News-Herald/John Speer

Ryan Wise (standing, center) director of the Iowa Department of Education checks out students at work including Ryan Hamlin and Mitchell Klostermann (seated) in the science class of Paula Miller at the South Tama Middle School in Toledo on Tuesday, Oct. 13. He was accompanied on a tour of STC?schools by (left to right) Michelle Yuska, school board president, Superintendent Mary Jones, Wise and Middle School Dean of Students and Activities Director Brian Petullo. Wise toured STC?and Meskwaki schools Tuesday as part of an effort to visit the more than 300 public schools in the state, a mission he said he expects will take at least five years to complete by working into his schedule of duties.