I wasn’t born in Benton County, I wasn't even born in Iowa. I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. I lived there up until 2017 when my husband and I decided it was time for a change. We had always dreamt of living in small town America, and Van Horne was a place we had frequented and loved. Moving here, I was confident in the safety of the area, the cost of living was inviting, and the schools came highly recommended. After our early September move, I attended the Homecoming Pep Rally and Parade. I was blown away by the staff and student involvement and passion for their school. As I sat with my youngest, I knew I wanted to teach here.
Fast forward to today. I am wrapping up my fourth year teaching at Benton and my four children are also proud Benton Bobcats. Their experiences have far surpassed our expectations. They have all had doting teachers. The community in which we live continues to amaze me. We help each other, take care of each other, and look out for one other.
If we want to continue to attract families to our area, we must continue to invest in our school systems. We must create a safe, ADA compliant environment in which all students can grow and learn. We must invest in the future of our district by continually putting the needs of children first.