JHS named Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for second year

By Lynn Meadows, JCSD Director of Communications

JOHNSTON, Ia. (May 12, 2025) — Johnston High School has for a second consecutive year been named a “Capturing Kids’ Hearts® National Showcase School.”

The 2024-2025 national award recognizes and celebrates schools that go the extra mile each day to create the socio-emotional safety conducive to learning — building an environment where students and staff feel safe, connected and eager to learn. The schools recognize outstanding educators who make a difference in children’s lives. Nearly 500 schools nationwide are selected for the recognition each year.

“The recognition as a National Showcase school is great,” JHS Principal Ryan Woods said. “We are committed to creating a school culture where each and every student can have an outstanding learning experience. I am very proud of the work our staff has done to make JHS such a wonderful place.”

“Evidence of Impact” photos submitted by JHS showcase a wide range of efforts to promote that culture of connectedness — from staff shout outs to a new Kindness Wall, high fives and free compliment Fridays, pennants celebrating college applications, JD the mascot, construction technology students building a new raptor building for Jester Park Nature Center, Iowa ProStart students assisting professional chefs during the Iowa Restaurant Association’s hospitality showcase, zoology students bringing animals to share with elementary students, and more.

Earning the national designation

National Showcase Schools are chosen annually through a rigorous selection process that includes measuring key performance indicators, gathering campus data, and surveying staff and students. The results represent the implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts® processes, as well as the culture and climate on each campus.

Johnston’s efforts began when administrators began an initiative to transform the campus into an emotionally safe and relationally-connected place for students, staff, and parents to come together with a love for learning. After researching programs used by many of the nation’s most successful schools, JHS chose to join with the Flippen Group to bring Capturing Kids’ Hearts® to its campus.

Capturing Kids’ Hearts® provides professional development to educators nationwide since 1990. Today, the organization works with more than 50,000 educators to implement transformational processes focused on social-emotional well-being, relationship-driven culture, and student connectedness.

Building relationships between students and staff

As part of the program, JHS teachers and staff learn about the processes needed to connect students with their peers and adults on campus and to create classrooms where students are excited to learn every day. The program equips educators with the skills they need to change the trajectory of students’ lives. Schools implementing the Capturing Kids’ Hearts® Process consistently report improvements in academic, behavioral, and cultural outcomes.

Woods said students consistently say their favorite teachers are always the ones that care about them, trust them, believe in them and treat them with respect. It’s about being seen and heard, even if they’re struggling. JHS’ being named a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School shows how much progress the school has made in this area.

Johnston Middle School was also a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School for four years, from 2018 to 2022. To learn more about the program, visit www.capturing kids hearts.org.

2022: JMS named “Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School” for fourth consecutive year

2021: JMS Selected as a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School

2019: JMS Named Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School