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PODCAST

We Are Ankeny

Ankeny Community School District

Let"s talk about... Ankeny Community School District! Superintendent, Dr. Erick Pruitt is your host as he talks about all things Ankeny Schools with staff, students and community members.

education education for kids

All Episodes

34:12

Let's Talk About... Demystifying ISave 529 & FAFSA

We Are Ankeny ·

2026/01/08

Life after high school includes understanding how to pay for it. So, let's talk about FAFSA and ISAVE 529 with guests, Alicia Callannan, deputy treasurer for the State of Iowa, Erick Danielson of ICAN Succeed, and Lauren Riley, an Ankeny parent sharing her experience planning for the future of her three children.

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39:44

Let's Talk About...Understanding Special Education

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/12/12

Starting school can bring questions, especially when your child needs extra support. Hear directly from the leaders who guide special education across our district and in their school buildings. Joining Dr. Pruitt are Nancy Lehman, Director of Special Education; Michael Schweinberg, Associate Principal at Centennial High School, and Chelsey Schroeder, Assistant Principal at Crocker Elementary School in Ankeny. IA.

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24:31

Let's Talk About...The Fastest Minds In The Room

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/11/24

These students think fast, and today they’re talking even faster. Dr. Pruitt hosts Quiz Bowl team members for a conversation full of laughs and strategy. Guests: Eli Pattee, William Peterson, Nolan Gentry, Gabriella Williams, and Coach Mr. Nathan Coombes.

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38:45

Let's Talk About... Ankeny Schools' Reading Revolution

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/11/13

A new way of teaching. A renewed love for reading. A revolution in how students learn. Listen in as the Literacy Leadership team explains evidence-based "The Science of Reading", the “why” behind Ankeny’s Reading Revolution, and what it means for students in every classroom.

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42:53

Student Takeover: Heritage Elementary Edition

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/10/03

Heritage Elementary students stepped in as podcast hosts and put Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitt in the hot seat. From “road trip or airplane?” to “graphic novel or chapter book?” these Hot Takes led to fun debates, laughs, and even a few surprises.

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22:31

Let's Talk About... G.O. Bond- You Have Questions!

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/09/17

Ankeny Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitt has a Q&A session with Dr. Darin Haack, Samantha Aukes, and Eric Brown. They tackle questions sent in by community members about the $130 million G.O. Bond from why the funds won't be used to increase teacher salaries, to how passing the bond directly impacts future grade reconfiguration. Real questions—and real answers—about the implications of what passing/not passing the bond means for Ankeny’s schools.

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28:49

Let's Talk About Making the Middle Work: Secretary...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/08/04

Ankeny’s middle school secretaries are more than front office staff—they’re navigators. Host Sarah Murphy talks with Jill Vandeloo (Northview MS) and Renee Kester (Parkview MS) about what makes these years unique, how the student–front office relationship shifts , and the introduction of ParentSquare to the District.

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33:34

Let's Talk About... Building Secretaries: Forms,...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/07/21

We're kicking off 25-26 with the TRUE multitasking heroes of the elementary buildings - our secretaries! Join host Sarah Murphy as she chats with Emily Marusiak (Abbie Grove), Jessica Ponto (Terrace Learning Center), Missy Butcher (Prairie Trail), and Becky Like (Ashland Ridge). From student records to front office smiles, hear what they do to make the first week run smoothly, and how families, visitors & volunteers can help.

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25:11

Let's Talk About... How G.O. Bonds Benefit Student...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/06/20

Are you curious about how the 2025 G.O. Bond benefits your student's activities? Activities Directors Mike Bakker (AHS) and Nate Lingren (CHS) are on our latest podcast! They discuss the positive impact the bond will have on stage technology, fine art classroom expansions, and relief for overcrowded spaces with athletic performance centers. Listen to us on your favorite podcast streaming service or directly from our website, ankenyschools.org

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20:10

Let's Talk About... The Student Voice Symposium

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/06/10

Ankeny Schools is committed to building the next generation of leaders. Today's guests, students Josalie Buban, Quincee Hansen, Cherop Kipruto, Zina Ishibwammi, and Kayci Piva, with Northview Middle School team member Renee Potts, share their experience at the Student Voice Symposium, where they and 50 other Ankeny high school and middle school students built on their advocacy, civic engagement, and other leadership skills at an event hosted by the West Des Moines Community School

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15:26

G.O. Bond Defined (10-Year Academic & Facility Plan...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/05/28

Dr. Pruitt breaks down the G.O. (General Obligation) Bond. He and his guests explain the process of getting the bond on the ballot for a vote, and the academic and facility school projects it will pay for. Learn about the rules surrounding bonds, including what school officials can and can't say in support of the bond, and how the funds are required to be used. It's a great way to understand how Ankeny Schools plans for the future.

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17:09

Let's Talk About... How Schools are Funded, Ep. 2...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/05/09

This episode breaks down how our public school funding works — where the money comes from and how we’re allowed to budget those funds. As Ankeny Schools collects petition signatures for a 2025 General Obligation (G.O.) Bond, Dr. Pruitt, CFO Eric Brown, and Chief Communications Officer Samantha Aukes as they explain why it’s never as simple as sharing the bottom line. For more information, visit AnkenySchools.org

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23:17

Let's Talk About... The Big Picture, Ep. 1 (10-Year...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/04/22

Have you heard of Ankeny School's Long-Range 10-Year Academic and Facility Plan? Get the big picture in this first episode of a new series on this plan with Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitt and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Amy Dittmar and Dr. Darin Haack. Know why it matters and what’s ahead. Future episodes will cover school funding, proposed facilities, the General Obligation Bond, and more. Stay tuned & Stay informed.

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18:12

Learning Series: Nourishing Schools... Student...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/04/05

It's the final installment of the Nourishing Schools series. Dr. Pruitt finds out nothing is off-topic when you have 9th graders on the mic. Brandon, Destinee, and Aniyah prove that giving back is not just about building resumes and share what brought them to volunteer at the Northview Middle School food pantry and what motivates them to continue.

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44:16

Let's Talk About PreK, TK, Kindergarten & Building a...

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/03/21

Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and kindergarten are the topics in this episode. Joining Dr. Pruitt are Sheila Schmidt, Principal of Terrace Learning Center Preschool; Tara Owen, Executive Director of Elementary Education for Ankeny Schools; and Kelli Olson Babcock, a dedicated transitional kindergarten teacher in the Ankeny School District as they answer the questions they get from parents the most and provide valuable information about each of the programs and the difference between

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44:02

Let's Talk About It... From Student to Staff

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/02/06

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,

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27:29

Let's Talk About... The It's Been SAId Podcast

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/01/30

"... 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.

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43:38

Learning Series: Pt. 2 Restorative Practice In Action

We Are Ankeny ·

2025/01/14

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

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32:33

Let's Talk About... Voices of Learning: Connecting...

We Are Ankeny ·

2024/12/30

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

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30:36

Learning Series: How Leader In Me is Shaping ACSD...

We Are Ankeny ·

2024/12/17

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

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