Principal
Dan DeVore began working at Iowa BIG in July 2022. Before joining Iowa BIG Dan served as the Metro High School Principal. He was also an administrator, teacher, and coach in the College Community School District. Dan is passionate about helping students connect to their passions and possibilities for their future. He is excited to be a part of a community that is focused on growth and connection while understanding that every student deserves to be seen, heard, and cared about.
Social Studies
Dennis mentors BIG’s students in connecting their passions and projects to rigorous social studies curriculum. Dennis says, “I want students to see all the opportunities that the Creative Corridor has to offer and cultivate relationships that benefit both the student and our community.” Dennis is excited about the opportunity that BIG students have to build their personal brand and develop the grit necessary to be successful in our ever-changing world. Dennis has a wonderful wife, Jenny, and two children, Charlie and Jonathan and two wonderpups, Lucy, and George Woofington. Dennis is an avid listener of podcasts and a voracious learner.
Social Studies
Becky rejoins the BIG staff after a one year detour as a Teacher Leader at Marion High School. Becky enjoys spending time with her daughter, Stori, camping, and working on their acreage with her husband Jason. She enjoys mentoring learners as they journey into adulthood and has a passion for mixing geography and history. She is an avid sports fan, loves music and theater, and is a member of a local, semi-professional pub trivia team. She believes that young adults are the most under-utilized resource in our society and she strives to give a voice and a hand to those young people who’d like to make the world a better place.
English
Nate helps students explore and embrace their passions, connecting those passions with the innovative people in the professional and community-based settings of Iowa’s Creative Corridor. Nate says, “I hope to help students discover things about themselves and their community, while creating a clearer vision of their current and future possibilities.” Nate is a geek who loves “different” music, comics, hockey, and cheese (lots and lots of different cheeses). Nate is blessed with an amazing wife, Christy, and two wonderfully goofy children, Cole and Audrey.
Business/CTE
Mark has always been passionate about student engagement in learning. Mark says, “BIG offers any student the opportunity to partner with our community to create something awesome that he/she is passionate about. Seeing students’ passions come to life in real-world projects is exciting and transforming the way students view their communities.” Mark is an undeserving husband to Amber, father of three wonderful children (Megan, Mackenna, & Tate), and an avid outdoorsman and golfer who enjoys watching Tate golf and spending time with family.
Community Development Specialist
Megan Matson joins Iowa BIG in May of 2022 after graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in entrepreneurship and marketing. She was a 3-year Iowa BIG student, public speaker, and advocate who graduated in 2019 and is excited to continue to further the learner-centered education movement with the Iowa BIG team. Megan enjoys spending time with her fiancé, James, traveling to new places, playing board games and going for walks. She is passionate about walking alongside high school students and helping them discover their passions and purpose.
Leadership Coach
Alphonce (Al) is certified by the American School Counseling Association in Leadership Coaching. Al is the Leadership Coach at Iowa BIG and City View High School. Al also works as the Executive Director at Leaders Believers Achievers (LBA) Foundation and Head Coach for Transitions Lab University Prep School (TLUPS). Al is passionate about providing opportunities for students–locally and around the globe–with the goal of bringing all students together to create a community of vision and growth.
Co-Founder & Director Emeritus
Trace founded Iowa BIG with his colleague and friend, Shawn Cornally. Trace hands over the reigns of BIG to Mr. Dan DeVore in the 22-23 school year. Trace’s role will be advisory as he moves towards retirement. Trace says, “BIG strives to be a model for what human-centered education and systems can look like. Every learner – adult and teenager – deserve to find and pursue their passions and they can do that here at BIG.” Trace and his wife, Kim, live on a 5 acre “ranch” with their German Shepherd, Stella.They have two grown daughters, Samie, a corporate events manager for Don Hummer Trucking and Shelby, an electrical engineer with Alliant Energy.
Iowa BIG is a public school program shared by Cedar Rapids and College Community Schools with satellite BIGs serving Alburnett and North Linn Community Schools and New Hampton and Turkey Valley Community School Districts.
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