Mason City Schools have been named Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education and it should come as no surprise that there are some truly amazing people working to make that success happen. We profile four individuals who embody the spirit of community involvement and are making a difference through their work in Mason City Schools and our Mason and Deerfield communities.
Tracey Carson, Public Information Officer for Mason City Schools
When the opportunity to interview for the position of Public Information Officer for Mason City Schools (MCS) presented itself in 2005, Tracey Carson leaped at the chance. Thinking the interview might just be a good learning opportunity, Tracey was so impressed with the MCS leadership that she accepted the position. “I was struck by the impact the Board of Education, staff and families were making on the community, together. The decision to work in Mason led to another great decision to move our family here, and the rest is history,” imparts Tracey.
One of the many ways Tracey uses her role as a positive influence is with her involvement in the district's Big Rock Inclusive Excellence work which is one of the three big rocks (Culture, Inclusive Excellence and Personalized Learning) guiding MCS. “I love asking questions and learning more from members of our community. It’s important that students with disabilities, students in need of mental health support, and students learning English, for example, receive the services they need while remaining valued and connected members of their class and school community,” she shares.
Tracey credits her success, in part, to the many legendary leaders she has had the opportunity to work with both in the schools and community. Her leadership in the face of the rapidly changing ways the world communicates is a testament to her dedication to her position and years of service to the district. If she could share any piece of advice she says, “Be ready to adjust and adapt.”
Christina Moyer, Director of Human Resources at Great Wolf Lodge Mason, and volunteer Cheer Coach
Christina Moyer, Director of Human Resources at Great Wolf Lodge, relocated to Mason from the east coast looking for a great city to raise a family in. With the welcome change of pace from Manhattan, Christina and her husband Corey have been able to give back through various volunteering efforts.
This fall, Christina will be entering her 6th year as a volunteer cheer coach for the Mason Youth Cheer Organization. “Volunteering with kids is the best – they are always looking to have a fun time and are still at an age where they are excited to see you,” shares Christina.
As a former cheerleader, Christina is excited to guide the next generation of cheerleaders which includes her two daughters who will be on the 6th grade and kindergarten squads in the fall. “I knew that I wanted to be a volunteer coach. It is such a fun way to be a part of the community, get to know more people, and give back while spending time with kids,” imparts Christina.
In addition to coaching cheer, Christina has also been a volunteer girl scout troop leader for the last five years and often volunteers at events with her daughter’s performance dance team at Mason Dance Center.
In her role with Great Wolf Lodge Mason, Christina has had the opportunity to participate in various community outreach projects facilitated by the MADE Chamber. She has enjoyed making an impact in her local community by sponsoring the woman-owned business BoxFull for the Chamber. BoxFull started during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to send a hug to loved ones in quarantine. “It felt like BoxFull was aligned nicely with our mission which is ‘Bringing Joy to Families’,” says Christina.
Javaris Powell, Mason Elementary School Principal
Javaris Powell, Mason Elementary School’s Principal understands firsthand how words can make a difference in a young person’s life. Once told by his high school guidance counselor that his “kind” would not do well at a four-year university, Javaris went on to secure a full academic scholarship to Jackson State University for his Bachelor’s degree and later earned master’s degrees from Howard University and Trinity Washington University. “As a result of my experiences, I was able to solidify my passion which is serving as a beacon of hope for every student I encounter. I aim to be the educator I needed during the scary portions of my senior year,” he explains.
Javaris humbly shares his admiration when asked about the leaders and mentors who helped him in his journey saying that “the list could go on for days!” Among the many people he names, he credits his wife and parents and some of the educators who saw the special spark within him at an early age. “One of my high school teachers, Mr. Jody Owens proclaimed that he saw something in me and I would do well in college. I have used his words as an inspiration,” relays Javaris. The mark of a great leader, Javaris also credits his two assistant principals as mentors. “Tom Doerflein and Jen Johnson are stalwarts of Mason Elementary,” he expresses.
A piece of advice Javaris would share with others is to “listen and learn something from every person you meet.” Javaris is someone who listened, learned, and persevered and is now using his knowledge to give back to the students of Mason.
Bud Strudthoff, Mason High School Teacher and Owner of CincySammys
What do teaching and baking have in common? Both require a love for the job and creativity and luckily Mason High School Teacher Bud Strudthoff has them in ample supply. From an early age, Bud knew that he wanted to be a teacher. It was just this past year that he was able to make his other dream of owning an ice cream sandwich shop a reality. Located in downtown Mason, CincySammys is a gourmet cookie and ice cream sandwich shop that allows customers to build their own combinations.
A little push from Bud’s wife, Jessica, helped bring their idea to life. “I would constantly talk about the idea and at one point my wife looked at me and said, ‘You either need to do this or stop talking about it.’ So we did it!” Bud tells us.
An inspiration in the kitchen and the classroom, Bud has made sure that giving back is an important part of his work. Just this past semester, his government class researched and proposed an additional accessible entrance to Mason High School for students with limited mobility. “It was wonderful to see the class work collaboratively on a task with real-world impact,” shares Bud.
CincySammys also finds ways to make an impact. Every year the shop celebrates GIVE-tober. Each week in October CincySammys features a local nonprofit and donates 10% of all sales to that particular charity. “It’s a way for us to help spread the word about the good work those groups are doing in our community, and a way for our business to give back in a meaningful way,” explains Bud. When asked what advice he would share with others, Bud aptly says “Take a risk. Do what makes you happy. Eat some cookies.”