Announcements

Please join us for the April 21, 2022 PAC meeting. This will be an open discussion about the draft Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile. The partnership between families, parents, students, and the school has always been a priority in Ankeny. This collaboration will grow as parents and families unite in support of student learning experiences such as career exploration and awareness of work-based learning.  Determining a student’s vision for their future and engaging in learning that centers the student’s voice and choice in the process is best done when the educational team and the family work together.

When: Thursday, April 21 • 6-7:30pm

Where: Northview Middle School, 1302 North Ankeny Boulevard

Click here to review documents and provide feedback.

Throughout the winter, planning teams throughout the district have been working hard to reimagine how our district might improve how we are serving the needs of our students. Teams of parents, community members, teachers, and administrators created the district’s Strategic Plan, defined Ankeny’s Profile of a Graduate, and developed the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Framework. We hope for these three guiding documents to serve as an anchor for all the district’s work, which is why such a large, diverse group of community and staff members are working together to create these plans.

Please view an overview of the three guiding documents and their connection here.

Strategic Plan:

The first of these three key initiatives is the Strategic Plan. As you know, our district is currently engaged in the process of updating our strategic plan, the vision, and the goals that will guide the Ankeny Community School District over the next three to five years. This fall, the Core Planning Team of students, parents, community members, and staff developed a draft strategic plan framework. Action Teams, consisting of staff, parents, and community members, established action plans, which are now included in the overall strategic plan. The culminating plans led to three main pillars of work (please view the plans below): 

1. Pillar One: Rigorous and Relevant Academics
2. Pillar Two: Talented People
3. Pillar Three: Supportive Environments

DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW

Following a review of the above DRAFT documents, please utilize the form below to provide feedback on the DRAFT Strategic Plan.

DEI Framework:

The DEI Framework will be a guiding set of principles, specific to Ankeny, with local priorities, definitions, and actions identified that will help Ankeny achieve its vision of equity and inclusion for all students. The Framework will help school staff and leaders ensure that initiatives undertaken within Ankeny schools are directed toward the achievement of core districts goals and aligned to the strategic plan. This draft plan is now available for public review and feedback.

DRAFT DEI Framework

Following a review of the above DRAFT document, please utilize the form below to provide feedback.

Ankeny’s Profile of a Graduate:

​​The Profile of a Graduate works together with the strategic plan and DEI framework to help us chart a path for the district’s future. Our strategic plan will be the guide that allows us to build the kind of district we hope to have. The DEI Framework will help us ensure all students have a high-quality educational experience. The profile of a graduate will serve as our district’s North Star, outlining the competencies and characteristics we collectively believe all of our students should have by the time they graduate from our district. This profile is also available for public review and feedback. 

DRAFT Profile of a Graduate

Following a review of the above DRAFT document, please utilize the form below to provide feedback.

When: Monday, May 9th, 6-8pm

Where: Northview Middle School, 1302 North Ankeny Boulevard

What: Join us for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Family Night! This event will help ESOL families to learn more about the district and available community resources. Please bring your child’s Chromebook. Dinner will be provided.

Jason Aker has been selected to become the Principal of Prairie Ridge Middle School, pending board approval, beginning July 1, 2022. Jason’s many years of educational experience and robust leadership qualities are a winning combination to lead Prairie Ridge Middle School.

“I am extremely excited to have been selected as the next principal of Prairie Ridge Middle School. I look forward to partnering with students, staff, and families to continue the positive relationships, rigorous learning, and the incredible environment that encourages students to celebrate their unique strengths,” noted Mr. Aker. “The opportunity to work with teachers and staff to continue building a school culture that’s purpose is student-centered and ensures a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all is an honor.”

Jason is currently the principal at Baxter Elementary School in the Baxter Community School District. He has been an educator for 26 years, serving in various roles including science and biology teacher, instructional coach, and many years of coaching football, wrestling, and girls track.

Mr. Aker received a B.A. in Biology from Warton College, a Teaching Endorsement from Iowa State University, and a Masters in PK-12 Principal/Supervisor of Special Education from Viterbo University.

Jason will officially begin as principal July 1, but he will be in the district periodically prior to that time to collaborate with staff and administrators toward a smooth transition.

Nate Lingren has been selected to become the Activities Director of Ankeny Centennial High School, pending board approval, beginning July 1, 2022.

Nate’s passion for supporting students and families with their activity and athletics endeavors is outstanding. His proven track record of engagement and leadership within various athletic and events organizations will only further the success of Ankeny Centennial High School.

“I am incredibly humbled for the opportunity to join the Ankeny Centennial staff and the Ankeny Community School District as the Activities Director,” noted Mr. Lingren. “Ankeny is filled with incredible students and families whose passion for the Arts, Clubs, Activities, and Athletics is second to none. The vision and leadership of the Administration has me excited to get to work!  Go Jags!”

Nate is currently the Athletics and Activities Coordinator for Valley High School in West Des Moines, where he has served since 2017. Over the course of his career, he has worked in varied roles including working for the Iowa Cubs and the Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa Events Center.

