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Following a Legacy

January 29, 2020 by admin

Courtney Clarke—Waukee’s first female mayor—comes to the job after two years on the city council. She is succeeding Bill Peard, a transformative figure with 22 years of city service.

She has big shoes to fill.

Peard was mayor for 14 years after eight years on the council, while ascending to executive vice president at the Iowa Cable & Telecommunication Association.

He and his wife Linda raised two sons (Brady, now 27, and Tanner, 25) as Waukee grew from 5,126 in the 2000 census to 22,810 in 2018.

The Peards moved to Waukee in 1993 following an extended metro area search and “found a great community with great schools,” he recounted. “This was the place.”

His entry into politics came at a backyard barbecue, where he attempted to get friends involved. Instead, they drafted Peard for the city council.

Notable development during his tenure ranged from the I-80 and Grand Prairie Parkway interchange and impending projects associated with it to the Apple data center, which figures prominently in funding community improvement.

Peard said he takes pride in “how our quality of life has developed with our entertainment venues, new restaurants and trails.”

Some of his accomplishments didn’t make headlines, but were fundamental for the city.

“Hiring great staff to run and develop the city as well as it has been, I’m very proud of that—all the directors, police and fire chiefs,” said Peard. “We have top-notch people.”

He said he is also proud of the founding of the Waukee Leadership Institute in 2006, which shapes leaders through training, networking and mentoring.

Parlaying Private Sector Experience

Clarke, 38, now a director at Miles Capital, was previously its marketing and communications manager and client services manager, a title she held earlier at WB Capital.

Those responsibilities have helped hone her strategic thinking, which she believes is critical in her new position, including implementing Imagine Waukee 2040, the city’s strategic plan.

“At Miles Capital, I’m responsible for basically everything external,” said Clarke. “That means sales, marketing and client service. Additionally, I lead the strategic planning effort. Being responsible for the strategic growth of a firm prepared me very well for some of the strategic concerns we have as a city and building relationships.”

The Des Moines native and Iowa State University grad (with a bachelor’s degree in business management and international business) moved to Waukee in 2009.

“I started to look at where I wanted to live long-term, and I wanted to be close to work. That’s what brought me out in this direction,” she said. “When Adam and I were looking at getting married, we talked about where we wanted to raise a family, and it was Waukee.”

The mother of four (Teagan, 7, and Rylie, 3, with husband Adam; Chloe, 14, and Emmett, 12, from Adam’s previous marriage) is constantly multi-tasking with parenting, career, city and volunteer responsibilities.

She serves on the Iowa Child Advocacy Board, with Iowa Workforce Development, as a Waukee Community Church mission team member and a Love Lunches team lead and volunteer coordinator.

“Adam and I do a lot of tag-teaming,” she said. “We obviously make sure that things are covered and have our schedules well-coordinated.”

It’s a stereotypical “right-brain/left-brain” partnership. Adam, a graphic artist, is a creative services director, while Courtney is in finance.

“At our house, Adam is the one who kind of does the fun projects,” Courtney joked, “while I’m the one who makes sure the math homework gets done.”

Clarke ran for council in 2017 after attending meetings on a neighborhood zoning issue.

“The more I watched and paid attention, I realized so many people don’t understand how much local government impacts your daily life. The things that are being discussed will affect the city for the next 20 or 30 years. That made me want to become more involved,” she explained.

As for becoming mayor, “I wasn’t looking for what’s next,” she said. “When Bill was considering retiring, several people approached me. They thought I would be good at it. Ultimately, I thought I could bring my skill set and dedication to serve the people in Waukee well.”

Building Bridges

Clarke and Peard credit the Waukee Community School District as a catalyst in Waukee’s metamorphosis.

“When the growth started, it was driven by people wanting to be part of the school district here,” said Clarke. “I don’t think anybody projected back in 2005 that we’d be at 23,000 people before 2020.”

“The Waukee School District has been so successful,” said Peard. “They’ve done a great job in expanding their district, which many people followed. And along the way, we’ve had good council members, good staff and good school cooperation.”

Meanwhile, Peard was busy building the tax base.

The I-80 interchange at Grand Prairie Parkway is a testament to developing fruitful relationships.

“We were partners with West Des Moines on that project,” he said. “Half of the bridge on that interchange was paid for by Waukee and the other half by West Des Moines. We were partners in Washington, D.C. to help get the funding.”

