Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
STEPHENS, Lesley
STEPHENS, Lesley. (Unknown--Dubuque, IA, June 23, 2020). Lesley Stephens participated as one of the marchers in the 1965 civil rights march in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1970, she joined the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT as a district-level reading consultant supporting elementary schools; her next move was to KENNEDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL as a Learning Resource Center teacher.
The 1974-1975 federal special education legislation brought students with special needs back to their home school districts. Lesley Stephens became the principal of FRANKLIN SCHOOL (site of the former Central Alternative School) and the Anne Sullivan School (attached to Hills and Dales Child Development Center). She was the administrator who pioneered the development of District programming for students with special needs by designing the school, developing the curriculum, and selecting and training the staff.
Lesley established the Helen Keller School at EISENHOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and in 1983 served as its principal.
In 1989, she became principal of BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and continued there for 17 years. In the 1990s, Lesley led Bryant to become one of four Expeditionary Learning schools in the district as that educational design was starting to emerge across the country.
Lesley’s volunteer leadership at ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH included chairing almost every administrative committee, personally co-leading a make-the-church-shine project, contributing her decorating talents to the sanctuary, training new custodians, and serving on a Food for the Soul team.
Following 36 years in the Dubuque Community School District, Lesley officially retired in 2006.
She served as an interim District administrator for the Western Dubuque Community School District; volunteered as a receptionist at the Babka Center, FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE); was elected to the DCSD Board of Education, serving from 2008-2011. Until her death, she remained active on the Advisory Board of Finley Hospital and on a Dubuque County Foster Care Review Board. ---
Source:
"Longtime Former Dubuque Principal Dies at Age 76," THonline. https://www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_e60aa2ff-9f34-5a2f-82c8-c458b8a8e763.html