We Are Ankeny

New environments can mean excitement to one student, but anxiety to another. This podcast is "almost" everything you need to know about moving into 8th-grade and 10th-grade. Southview Middle School counselor Nicole Wee, Ankeny Centennial High School counselor  Ashley Wilson, and Executive Director for Ankeny Secondary Schools Bev Kuehn have advice, reassurance, and encouragement for parents antici...

Fill The Fund is an annual event focused on supporting the 'Filling Up Every Learner' (F.U.E.L.) fund. Pull up a seat to the table with our guests, IMPACT Community Action Partnership CEO- Anne Bacon, Wiedenman Family Foundation President - Barb Wiedenman, and Scott Litchfield the Director of Nutrition Services for Ankeny Schools as they deep dive into the topics of food insecurity, ACSD's proacti...

Ankeny High School is producing the next generation of journalists. Award-winning news source, The Talon, is produced for and by students. Joining Dr. Pruitt to talk about what makes The Talon a great elective choice are editors Ava, Vivian, and Julien. 

Explore the history of Ankeny in this episode with Ankeny Area Historical Society co-Chairs Jois Thorson ODonnell, JoAnn Kocheiser Adamson, and intern Avan Albaugh. It's a trip down memory lane with a peek into current exhibits and summer events. 

Today, we are discussing the concept and integration of Social and Emotional Learning in the classroom, also referred to as SEL. Join Ankeny Schools staff members Shawn Bierman, Social Emotional Learning Specialist; Jason Aker, Principal at Prairie Ridge Middle School and Whitney Longtin, Assistant Principal at Southeast Elementary School as they define social-emotional learning and what it looks...

Our guest, Steve Arneson, is from Employee and Family Resources Center. He is a partner with Ankeny Schools for the Student Assistance Program available in our schools and to families. Health and especially mental health are topics that school districts find themselves talking about more and more. Ankeny Community School District believes the health of our students and their families affects their...

Student teachers are the future of our Ankeny Schools. It's a critical phase in the development, and we are committed to providing a unique and rich experience to all placed in our district. It's our goal that every student teacher placed here, wants to stay here. Sit down with a former and current student teacher and hear about their time walking the halls and running classrooms in Ankeny. Guests...

Junior Achievement of Central Iowa is expanding their partnership with Ankeny Community Schools by adding the new 6th - 12th grade program, Financial Park©. This program, compliments the 5th grade program Biz Town©. Pull up a seat at the We Are Ankeny table with guests president of JA of Central Iowa, Ryan Osborn; JA Director of Education, Shannon Gerard; Ankeny Schools' Post-secondary Readiness S...

Graduation doesn't have to be stressful for students and parents. Let's talk about navigating senioritis, counting credits, and what to expect on commencement day with high school counselors Audrey Bell, Ashley Tatum, and Ashley Wilson. They're sharing advice with Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitton about the road to graduation. 

Today's podcast guests are Randy Ripperger, Polk County Iowa's Property Assessor and Bryon Tack, Assistant Assessor. It doesn’t matter if you have children attending public school, if you own property in Polk County - click and turn up the volume. Jennifer Jamison, CFO for Ankeny Schools joins Dr. Erick Pruitt and our guests to add insight on how these taxes directly impact Ankeny Schools. 

If you could create an innovative secondary school any way you wanted, what would it be? Today's guests are on a panel reimagining the 6th through 12th-grade experience at Ankeny Schools (ACSD). JoinDr. Erick Pruitt as he hosts ACSD parent Amy Guidry, Vice President of Human Capital at Accumold Grace Swanson, and team facilitator Ankeny Schools' Chief Officer of Legal Affairs & Strategic Initi...

The threat of school violence is everywhere, even in the Des Moines Metro and surrounding communities. The fear of violence can interfere with learning, friendships, and even how students envision and value their future. Mentors In Violence Prevention was introduced in Ankeny Schools this year to address what students are experiencing. Students pioneering the program speak to the community about t...

