Waterloo Schools Superintendent Dr. Jane Lindaman is getting the opportunity to guide the district into the next decade.

This week, the Board of Education voted unanimously to extend Lindaman's contract through June 30, 2022. The Board voted 6-0 in support of the extension, with one member absent.

Board members praised Lindaman for meeting and exceeding metrics they set as part of Pay-For-Performance standards. They said Lindaman met or exceeded 66% of the 42 weighted metrics for 2018-19, the highest percentage reached since she took the helm.

According to a Waterloo Schools press release, the Board set the goals with the expectation that at least 40% would be met annually. The district is the only one in Iowa that requires the superintendent’s salary increases be tied yearly to a performance-based approach.

While approving her contract extension, the board also highlighted the following achievements the district reached under Lindaman's leadership this past school year:

  • Graduation rate of 84.24% at all-time high
  • Highest gains in literacy of any urban district and most districts of any size
  • Racial achievement gap reduced for graduation and literacy rates to smallest ever
  • $17 million Waterloo Career Center (WCC) renovation
  • 25% of students taking college courses in high school
  • 92% parents satisfied with district (based on survey)
  • 19 business partnerships with WCC securing over $100,000 annually
  • Lindaman did over 100 speaking engagements in the community
  • National Merit scholar from Waterloo Schools
  • Revamping behavior practices and procedures

Lindaman was named superintendent of Waterloo Schools in 2014. She joined the district in 2005 as principal at Bunger Middle School in Evansdale. The following year, Lindaman moved to district administration. She started as Executive Director of Learning & Results for Middle School Education,  then moved to Associate Superintendent for Educational & Student Services.

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