Meet the Board Leadership Services Team
Our Board Leadership Services Team provides numerous supports for members in achieving a common framework for excellence in school board governance. They provide tools that help board/superintendent teams develop a shared vision with clear goals, clarify their roles and responsibilities, maximize board meetings to meet the district’s mission, perform effective self-assessments, conduct superintendent evaluations that follow state requirements, and strengthen the governance team for improved instruction and student learning.Our policy and legal exports support boards in leading through sound policy that ensures transparent, legal operation of a school district to enable boards to stay focused on district goals. This includes guidance on Iowa’s Meeting and Transparency Laws, vacancies and special elections, legal authority and school calendars, and district restructuring. They stay current with emerging laws, providing answers to the most frequently confronted policy and legal questions to help districts align with state and federal law, as well as conduct policy development and review.
School employees are a district's most important asset. This team also helps board members clarify the work of the board, superintendent, and other administrators around personnel matters, providing guidance for boards and school administrators on management issues. Their toolkits offer support on HR best practices, collective bargaining, and salary and staffing data.
Your IASB® staff consultants are a phone call or email away to assist you with using these tools. They also offer custom facilitated workshops that can help one board or a group of boards consider their work.
Siobhan Schneider
Associate Executive Director, Board Leadership & Legal Services
Siobhan Schneider is the Associate Executive Director, Board Leadership Services for the Iowa Association of School Boards®. She has been with the association since 2018. Siobhan oversees all association resources focused on board development, legal, and HR services to provide timely education for board members and administrators, helping them navigate decisions that blend legal analysis and sound board governance practices. Prior to joining IASB, Siobhan practiced law in the areas of social security disability insurance, workers’ compensation, and personal injury to fight for the rights of ill and injured Iowans. She has been licensed to practice law in Iowa since 2008.Siobhan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. She earned a Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School. Siobhan was appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of Iowa’s Commission on Continuing Legal Education. She volunteers to grade bar exams for the Iowa Supreme Court Office of Professional Regulations, is a board member of the Des Moines Fencing Club, and is a 1+ gallon blood donor.
Siobhan can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7028.
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Lou Gvist
Board Development Director
Lou Gvist has been a Board Development Director for the Iowa Association of School Boards® since 2004. In her role, Lou designs curriculum content and facilitator guides that serve as the foundation for her to facilitate workshops with board and superintendent teams on requested topics, helping boards thrive while advocating for all students. Lou has been active in public education for over 30 years, first as a public school teacher in Tempe, AZ; Las Vegas, NV; and Ames, IA, where she also served in the curriculum department. Prior to joining IASB, Lou was a school improvement consultant for Heartland AEA.Lou earned a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University and Masters of Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her passion is ensuring all children experience deeper learning every day in their classrooms and helping boards foster a culture of innovation and excellence.
Lou can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7064.
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Tammi Drawbaugh
Board Development Director
Tammi Drawbaugh has been a Board Development Director at the Iowa Association of School Boards® since 2021. In her role, Tammi designs curriculum content and facilitator guides that serve as the foundation for her to facilitate workshops with board and superintendent teams on requested topics, helping boards thrive while advocating for all students. Prior to joining IASB, Tammi spent 23 years in the private sector sales, training, human resources, and information technology. She also served 15 years on the Muscatine School Board, eight of those years as board president.Tammi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Iowa Wesleyan College. She is a director with the Muscatine Community Health Association and serves on the boards of the Salvation Army and the Iowa High School Music Association. Tammi is a graduate of Muscatine Community Schools.
Tammi can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7023.
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Anna Harmon
Legal Services Director
Anna Harmon has been the Legal Services Director for the Iowa Association of School Boards® since 2023 (following a title change from HR Services Director). She served under her previous title of HR Services Director from 2021–2023. In her role, she is responsible for developing, maintaining, and providing high quality legal and human resource services, tools, and consulting for IASB members that operate within the laws and policies for employment, collective bargaining, and student equity.Anna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production from Iowa State University, and her Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School, with a certificate in public service and emphasis in juvenile law. She is a graduate of Harlan Community Schools.
Anna can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7050.
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Marte Brightman
Legal Services Specialist
Marte Brightman has been the Legal Services Specialist with the Iowa Association of School Boards® since 2018, but has been with the association since 2002, beginning as the assistant to the government relations and school finance teams. Marte works to support ongoing policy work by responding to member questions, assisting with school district policy manual reviews, and editing and revising sample policies.Additionally, Marte supports HR Services by coordinating and conducting the annual Teacher Compensation and Benefits (TCB) Survey and the compilation of that data for the comprehensive TCB Toolkit and the tracking and reporting of school district tentative agreements. Marte is a graduate of Urbandale Community Schools.
Marte can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7048.
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Katherine Solan
Board Development Specialist
Katherine Solan has been the Board Development Specialist at the Iowa Association of School Boards since 2024. In her role, Katherine supports IASB’s Board Development Team with communications, event planning, project management, and administrative support.
Prior to joining IASB, Katherine worked in Events Planning & Awards/Recognition administration for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Her extensive work with non-profit organizations includes ESL tutoring for elementary students in the U.S. and Sri Lanka, as well as work with a community-led nonprofit committed to supporting K-12 education, teacher training, and community development in rural Zambia. She is a graduate of North Polk Community Schools.
Katherine can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7046.
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Tony VanderZyl
Surveys/Research Independent Consultant
Tony VanderZyl has been the Surveys/Research Consultant with the Iowa Association of School Boards® since 2007. He has been a professor at several universities, including Iowa State, Upper Iowa, Drake, and the University of Phoenix. He has been an assessment and research specialist with the Ames Community Schools and was a Command and General Staff College Instructor with the Army Reserve.Tony earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and his doctoral degree, all from Iowa State University. He is a graduate of Pella Community Schools.
Tony can be reached via email or by calling (515) 247-7044.
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Contact
Iowa Association of School Boards®
6000 Grand Ave., Ste. A
Des Moines, IA 50312
direct (515) 288-1991
fax (515) 243-4992
6000 Grand Ave., Ste. A
Des Moines, IA 50312
direct (515) 288-1991
fax (515) 243-4992
© 2017–24 Iowa Association of School Boards®
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