The interchange spurred the nearby Kettlestone mixed-use project (office, retail and residential) and The Quarter entertainment area coming soon.

The Grand Prairie Parkway-Alice’s Road widening will spark more development.

Then there’s the 2,000 acres Apple acquired in 2017 in the northwest Waukee for its $1.38 billion data center. The city will provide a 71 percent property tax abatement over 20 years. Apple plans to invest in community improvement projects such as the future Waukee Community Park and Sports Complex.

“We didn’t give them any money directly out of city coffers,” said Peard. “They are very community-minded.”

Clark agreed. “That land was not going to be paying tax gold in the near term. It was a great opportunity to find a partner to develop something there and expand our tax base. That’s what you want—a partner that adds something to your city and doesn’t just use services,” she explained.

Housing Boom Isn’t Enough

“We’re in an interesting position right now as a city in the ‘growing-pains’ stage,” said Clarke. “We’re no longer small, but we’re not large. We have a lot of infrastructure needs—like sewer build out—that aren’t fun things to talk about, but are important. Yet we also have needs like additional parks and amenities for young families. We need to make sure we’re meeting the needs of all residents.”

In that regard, affordable housing concerns her. Despite all the residential construction, Imagine Waukee 2040 predicts needing 2,684 more units by 2026.

“We have affordability issues, which I think is true of all the suburbs, not just Waukee,” said Clarke.

“I think most people want to move here to be part of a family-oriented community and an amazing school district,” she added. “That shouldn’t be an exclusive proposition. We need to discuss broader housing opportunities, including how to meet the needs of developers while having more affordable homes.”

Where People Gather

Waukee may not have a primary gathering spot, but it is developing choices.

“Gathering places still very much matter,” said Clarke, “but we’re not headed toward one central gathering place. It could be different things.”

“We want the (downtown) Triangle to be a vibrant part of our community,” she continued. “We’ve talked about a city center at some point with more of our government buildings together. We’re outgrowing city hall and soon the Waukee Public Library. Those kinds of facilities would be great if centrally located and together. We could also incorporate gathering space.”

The city has a purchase agreement option for 224 acres at Sixth Street and University Avenue, for a civic campus as it outgrows the library, public safety building, community center and city hall.

Imagine Waukee 2040 envisions those buildings together with a possible performing arts center, field house, aquatic center and ice-skating area.

The People Behind the Scenes

“There are so many great things happening in Waukee—a lot of growth and development,” said Clarke. “I’m not looking to make wholesale changes. What I’m looking to do is help the community improve and grow and make things even better. We need to do it in a way that we make sure this is the community we all want.

“There’s been so much good work done by city staff and the council previously to make ourselves very marketable as a city,” she added. “It attracts opportunities. We have a lot of good partners looking at how they can work with Waukee because they want to be here. They come to us because we’ve built something that’s pretty great.”

Peard has confidence in his successor.

“I think Courtney is very, very bright,” he said. “She understands finance very well. She has everything she needs to be successful because she loves the community and interacts with people well. She’ll do well as mayor.”

As Peard attests, it isn’t a one-person operation.

He cited “an unbelievable city staff” that has excelled at finances (“We didn’t spend money recklessly”), provided “great roads” and “a great trails system,” along with “great public safety—both police and fire that keep our citizens protected.”

His tenure, he added, “hasn’t been about me, but a lot of hands that did the heavy lifting, smart people, community activists and good community support,” including backing from the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce and businesses.

As for himself, Peard said, “I just want to let the people know how much I have appreciated their confidence and trust in me and for allowing me to be their mayor and councilman. It’s been very humbling. I have been blessed and honored.”

Waukee Public Library – 90 Years and Counting

November 19, 2019 by admin

Library celebrates its 90th anniversary of serving the community

Waukee’s existing public library was formally established in 1929. That year, the Waukee Public Library opened its doors with 500 books, provided by the Traveling Library of the State of Iowa. In 1941, those books, as well as the library’s 190 permanent volumes, were lost in a fire. The library quickly reopened with just 150 books in the back room of City Hall (then located at 410 6th Street). This resiliency and ability to adapt to change is still alive today at the library.

As the Waukee Public Library celebrates its 90th anniversary, its collection sits at more than 40,000 print items. E-books and a vast array of online resources are also available to cardholders. Library Director Kristine Larson, who has been at the helm since 2014, says the library’s impact goes beyond checking
out materials.

