If you are or know someone preparing for their first job in education, you can't afford to miss this podcast! Kevin Biggs - Principal, Southview Middle School, Kristin Barber - Principal, Northeast Elementary School, and Justin Mohr - Asst. Director Human Resources are Ankeny Schools administrators actively involved in the hiring process and sharing valuable insights with host Dr. Erick Pruitt about the pitfalls to avoid and best practices to master in the race to get that first teaching, school counseling, or education social worker job.

"... And now for something completely different." It's been SAId is a podcast produced by the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI). We're republishing their episode with Ankeny's Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Darin Haack. He shares his experience with SAI's Individualized Leadership Coaching program. Tune in to hear how Ankeny Schools is leading by example - proving that learning is a lifelong journey.

Tune in to hear host, Ken Morris, Jr., Ankeny Schools' Chief Diversity Officer with guests Abby Canfield - Southeast Elementary Social Worker, Kelsey Leaper - Prairie Trail Elementary Counselor, Micaela Tuttle - Assistant Principal at Southeast Elementary, as they explore the use of restorative practice as a way to build stronger connections, promote understanding and encourage collaboration in their building communities.

Restorative practice focuses on open communication and working together. From building stronger relationships to resolving conflicts through responsive circle strategies we are helping to create a culture of belonging and respect.

Dr. Pruitt is celebrating multilingualism and the journey of our Ankeny students breaking through language barriers and swinging doors to fluency wide open! Ankeny Teachers Lissa Fulkerson, Marcella Mallet, and Brooke Fry have a lot to say about their students and the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Program. Despite the added cultural, language, social, and even dietary challenges they face while continuing their academic studies, these students are highly motivated and thriving. Check out our latest podcast on www.AnkenySchools.org or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

In this episode, Dr. Amy Dittmar, ACSD Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, sits down with Amy Ingersoll & Kayla Feld, Lighthouse Coordinators at Prairie Trail and Heritage Elementary, and Ben Muller, Principal of Prairie Trail Elementary.

They’re talking all about Leader in Me—a powerful program teaching students leadership, accountability, and confidence—and celebrating the incredible accomplishment of several Ankeny schools achieving Lighthouse School certification!

Join the conversation and learn how this program shapes Ankeny's future leaders.

When schools, nonprofits like the Food Bank of Iowa, students, and dedicated staff come together, real change happens. Ankeny Schools Community Engagement Specialist, Madisen Gaskin hosts a roundtable discussion with Michelle Book, CEO & President of Food Bank of Iowa, Scott Litchfield the Director of Nutrition Services for Ankeny Schools, and Leah Clark Ankeny Northview Middle School Social Worker to discuss food insecurity by-the-numbers in our community.

Ankeny HS seniors Maxx Tyler and Alli Macke, student interns at Casey's Corporate offices, want to know how their Orbis Program experience is influencing plans for the new Innovative Hub building. Superintendent, Dr. Erick Pruitt and Samantha Aukes, Chief of Communications for Ankeny Schools are answering ALL of their questions. Tune in!

Madisen Gaskin, Community Engagement Specialist for Ankeny Schools hosts Ankeny Schools staff, Leah Clark - Social Worker, Erin Van Dorin - Associate Principal BEYOND & Summit High School programs, and Shawn Beirman - Social Emotional Learning Specialist on this podcast to discuss what led to opening Ankeny's school-based food pantries in partnership with the Food Bank of Iowa.