Jason R. Groendyke

East Elementary School
Sheldon Community School District
Sheldon, Iowa
[email protected]

When Jason Groendyke took leadership 10 years ago, East Elementary School had been identified by the state as a School in Need of Assistance (SINA) in reading. Groendyke quickly assembled a team to drive turnaround efforts. Within five years, East Elementary was a high performing school–and has been ever since. According to Groendyke, this success is due largely to his early insight that increasing family involvement was key to helping the school regain its footing in literacy. Along with the SINA team, Groendyke launched an annual literacy night to bring families and teachers together as partners in the educational process. Now known as Family Fun Night, the event engages with a variety of community stakeholders and is just one reflection of the school’s commitment to strong family engagement as the foundation for the academic growth. Groendyke also led the development of the school’s MTSS, which calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach to turn data into strategic interventions. Along with an ongoing commitment to SEL, these efforts led East Elementary to National Blue Ribbon School status in 2023. For Groendyke, however, the true measure of his efficacy is his staff’s trust in his ability to guide instruction and support their best work. Groendyke, who taught for 11 years before becoming a principal, holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Northwestern College and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Sioux Falls.