“The library is much more than books; it’s a community space,” said Larson. “We have computers for public use, downloadable audiobooks, subscriptions to genealogy and research sites, and so much more. We serve Waukee residents daily by offering meeting room space, study rooms and workspaces. We’ve transformed our children’s area to offer hands-on learning centers and technology activities. Programs and events for all ages continue to fill up. It’s a much more interactive place than it was 90 years ago.”

That interaction is a big draw for residents. Library Board of Trustees President Jared Starkweather is not only an advisor for the library, he’s also a frequent visitor.

“We use the library on a weekly basis, said Starkweather. “
“The Waukee Public Library means a lot to my family and me.
We use the library on a weekly basis. We check out books to
work toward our 3-year-old’s ‘1,000 Books Before Kindergarten’
goal, we participate in the Summer Reading Program, and we check out movies for family movie nights. We also attend numerous events. The library is really an entertainment destination.”

Starkweather is not alone. More than 120,000 visitors flocked to the Waukee Public Library in 2018, and 2019 is on pace to surpass that number. Larson noted that staff members serve about 600 patrons a day during the summer months, and nearly 28,000 people annually participate in the library’s free programs, such as:

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Kids’ storytimes
Lego Club
STEAM
Teen programs and advisory board
Summer and Winter Reading Programs
Book Clubs
Local History Series
Sensory Spaces
Conversational English
Lunch & Learns
Movie Matinees

In 1990, the library moved into the former Waukee Christian Church building. The current Waukee Public Library building opened in March 2003 thanks to a $2 million City bond approved by voters. The Hal Manders’ Museum and the Coal Mine Museum were constructed as building additions in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

With so much growth in Waukee and in library participation, building renovations were necessary to keep up. A new HVAC system was installed earlier this year, and interior improvements were made to the walls, floors, and furniture over the past two years. Larson said the need for future expansion is on the horizon.

“In order to keep up with the Waukee community’s demand for books, computers, meeting spaces and program spaces, the library will need a much larger building to continue to offer a high level of services and resources,” she said. “People may think libraries are fading, but in fact, many libraries are experiencing a significant increase in popularity, ours included.”

Starkweather said even during just four years as a board member, he has seen the high demand for services firsthand. He is incredibly proud of how library staff has risen to the challenge.

“Our circulation is growing, and our Summer Reading Program just had a record 3,000 people participate,” he said. “The library added wireless internet hotspots for check-out, increased children’s programs and STEM activities, opened an art gallery featuring local artist exhibits, began offering the Adventure Pass for free access to local attractions and so much more! It amazes me how much staff of 18 people can do to enrich the lives of so many people.”

With 90 chapters finished in this ongoing story, library board members and staff members encourage citizens to be a part of the next volume.

The Waukee Public Library is located at 950 Warrior Lane.

Information and an event listing can be found at waukeepubliclibrary.org.

Read a book, learn a language, attend a storytime or meet new friends. at the library!

Going Far With Apex

November 19, 2019 by admin

Waukee Aspiring Professional Experience (APEX) is beginning its sixth school year serving students in Waukee and surrounding school districts. Waukee APEX has 550 active business partners, has completed 1,049 projects, fostered 10 business startups, and has 4,316 college credits earned by its associates, or students.

Many people have heard of Waukee APEX, but oftentimes don’t fully grasp the scope of the program and benefits it has for our students as they plan for their future. The program is designed through collaboration between education, business, and the community, Waukee APEX develops highly-skilled, adaptable, global innovators and leaders. Waukee APEX draws on the expertise of business partners to bring real-world experience to high school. Through passion-based learning, authentic projects, and experiences, students add value to business partners while exploring career possibilities identified by economic trends within our metro area and state.

One unique aspect of the APEX program is host site involvement. Host sites are satellite business locations where classes can be held throughout the week. Currently, the APEX course Finance, Banking and Investments (FBI) is connected with Central Bank in Waukee. Being in a host site environment exposes student associates to leaders in the industry.

Banking student associates work closely with Mia Thomas, Retail Operations Supervisor, and Matt Klein, Business Development Specialist. These two leaders provide our APEX student associates a great deal of industry-specific learning as well as authentic project learning. This helps any student associate that is aspiring to be a banking professional to really see what it looks and feels like to work in the field. Jesse Hunt, FBI instructor, expressed that, “Having a partner like Central Bank allows for learning to occur organically. The environment is genuine, and Mia and Matt do an amazing job leading our student associates”.

