BVU, Knoxville Community School District Connect Through Strategic Partnership
Through a collaboration with Buena Vista University, Knoxville Community School District offers educational benefits to its employees and their eligible family members.
Buena Vista University (BVU) and Knoxville Community School District (KCSD) have aligned as Strategic Partners, providing new opportunities to transform the communities both entities serve.
This partnership allows employees of Knoxville Community School District, as well as eligible family members of full-time employees, to receive grant funding to lower the overall cost per credit hour while enrolled in BVU’s convenient online undergraduate programs or the organizational leadership graduate program. Partner grant funding also lowers the cost of education for students enrolled in classes at BVU’s Storm Lake campus.
“At KCSD, we believe strong communities begin with strong educators and staff. Partnering with BVU to provide discounted tuition for our employees and their dependents is a strategic investment in lifelong learning and workforce development,” says Rachel Cecil, Director of Human Resources. “This partnership creates meaningful opportunities for professional growth, career advancement, and financial accessibility to higher education.”
KCSD serves students at four schools, all located in Knoxville, Iowa: West Elementary grades (PK-2), Northstar Elementary (grades 3-5), Knoxville Middle School (grades 6-8), and Knoxville High School (grades 9-12). The district employs 284 staff members and serves 1,655 students.
KCSD is a proud 3A district located in the heart of Marion County. Home to the world-famous Knoxville Raceway and the scenic beauty of Lake Red Rock. Their district is rooted in a strong sense of community and guided by their core values: Lead. Commit. Achieve.
“Buena Vista University was important to me because it supported my goals at two stages of my life. I attended as an undergraduate (1984–1989) to become a high school social studies teacher, growing academically and personally in a close-knit environment,” says Doug Hatch, Professional School Counselor at Knoxville High School. “Years later (2011–2014), I returned for graduate school, where my cohort and professors prepared me to begin a new career as a professional school counselor. What stood out most was the strong sense of community, as both times I was supported by classmates and faculty whose relationships continue to inspire me today. My education at BVU prepared me for both careers, helping me build confidence, overcome challenges, and ultimately achieve my professional goals.”
“We are thrilled to launch this partnership with the Knoxville Community School District and extend these educational benefits to their team,” says Laura Todd, BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships. “By expanding access to affordable, high-quality degree programs, this collaboration reflects the district’s core values—Lead. Commit. Achieve. Together, we are empowering educators and staff to lead with purpose, commit to lifelong learning, and achieve their personal and professional goals, strengthening the entire community in the process.”
For more information about BVU’s Strategic Partnerships and partner opportunities, please visit the BVU website at bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Strategic Partnerships at StrategicPartnerships@bvu.edu.