Newton teacher frustrated by anti-education rhetoric runs for State Senate

Tyler Stewart has always wanted to run for public office, but he was never sure when the right time would be. For the past few months, the social studies teacher at Berg Middle School in Newton endured what he described as a “lack of appreciation” and a “lack of respect” from lawmakers toward teachers.

Now was the time.

Stewart announced March 1 he is running for the Iowa Senate District 19 seat in the Iowa Legislature, which represents all of Jasper County and portions of Mahaska and Marion Counties. Stewart is running as a Democrat. Sen. Ken Rozenboom and Rep. Jon Thorup, both Republicans, are also seeking the seat.

In a press release, Stewart said he was motivated by the attacks on teachers and public schools. The 30-year-old teacher, who has spent the past eight years instructing social studies courses, is fed up with the rhetoric, actions and proposals from predominantly Republican lawmakers targeting his profession.

“Whether it was adding live stream cameras to the classroom or wanting to get rid of certain books, and then they talked last session where they banned controversial topics, or CRT (critical race theory),” Stewart told Newton News. “I always thought the Republican Party was the party of small government.”

Teachers need better pay, deserve more respect and need the government to stay out of the classroom, he added. Stewart also stated in his announcement he will work to improve the lives of middle-class and low-income Iowans and restore parents’ faith in education system by supporting students, teachers and schools.

“Change needs to come from within,” Stewart said. “It needs to come from the government’s side. It’s going to have to happen. We’re going to face a major teacher shortage coming up here. I’m very nervous. A thousand dollars isn’t going to keep teachers here.”

Stewart said a “teacher crisis” is beginning to unfold in the state, which he said began when the legislature took away collecting bargaining rights.

“We don’t feel like we have a governor that cares about education. Period. At all. Not even a little bit. And that’s super frustrating because she’s gone after school after school after school … The masks really amplified things and incited a culture war, essentially,” Stewart said.

Stewart grew up in Hampton and is the youngest of two children. He is the first member his family to attend a four-year college, where he received a bachelor’s degree in social science from Central College in Pella. Stewart accepted his first teaching position at Berg Middle School shortly after graduation.

In Newton, Stewart has coached and sponsored the basketball, baseball and football teams, as well as student council where he received the 2020 Warren E. Shull National Student Council Advisor of the Year Award. In 2018, he also received the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Excellence in Teaching Award.

At Berg Middle School, Stewart often invited candidates and politicians to his civics classroom to speak or answer questions about current issues. His passion for politics has also spilled over into the podcast Pints & Diplomacy, where hosts speak to political figures over beers while discussing world issues.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com