Dr. Colbert is a proud Southeast Polk alumnus who began his career in education at Southeast Polk High School, where he taught U.S. History and AP U.S. History and coached high school football and boys’ track and field, making this a meaningful homecoming.

With more than a decade of experience in educational leadership, Dr. Colbert has most recently been serving as principal of Iowa City Liberty High School. During his tenure, he led efforts to advance academic performance, expand Advanced Placement participation, and increase overall student success rates, elevating the school’s statewide ranking. Prior to his role as principal, he served as an assistant principal and dean of students in the Iowa City Community School District.

Incoming Superintendent Dr. Tony Aylsworth shared, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Colbert back to Southeast Polk as our next Deputy Superintendent. He stood out among an exceptionally strong pool of candidates for his ability to build meaningful relationships, his depth of leadership experience, and his systems-thinking approach. Just as important is his deep connection to and passion for Southeast Polk.”

Dr. Colbert is a relationship-driven leader who is committed to servant leadership. He brings a proven track record of improving both student outcomes and school culture, and he is eager to apply his expertise in instructional leadership and systems improvement to further strengthen our district and the overall student experience.

He earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Iowa, master’s degrees from Iowa State University and Morningside University, and a bachelor’s degree from Drake University. He is an active member of the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI), serves on the University of Iowa’s Teacher Education Advisory Committee, and has published work on school improvement and secondary PBIS implementation.

Dr. Colbert and his wife, Jill, have three children: Cohen, Willa, and Welles.

Dr. Colbert will officially begin his role on July 1, succeeding Joe Horton, who is retiring after 32 years of dedicated service to Southeast Polk.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Colbert and his family back home to Southeast Polk!