At the start of the term, student associates learn about different banking careers. For example, at Central Bank, there are tellers, personal bankers, managers, mortgage officers, commercial bankers, and credit card managers. Student associates interested in pursuing a career in those fields are encouraged to ask questions to gain further information. Additionally, student associates learn about daily banking operations.

As the term progresses, student associates will be exposed to many different types of finance and banking related topics. Personal finance is addressed, such as savings accounts, checking accounts, interest rates, loan to value, risk assessment, as well as debt to income. Further, the differences between personal finance in comparison to corporate finance are addressed through their value-added project work for various companies in the area. Student associates who are interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial path have the opportunity to learn about business development and the tools it takes to grow your business and professional relationships.

Host sites are an integral part of the APEX program, and we feel very fortunate to work so closely with Central Bank. Matt Klein expressed, “We are really excited to partner with APEX. It is such a great program and the students are so mature. Really well beyond their years.”

Recently, Waukee APEX had a chance to catch up with APEX alumni, Kyle Boulanger, who graduated in 2015. He was one of the first APEX student associates, and he used his time to explore areas in the medical field. After graduating from high school, Kyle attended Grand View University where he studied biology and biochemistry, conducted research, played football, participated in academic clubs, and served on student government.

Kyle explained that his time in APEX taught him a lot about who he was and who he aspires to become. “APEX allowed me to explore a field in which I was extremely interested in. I was able to gain early insight into potential careers that helped open and close doors.” He is grateful that he had the opportunity to define his career path, as it saved him time and money after graduation. “Everyone has heard countless stories of students changing their major halfway or even all the way through their four-year education. APEX gave me a real-world opportunity where I was able to interact with individuals in healthcare, so I could make a more informed decision when deciding programs of study at Grand View.”

APEX taught Kyle how to interact outside of the classic educational setting. Kyle shared, “Collaborating with physicians, university professors, nurses, and more taught me how to be productive outside of the classroom.” Meeting professionals and working on his own projects taught him the importance of being punctual and professional, which forced him to better manage his time. Kyle explained, “Once you begin a career, being late to work or failing to produce doesn’t simply result in the drop of a letter grade, it results in the loss of future career and life opportunities.” For all of these reasons, Kyle appreciated that APEX provided him a great transition between high school and college. He is certain that his APEX experience led him to be much more prepared than his fellow students during his first semester at Grand View University.

Today, Kyle is working as a research associate in Doug Melton’s lab in the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. The lab that he works in focuses on studying the development of the pancreas, and they use pluripotent stem cells to do so. Ultimately, the lab is focused on developing a cellular therapeutic treatment of Type 1 Diabetes. After his time in the Melton lab, he hopes to obtain a PhD in a stem cell program.

Kyle shared this advice for future students. “I would encourage every student to participate in the APEX program, regardless of what they believe their future entails. You never truly know what field of study will make you tick, and the only way to find out is by jumping right in.”

If you or someone you know would like to become a business partner with Waukee APEX please visit https://apex.waukeeschools.org/ for more information.

Faces of Waukee: Austin Shane

November 19, 2019 by admin

Tell us a little about yourself.

I just turned 15, and I’m a Boy Scout in Troop 208. I was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois. My family moved to Iowa when I was almost 3 years old, but Chicago will always have a special place in my heart. I have two siblings, Alyssa and Lindsey, and two cats, Cinder and Biscuit. I play drums and piano in my free time, and I especially love playing 80’s music, such as Toto, on both instruments. I also have a job at the Waukee Fareway store, where I’ve worked for almost a year.

When did you first get involved in the Boy Scouts?

I started Cub Scouts in first grade, when I had no idea that I had just started a very long journey to Eagle Scout. I enjoyed Cub Scouts because of all the friends I made, the experiences I had, and the activities we got to do. In third or fourth grade, I learned about the Boy Scouts and what they do, and about the highest rank of Eagle Scout. I knew I wanted to get there someday.

You just recently completed an Eagle Scout project. Tell us how you came to work on that.

