Sibyl McIntire has been named the new grant coordinator for Burlington Community School District.
McIntire, who has nearly 10 years of experience managing grant-funded programs and writing grants at Southeastern Community College, will take on her new role Oct. 14.
“It is my greatest desire to impact students in our community, and moving into the position at BCSD seemed to be a perfect match,” McIntire said. “I will be able to not only assist the school district in meeting the needs of students and families, but be able to identify areas of opportunity to secure new funding for future projects. My desire to assist students in accessing educational services to be successful in reaching their personal goals fits into the mission of the school district. I’m honored to be able to serve students and families in this new role.”
McIntire will take the place of Cassie Gerst, who accepted a position as an implementation specialist for Conscious Discipline after nine years with BCSD.
“I want to thank Cassie Gerst for her years of dedication and service to our District and for her continued support of our programs during this transition period,” Curriculum Director Cory Johnson said. “Also thanks to the staff members who have taken on additional responsibility and leadership during the transition.”
In her new role, McIntire will manage grants the district currently has, including those that support BCSD’s YouthNet programs, such as PiECES Afterschool, Club M, and GEAR UP Iowa. She will also seek out additional grant opportunities to provide and sustain services for Burlington students.
McIntire is no stranger to the district, having worked alongside numerous Burlington High School graduates to help them navigate the college landscape in her position as the project director for TRIO Student Support Services for SCC’s West Burlington and Keokuk campuses for the past nine years. The TRIO program serves first-generation students who want to complete their degree at SCC and continue to a four-year college to earn their bachelor’s degree.
“I get to meet so many students from the Burlington Community School District and I hear such great stories and great experiences from the students,” McIntire said of her time at SCC.
McIntire grew up in Clark County, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies. She has a passion for advocacy.
“With my background in political science and policy, I have an absolute love and desire to ensure that our students understand how they, as citizens, can really engage with their elected officials and tell their stories and tell how important it is to have (educational) programs in our communities and how their educational experiences are meaningful,” McIntire said. “That helps elected officials and leaders in our community understand how all students need access to education regardless of what their address is or where they live.”
She also holds a master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, where she worked as an enrollment manager. She went on to accept a position at Buena Vista University, where she worked with Graduate and Professional studies programs before returning to her hometown, where she and her husband live with their two teenage sons on her family’s farm.
