25 Hackberry St
North Liberty, IA 52317

North Central Junior High has undergone one of the steepest academic declines in Iowa under Principal Colby Miller’s nine-year tenure. Once ranked among the top 30 middle schools in the state—outperforming 91.3% of Iowa students—North Central now ranks 167th, a drop of 137 places. Average proficiency scores have fallen from 82.66% to 52.67%, a 26-point decline.These results reflect serious failures in leadership.Key Concerns   •   Lack of instructional leadership: Minimal classroom presence, no clear academic plan, and no meaningful professional development for teachers.   •   Problematic hiring practices: Staff are reportedly selected for loyalty rather than teaching skill or content knowledge.   •   Hostile or inconsistent management: Teachers report retaliatory treatment, out-of-field assignments, and a culture of workplace mobbing and fear.   •   Declining academic standards: A grading system now places 85% of students on the honor roll despite measurable lack of growth.   •   Departure from district values: Weak support for students with disabilities and disregard for district philosophies, codes of ethics, and best practices.   •   Lack of visibility and engagement: The principal is frequently absent from classrooms and rarely interacts with staff beyond minimal requirements.Bottom LineNorth Central was once a top-performing school. Under current administration, it has experienced a severe academic and cultural decline with no visible plan for improvement. Students, teachers, and families deserve leadership that restores high expectations, supports educators, and puts learning—not personal loyalty—at the center of the school.

I went here from kindergarten to 5th grade, and even as a current high schooler, this is my favorite school I’ve ever attended. I always thought that the teachers were kind to all students, and gave everyone the same opportunities. The only issue I had with this school is how the staff members handled some students, specifically students with behavior issues. There were numerous times when my class would be disrupted, because a student with a behavior issue got out of control. Often times, we would even have to clear the classroom. If these incidents were handled well, I wouldn’t have an issue with it, as I know the behavior of some students does not reflect on the quality of the school. However, when one of these incidents would happen, the teachers would do nothing besides keep other students out of the way. For example, I have a very vivid memory of someone in my 4th grade class getting out of control, and throwing chairs around in the “pod” area. Meanwhile, the principal and another teacher were doing nothing; just standing there, drinking their coffee. Overall, loved my experience going to Garner Elementary was great, and I still have very good memories of the school.