Mr. Lingren received a Sports Management degree from Iowa State University. He has also received the Athletic Administration Authorization and CAA Designation from NIAAA.

Nate will officially begin as Activities Director July 1, but he will be in the district periodically prior to that time to collaborate with staff and administrators toward a smooth transition.

We look forward to continued success at Ankeny Centennial High School.

Over 600 secondary and post-secondary students interested in business careers attended the FBLA State Leadership Conference from March 31 – April 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Coralville. Students attended general sessions, educational workshops and participated in over 100 different Competitive Events.

Ankeny High School 10th grade students Tyler Brown, Ryan Ryherd, and Raegan Behrens attended the conference. Tyler campaigned during the conference and was elected to the 2022-2023 Iowa FBLA State Office as Vice President of District 2. Ryan earned 6th place in the Sales Presentation competition. Raegan earned 6th place in the Introduction to Business Concepts Test competition.

Tyler Brown, Ryan Ryherd, and Raegan Behrens attended the conference.

“These students are truly the face of future business leaders. They competed in activities that showcased not only their business knowledge, but their leadership skills,” said Kent Seuferer, Iowa FBLA Executive Director. “Congratulations to the students and their teachers for their hard work and preparation.”

For more information on Iowa FBLA, visit www.iowafbla.org.

Ankeny High School student Griffin Gade took top honors in the Can I Be Your Neighbor Design Challenge. The design competition kicked off  Polk County Housing Trust Fund’s annual Affordable Housing Week, which was April 2-10.

Griffin Gade took home top honors at the competition.

Griffin, a senior at Ankeny High School, will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. Braden Simonsen was runner-up and received a $500 scholarship from Home Inc. Bradley Dacus and Dylan Hender were also finalists and both students received a $250 scholarship from Hatch Development Group. All four students presented their design to a panel of judges.

The four Ankeny finalists at the PappaJohn Center entrance (from left to right): Griffin Gade, Bradley Dacus, Dylan Hender, and Braden Simonsen.

More than 25 students from four central Iowa high schools were given a profile of a fictional family who wanted an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designed for a mother/grandmother who wanted to move next to her daughter and two grandchildren. The ADU lot location was set as Des Moines. Students had parameters such as maximum square footage and limitations on costs to keep in consideration. The competition, managed by ASK Studio, a Des Moines architectural firm, included classroom visits by architects to provide feedback to the students partway through the process.

Five designs were selected for the competition event located at the PappaJohn Center in downtown Des Moines. Each finalist had up to five minutes to present their design, followed by a question and answer session with a panel of judges.

On behalf of myself and the Ankeny Community School District, I would like to formally apologize to KCCI reporter Lauren Johnson for her experience at our board meeting on Monday, April 4. We were not adequately prepared for the large number of attendees at the meeting on Monday, and community members and Ms. Johnson were asked to wait in the lobby until space became available in the board room following a presentation from our exchange program with Copan, Mexico to comply with the fire code as advised in September by the fire marshal.

While they were waiting for entry, staff members did try to quiet the crowd with the intention of allowing the board to hear a presentation from a student in our exchange program. It is my understanding that the district’s staff attempts to quiet the crowd were received as a personal statement that Ms. Johnson was being loud. I would like to publicly apologize for Ms. Johnson’s experience at our board meeting. Ms. Johnson’s interaction with staff is not consistent with the experience I would want for any member of my community to have at any district event. Ms. Johnson, members of the media, and the public are all welcomed and encouraged to civically engage in our meetings.

In the future, Ankeny Schools will reserve a space for the news media at future board meetings and work with district staff on creating a welcoming environment. Additionally, we are identifying larger venues for meetings with an anticipated increased attendance. The district is committed to maintaining a professional working relationship with members of the media, and we will work to ensure they have the access they need to accurately report on district matters to the public.

Dr. Erick Pruitt

Sheila Schmidt has been selected to become the Principal of Terrace Learning Center beginning July 1, 2022. Sheila’s vast professional experience, as well as her proven history of leadership and relationship building within the school community will add much value to our district.

Sheila is currently the principal at Marshall Elementary, which is a PK-5 school in the Dubuque Community School District in Dubuque, Iowa. She has nearly 30 years of experience in education, including teaching preschool for six years, serving as an instructional coach, director of special education and, most recently, serving as an elementary principal.

Mrs. Schmidt received a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa, Masters in Early Childhood and Special Education from Clarke College and an Administrator Certification from the University of Northern Iowa.

Sheila will officially begin as July 1, but she will be in the district periodically prior to that time to collaborate with staff and administrators toward a smooth transition.

Ankeny Centennial Drama is producing CHICAGO: High School Edition! In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap… until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal!

Performance dates are April 22 & 23 at 7:00 p.m. and April 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the ACHS auditorium. Adult are $15 and student tickets (K-12) are $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance at achsdrama.ludus.com or at the door an hour prior to show time.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @achsdramadept for updates and future show promotions!