Union Board of Education Names John Howard Next District Superintendent
LA PORTE CITY, IA — The Union Community School District Board of Education has named John
Howard as the school district’s next superintendent.
Howard is the current 7th-12th grade principal in the Independence CSD. His leadership has
encompassed all aspects of school administration, including student achievement, discipline,
curriculum and instruction, budgeting, strategic planning, facility management, human resource
management, organizational change, and parent relations.
Previously, Howard served as a principal and curriculum director at Saint Edmond Catholic Schools
in Fort Dodge. There, he helped develop and execute the school’s long-range strategic plan and
created a systematic plan to improve communication with students, parents, and staff. He also
piloted the first one-to-one technology program in the history of the Diocese of Sioux City.
Howard also has experience as a 9th-12th grade principal in the Kingsley-Pierson CSD and a
Spanish teacher in the Lynnville-Sully and Essex CSDs. Over the years, he has also served as a
varsity boys’ and girls’ head basketball coach, head golf coach, and assistant football and
basketball coach.
Howard holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Drake University and a
bachelor’s degree in political science from Central College. He also received an advanced studies
certificate from the University of Northern Iowa.
The Board of Education has worked with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the
superintendent search. The process has included a community-wide survey, asking district
residents to provide their input on the qualities and characteristics they would like to see in the
district’s next leader. The board and interview teams consisting of members of the communities,
teachers, support staff, administrators and students conducted interviews with the three finalists on
April 11.
Howard will officially begin serving as superintendent of the Union Community School District on
July 1, 2022.