Dr. Erick Pruitt invites Carol Eddy, Director of Curriculum and Innovation back to the podcast to talk about the upcoming changes Ankeny Schools is making to the secondary math and computer science curriculum. The goal is to have kids understand they are all "math people" even if it looks different from one student to another. The changes for the 2023-24 academic school year to the Ankeny Schools...

Let's talk about teacher mentoring. Ankeny strives, and succeeds, as an innovator among school districts that surround the Des Moines Metro. The first suburb to expand to two high schools is now reinventing the traditional professional mentor structure for new and new-to-the-district teachers.  District mentoring coaches and specialist Elise Jessen, Kim Haack, and Justin Herrick join Ankeny School...

We're welcoming David Jones, City of Ankeny's City Manager to our podcast. This episode explores the relationship between the district and the city from using school facilities to economic growth and plans. Join us and let's talk about the city of Ankeny.

Robotics. Two teams with the same mission. To win. Our episode brings Hawk and Jag competitors to the table with a common passion. Competitive teams are growing at both high schools. Learn why you don't need to know programming, engineering, or construction to participate. These teens talk no holds barred about why they showed up to their first club meeting, and what brings them back each season....

Ankeny schools values its community partnerships. This episode brings Ankeny School Foundation President, Kara Hogue, to the studio. Join us as Dr. Pruitt and Ms. Hogue are joined by Ankeny Schools Chief Officer-Jessica Dirks and Heidi Palkovic Community Engagement Manager - Heidi Palkovic as the discuss how community and public schools relationships continue to evolve, future plans and fundraisin...

Iowa winters can bring freezing rain, snow, sub-zero temperatures, and severe winds in a matter of hours. This episode will educate our Ankeny community on what goes into making a decision to keep schools open, delaying the starts, letting students out early, and when it's best just to stay closed. Ankeny Schools pulls back the curtain to show how and why inclement weather decisions are made. Join...

This episode brings overdue attention to a great Ankeny Schools resource, our volunteers. Volunteering looks different throughout our district, from parents in the lunchroom, to community members reading in classrooms and high school students prepping materials for teachers.  Jessica Dirks is the Chief of Legal Affairs and Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Heidi Palkovic is the Community Engagement...

Activities, clubs and sports Oh, My! Ankeny High School and Centennial High School started the year with new leadership in the Activities and Athletic (A.D.) offices. New Hawk Director, Adam McDonnell was the former A.D. at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids. The Jaguars' new Director arrived from Valley High School.  There's a lot to talk about. For the first time since bowling in 2006 the Iowa G...

September 13, 2022, a committee made up of Ankeny parents, community members, and staff began working on the Facility Master Plan (FMP). Co-facilitated by Dr. Darin Haack, an Assistant Superintendent, and RSP & Associates, the district's demographer, the committee completed their first task by drafting financial belief statements. The next meeting is scheduled for September 27, 2022, to discus...

A new school year brings a new administrator, and new projects as principals Dr. Jill Urich and Dr. DJ Johnson share with the Ankeny community in this episode. Bev Kuehn, Executive Director of Secondary Schools at ACSD also joins the panel offering insight into how she and the principals work together to make the transitions from the middle schools a smooth transition. 

Exciting changes are coming! The renovation of an original Ankeny school buildings is almost complete and scheduled to open in January 2023. It will be used as the new office for district administration. New construction has also started at the site for our newest elementary building. It's scheduled to open Fall of 2024. Here's your chance to hear how these projects are progressing and get some in...

There's just something about the first week of school. In this episode, Dr. Pruitt talks with Tara Owen, Executive Director of Elementary Schools and Bev Kuehn, Executive Director of Secondary Schools for Ankeny Community School District. These administrators have a lot to say about the preparation that has taken place by the principals and teachers for ACSD. Tune in and find out what your kids wi...

The topic of student safety in schools is a serious one around the nation. This episode welcomes Ankeny's Chief of Police, Darius Potts and Ankeny Schools Safety and Security Specialist, Jon Davis to address our district's readiness plans for weather, threats and emergencies.