Teacher Feature: Week 3

By Chelsi B

            The foundation and development of the Valley Community School lies heavily in the hands of two extraordinary individuals.  The hard work and dedication of these two people is clearly evident in the establishment and growth of various activities and programs throughout the school building.  The students and staff members at Valley School truly appreciate the presence of high school principal, Brian Williams, and guidance counselor, Kelly Luzum.

            Mr. Brian Williams was born on Aug. 10, 1976 in Waukon, Iowa.  He has two siblings, Jason and Darin.  Mr. Williams graduated from Lansing High School, where he participated in cross country, track, and baseball.   After high school, he attended college at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.  Mr. Williams currently resides in Elgin with his wife, Rebecca, and two Labrador retrievers, Dusty and Onyx.  Brian and Rebecca are expecting their first child this January.  In his free time, Mr. Williams likes to run, race nitro powered RC cars, detail cars and trucks, and watch the Green Bay Packers.  His favorite movie is Cobra and he enjoys listening to 70’s and 80’s rock music.  Mr. Williams taught for nine years before becoming a principal, and is currently in his second year as principal at Valley.  He says he enjoys the challenge of being a principal as he strives to have a lasting impact on the school.  Mr. Williams finds the small school atmosphere to be very enjoyable, and says “everyone is friendly and hardworking.”

            Mrs. Kelly Luzum was born on April 13, 1968 in Marengo, Iowa.  She has one older sister, Kari, who lives in Des Moines.  Mrs. Luzum graduated from H.L.V. Community School in Victor, Iowa, where she participated in softball, basketball, cheerleading, golf, student council, peer helping, drama, marching band, jazz band, swing choir, and chorus.  After many busy days in Victor, she attended Central College in Pella.  In 1996, Mrs. Luzum earned her Masters Degree in School Counseling from UNI.  Kelly and her husband, Dale, have three children: Chandler, 14; Skyler, 10; and Tayler, 5.  The Luzum family lives on a century farm in southern Winneshiek county and they spend a great deal of their free time showing beef and swine.  Mrs. Luzum also enjoys playing golf and scrapbooking.  Her favorite movie is You’ve Got Mail and she enjoys country and classic rock music.  Mrs. Luzum has been teaching for nineteen years, with this being her seventeenth year at Valley.  She says she has always wanted to be a school counselor because she really felt the absence of a counseling office while she was in high school.  Mrs. Luzum enjoys the Valley community because it is so similar to the area where she grew up.

            The students at Valley are very appreciative of these two fine individuals who are striving to lead the school in a positive direction.