Dr. Bill Withers is inaugural recipient of new award from Iowa Area Education Agencies

Dr. Bill Withers of Waukon, board member at Keystone Area Education Agency (AEA), was recently honored as the recipient of the first-ever Dr. E. Robert Stephens Award from Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. Withers received the award during a presentation at the AEA Boards of Directors Conference held March 30 in Des Moines.

This is the first year for the award and it is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate outstanding candidates for their contributions to education and the AEA system. Withers was nominated for the award by fellow board member George Holland of Dubuque.

"It's very humbling and a great honor, especially when considering the legacy the award is named after, the man we call the 'founding father' of AEA, Dr. Bob Stephens," Dr. Withers remarked. "He was just a grand guy, and was pretty much single-handedly responsible for putting this all together before it was enacted by the State Legislature in 1974."

The Dr. E. Robert Stephens Award acknowledges contributions in the areas of innovation and support to local districts, AEAs, the Department of Education and other partners/organizations. Over 50 years ago, Stephens was a graduate student at The University of Iowa. He was asked by the Iowa Department of Public Instruction and rural superintendents in the state to direct a study to find a prototype to distribute instructional services equitably and efficiently across Iowa. His vision eventually found its way to the Iowa Legislature in 1974, when Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) were passed into law.

The award is named after “Dr. Bob” to honor exemplary work by those associated with educational service agencies and AEAs. Dr. E. Robert Stephens passed away in February of this year.

YEARS OF SERVICE
In fall 1974, Dr. Bill Withers was in his fourth term as a school board member for the Allamakee Community School District when Senate File 1163 transformed the 79 county and joint county school systems into 15 Area Education Agencies. In the basement of a bank building in Elkader, he recited the oath of office as an Area 1 board member in September 1974. A month later he was elected Vice President of the Area 1 Board of Directors. It was at that time that Dr. Withers started a cornerstone practice of his service as an AEA board member.

Dr. Withers continues to meet with the boards of the school districts that he represents and bring those conversations to the AEA board table. He has twice presided as president of the board and currently serves in the role of vice president, while also chairing the Policy Committee.

Dr. Withers currently serves as the AEA District 3 representative on the board, representing the Allamakee, Clayton Ridge, Eastern Allamakee and MFL/MarMac School Districts. His District 3 seat is up for re-election for another four-year term this fall, and although he says he has not made a decision yet as to seeking another term, he did say he's "leaning towards running again," usually waiting to make his final decision until closer to the July 1 declaration timeframe.

“Dr. Withers is truly a model board member," Keystone AEA Administrator Pat Heiderscheit commended. "He is committed to active representation of the Allamakee, Clayton Ridge, Eastern Allamakee and MFL/MarMac school districts. He attends at least one board meeting per year in of each of those districts to seek feedback on the relationship between the district and the AEA. We couldn’t be more thankful for his diligent work on our board.”

Dr. Withers, along with his wife, Libby, their three sons, and a daughter-in-law were in attendance at the awards ceremony in Des Moines. Their daughter, Jane, was unable to attend the event. “We are honored to present this award to Dr. Bill Withers,” said Brent Siegrist, Executive Director of Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. “His many years of service as an AEA board member is his testament to the AEA system and his dedication to the school districts he serves.”

"I've had a lifelong interest in education, in general; my own educational experience, from K-12 on into college and then medical school, was absolutely fantastic and I enjoyed every minute of it and would do it all over again in a heartbeat," Dr. Withers shared. "It is that zest for learning that I continue to hope to try and pass on to the students in our educational system."

"My second reason is more of a patriotic standpoint, and I'm not sure which of our founding fathers gets the credit for this quote, but it is something to the effect of: 'A good education for all of our citizens is the best protection we have for preserving our form of democracy and our form of government'," he continued. "I would challenge anyone to travel the world and find a better overall educational system than what we have right here."

Withers prides himself on the interaction he has with the school boards and administrators of the local school districts he represents, noting the importance of that interaction in providing the greatest possible service. "I have continued to meet face-to-face with the boards and leadership of our local districts, taking their concerns and feedback to my board so that we can make the best overall decisions we are charged with," he explained. "I feel that continues to be the best possible way to most effectively and fairly represent the districts we have been elected to serve."

Dr. Withers further feels the AEA structure is a model for other educational systems to follow. "The Iowa system of intermediate education service is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the best," he said. "When I have talked with other administrators and board members from other states, they are envious of how our system is set up in Iowa, and that's a tribute to the vision and legacy of Bob Stephens."

ABOUT IOWA'S AEA
The Iowa Legislature established Iowa’s Area Education Agencies in 1974 to be an effective, efficient and economical means of identifying and serving children from birth to age 21 who require special education services. This decision was a result of the federal law mandating a free, appropriate, public education for children with disabilities.

Since that time, Iowa’s nine AEAs continue to provide services to every public school district and accredited, nonpublic school in Iowa. While Special Education comprises about 80 percent of services offered, the mission of Iowa’s AEAs is  to improve learning outcomes and well-being of all children.