”

Collaboration and coachability are often tested when students are given freedom rather than step-by-step instructions. In the Innovation Hub, there are no traditional rubrics outlining every requirement. Students are expected to seek feedback, adjust their approach and work through challenges as a team.

“Our rubric is basically the six competencies,” said Lilia Morris, an Innovation Hub student. “You don’t get a checklist. You have a goal, and you have to figure out how to get there.”

That lack of structure forces students to practice critical thinking, defined in the Portrait as gathering information, considering perspectives, and generating solutions. Rian Allman described one of the biggest lessons as learning that progress is not always linear.

“Sometimes structure takes no structure at all,” he said. “If you want to build something meaningful, it’s not going to be done in a week or two.”

Curiosity also plays a central role. Students are encouraged to ask questions, explore interests and even discover what they do not want to pursue. Aamir Wilcoxon said the experience helped him realize it is acceptable to ask for guidance.

“It made me feel like it’s OK to ask for help,” he said.

Kirby believes that type of growth rarely happens when learning is confined to the traditional school environment.

“Schools have their own culture,” he said. “If we want students to practice real-world skills, we need to put them in real-world environments.”

That philosophy extends across district programs. Building Trades students learn teamwork and problem-solving by constructing real structures. Spirit Cafe students practice communication and collaboration while running a business open to the public. OVP students tell community stories through professional-grade media production. Each program offers a different pathway, but all point back to the same competencies.

The work has also addressed a broader challenge facing schools nationwide: student engagement. Leaders have found that when learning feels purposeful, attendance improves and motivation increases.

“I’ve had students call on snow days asking if they can come in because they have deadlines,” Kirby said. “That’s the best example of engagement I can give.”

The Portrait of a Learner is not a poster on a wall in Oskaloosa Schools. It is a living framework shaping how students learn, work, and grow. Through authentic, work-based experiences, students are not just preparing to graduate. They are practicing the mindsets and skills they will carry into careers, college, and civic life, proving that when learning is real, it lasts.

DES MOINES – Iowa Senator Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa, announced today his decision to not seek reelection in 2026 and retire from the Iowa Senate. Sen. Rozenboom was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2012 and represents Senate District 19, which covers all of Jasper County and portions of Mahaska and Marion counties. Along with his committee assignments, Sen. Rozenboom serves as the Senate President Pro Tempore.

“Serving for 14 years in the Iowa Senate has been the highlight of my life,” said Sen. Rozenboom. “I ran for the Senate in 2012 because I was concerned with runaway spending, plans for tax hikes, and an agenda that continually threatened Iowa agriculture and Iowa’s future. Rather than sit on the sidelines and complain, I ran for the Iowa Senate to change the direction of this state.”

“Since Republicans took the majority in 2016, I have had the opportunity to be a part of something special. Senate Republicans put the state budget back on track by passing responsible, sustainable budgets and moving Iowa from one of the highest income tax states in the country to one of the lowest. After supporting multiple property tax relief packages over the last 8 years, this year, I am eager to vote one more time to put taxpayers first and reduce the cost of government.”

“While fiscal responsibility was an important priority, it was not the only issue facing this state. I was privileged to play a leading role in creating policy to improve water quality in Iowa. In 2018 we passed what I consider to be the most significant water quality legislation ever passed in the state of Iowa. We provided dedicated and ongoing funding to improve the quality of Iowa rivers and streams with Senate File 512. This bill created incentives for Iowa landowners to improve the quality of Iowa’s water without the heavy hand of government regulation or confiscation of property.”

“I have long been a champion of school choice. It was an honor to chair the Senate Education Committee and lead on the passage of one of the most robust school choice laws in the country. Parents and students now all have the opportunity to find the school that best fits their needs.”

“Tax cuts, water quality, and school choice are important parts of making Iowa a better place to live, but ultimately none of those policies matter if Iowans do not have the right to life. The pro-life policies advanced in my time may be the most important votes I took. From stopping taxpayer funding of abortion providers and a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion, to the heartbeat bill and the life amendment, no other issue is as close to my heart as the pro-life cause. I remain humbled to be a part those monumental reforms.”

Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh praised Sen. Rozenboom and congratulated him on his retirement, “Despite my best efforts, Ken decided to retire. While he will be deeply and profoundly missed by me and many of us in the Iowa Senate, his tenure is marked by a transformational era in Iowa government and his legacy will endure. Ken is one of the kindest, most principled, and common-sense people I have known. I wish him and his family all the best in the next phase of their lives.”

OTTUMWA – An Ottumwa man was arrested after allegedly brandishing a gun at the JBS Sports Center.

The Ottumwa Police Department reports that the incident took place on Friday, January 23, at around 7:01pm. Officers were dispatched to the JBS Sports Center on Church Street after it was reported that a male with a gun was causing a disturbance.

While investigating the complaint, the suspect attempted to flee from officers on foot. Police say he then resisted being placed into handcuffs while armed with a handgun.

The suspect was eventually identified as 19-year-old Amir Jahad Sutton of Ottumwa. He now faces a total of 3 charges, including Interference with Official Acts while Armed with a Firearm (class D felony), 1st Degree Harassment (aggravated misdemeanor), and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (aggravated misdemeanor).