Thursday, the Council Bluffs Community School District heads back to class. This year is the first year for new Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo. The mother of two replaces Dr. Martha Bruckner, who retired at the end of last year.
“So tell me: Are you ready?” Dr. Vickie Murillo asked.
It is a question Dr. Vickie Murillo has been asking her staff a lot lately, and if you ask Murillo the same question about starting a new school year, her excitement is evident.
“I cannot wait to see the kids. I’m so ready for them to be here,” Murillo said.
Murillo is now starting the second leg of her more than three decade education journey in Council Bluffs.
“I’m coming into the community, so I have to learn the community. I need to make sure I’m heading in the direction that our parents and stakeholders believe is the priority,” Murillo said.
Most recently Murillo was the Chief Academic Officer for the Kansas City Missouri Public School District. She started work as the new Council Bluffs Superintendent on July 1.
Murillo has been settling in by getting to know her teacher and principals and meeting with district parents.
Dr. Martha Bruckner left the district in a good place, and Murillo hopes to build on that momentum. The district’s International Baccalaureate program is growing and Murillo is looking into adding a Pre-Kindergarten early learning program.
But she has one major focus.
“It's my job as a superintendent to make sure I remove any obstacle. I want to ensure that every child has that opportunity to get whatever post secondary degree they are looking for, but first get their high school diploma,” Murillo said.
And if you don’t see the new superintendent in the classroom, you will most likely catch her in the stands. The former physical education teacher and coach is an avid sports fan.
“I plan to be at the games and stuff, but I do not plan to coach, oh no, I do not plan to coach,” joked Murillo.