This past February, I started brainstorming project ideas. It took about three years of scouting to get to this point because of all the hard work I had to do with the six ranks below Eagle. For my project, I didn’t want to just get it over with and forget about it; I wanted it to mean something to me, and to be something I was passionate about. After about two weeks of searching, Matt Huth, the choir director at Prairieview School, pitched me the idea to construct drum and equipment carts for the show choirs in the Waukee school district. This idea was right down my lane since I’m a drummer, and I play drums for my grade’s show choir.

What was Mr. Huth’s reaction to your completed project?

Mr. Huth was very thankful, as will be the other choir directors in the district when their carts are delivered to them very shortly. And I am certainly thankful that this project is coming to a close after countless hours of planning, more planning, and finally executing.

We’re in the season of being thankful. What are you most thankful for during all your years in the Scouts?

I am most thankful for the opportunities and skills that scouting has given me. In the past six months, I was able to be the Senior Patrol Leader of my troop, which means I was pretty much the leader of our troop, which gave me a ton of leadership skills. I’ve also had the opportunity to do things I never would have imagined. For example, last summer, I went on a high adventure trip to Colorado where I climbed the tallest mountain in Colorado and went white water rafting the next day. I hope to stay active in my troop and have more amazing opportunities going forward.

Faces of Waukee: Sarah Kautz

September 27, 2019 by admin

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in the Quad Cities—specifically, East Moline, Illinois. I graduated from United Township High School in East Moline and also from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA. We have been in the Des Moines metro area for three years.

You’re a mother of three; what does your family do for fun?

I have three kids—ages 16, 14 and 8—all students in the Waukee School District. We love to travel and go on adventures. The kids have been to more than 40 states. I also stay busy cheering on the kids in their activities, including football, show choir, track/field and cheerleading.

Tell us about your role in the Waukee School District.

As of July 1, I am the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the school district. I have a responsibility to ensure proper fiscal management for all aspects of the district, including capital and operational budgeting, health insurance, property/casualty insurance, payroll, financial reporting, grants, compliance reporting, internal controls, and advising the board and superintendent regarding financial policies. It’s a very fun, fast paced, dynamic role and certainly more exciting due to the growth of the district. No two days are the same at Waukee Schools!

What’s your favorite thing about working in Waukee?

We have the best educators, administrators and staff, and they’re all working toward the same goal—to provide the best possible educational experience for our students. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing team. I truly enjoy coming to work every day.

The growing district has had its share of difficulties in the past few years. What would you say are your biggest goals in your role as CFO?

My biggest goals for the coming year are continuing the great work we have done in the last few months around strengthening our internal control environment and business procedures, developing relationships with building administrators and staff, and ensuring that the district has a strong financial position to support our day-to-day operations and the growth we are experiencing. Our best days are ahead of us.

Faces of Waukee: Mindi Heitland

September 27, 2019 by admin

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on a farm outside of Zearing and graduated from Colo-Nesco. After high school, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Coe College and a master’s degree from Drake University.

Tell us about your family.

My husband, Brent, is also a teacher and coach in the district. Our two elementary-aged sons have been raised in the bleachers and on the sidelines as Waukee Warrior fans. Outside of school, we enjoy attending our own boys’ sports and activities, time at the lake and traveling.

Tell us about what you do for the Waukee School District.

As a school-to-work coordinator, I organize and coordinate internships for high school seniors in career fields they are interested in pursuing after graduation. I’m always working to establish partnerships with local businesses and organizations to provide meaningful and authentic internship experiences.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The number of quality opportunities offered through Waukee Schools is tremendous. It’s very rewarding to watch students find what interests and excites them, and then see them build on those skills to use in the future.

What are you most looking forward to in the 2019/2020 school year?

So many exciting changes are happening at Waukee Community School District. I’m looking forward to helping develop great experiences to support both high schools and continued connections within the community.

Faces of Waukee: Kirk Johnson

July 10, 2019 by admin

Where did you go to school?

I graduated from Tripoli High School (in Northeastern Iowa), earned my B.A. in Business Education at Northwestern College, and my Master’s of Education at the University of Nebraska.

Tell us a little about your family.

Living and working in this great district gives me an ongoing sense of pride. My wife Nicole also works in the district and we are very thankful to be part of this great community! Our four kids all attend Waukee schools.

We enjoy time together as a family, including attending Lutheran Church of HOPE in West Des Moines and watching our kids grow up and participate in activities.

Going into this upcoming school year, you are taking on the new position of Chief Operations Officer for the Waukee School District. Tell us about your new position.

As Chief Operations Officer (COO), I will provide the leadership, management, and vision necessary to ensure the district has effective and efficient operational controls in place to effectively grow the organization. In order to do so, I will work day-to-day with the Operations, Construction, Nutrition, Information Technology, and Community Education departments.

What are your goals in your new position?

My goals are to demonstrate effective leadership via collaboration and communication for the purpose of increasing student achievement and enhancing the learning and working environment for all Waukee Community School District students, staff and teachers.

The school district certainly has big changes coming in the next few years. What are you most excited about as the district continues to grow?

Given that our school district is comprised of four growing communities (Waukee, West Des Moines, Clive, and Urbandale), we will continue to see enrollment increases. With that will come opportunities to learn from and work with more great students, staff, and teachers.

Over the years, we have added elementary and middle-level school buildings. I’m excited to see our district have two high schools. Having two comprehensive high schools will give students more opportunities and access to find their passions.

Faces of Waukee: Kyle & Diana Nielsen

July 9, 2019 by admin

Where did you grow up?

My wife Diana and I are both Iowa natives. She grew up in Ankeny and graduated from Saydel. I went to Johnston.

Tell us about your business, Relics Awry, and how it came about.

In 2009, I built a bar stool as a shop chair. A family friend saw it and asked if I could make one for a charity auction. I gave her the one I had just made, and then built another one for her husband’s office. The stool went across the auction block for $1,700. We were amazed!

The person who bought it asked me to build another stool and a pub table so they’d have a usable set. I had never made a pub table, but I was happy to give it a shot. This was when the creativity took off. After building that set, my mind went “awry” with ideas of how to turn useless unwanted items into functional art.

I started making lots of small pieces for Diana as gifts. As she displayed them in her salon, everyone wanted to know if I could make the same items for them. Orders started rolling in. From there, I was building for fun as I enjoyed it so much, and as I built more pieces, I needed a place to sell them.

Diana suggested getting a booth at a show to sell my creations, so I did that back in 2011 at the Valley Junction farmers market. We couldn’t believe the response we got from the shoppers.

Eventually, I signed up for more shows across the country. The business grew pretty quickly as people had never seen furniture like mine and they were really drawn to it. These days, Relics Awry is my full-time job.

This will be your first year as a vendor at the Waukee Arts Festival. What are you most excited about?

We’re very excited to do a show here in Iowa since I spend so much time traveling. I love being part of a show with other local artists right here in our own backyard.

Community Spotlight: Eric Kress

July 9, 2019 by admin

Eric Kress, Executive Director of the Waukee YMCA and long-time community organizer and volunteer, has been named Waukee’s 2018 Citizen of the Year by Mayor Bill Peard.

Kress began working at the Waukee YMCA in 2002 as the Youth Program Director. Several years and positions later within the Y, he moved to Waukee in 2007 with his family. In 2019, he became the Executive Director.

Local photographer Terry Snyder, Executive Director of the Waukee Leadership Institute and 2014 Waukee Citizen of the Year, nominated Kress, whom she’s known for 15 years.

“Eric is a very easy-going person,” said Snyder. “He can get along with anyone. And he’s fun, even though he’s a Cubs fan,” she joked. (Snyder is a diehard Cardinals fan.)

“Eric is the type of person where if you need something, he’ll be there for you if he can,” she said. “He’s always there to volunteer and works well with others. He’s very involved in coaching his girls’ basketball and softball leagues and does Girls on the Run, a YMCA sponsored event, with his daughter.”

In addition to his community work through the YMCA, Kress served on the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce Board for several years and currently sits on the Waukee Betterment Foundation Board. He’s given his time as a Sunday school teacher, volunteered as a youth sports coach, packed meals for Meals from the Heartland and helped with the Blank Children’s Hospital Festival of Trees and Lights.

Kress said the accomplishment of which he is most proud is watching the youth he’s worked with grow into young adults.

“I think of the families I’ve gotten to know, and it’s so rewarding to see those kids prospering as adults, contributing to our community or being successful elsewhere. You don’t always know the outcome when you work with youth—whether you made a difference or not,” he said. “When you know it pays off, or when they look back on their childhood and remember you, that feels awesome. It makes me proud to have had a part in that.”

Kress and his wife, Danielle, a kindergarten teacher at Grant Ragan Elementary, have two daughters—Lilah, 10, and Jillian, 8. In their free time, they like to stay active. Kress said some of their favorites include watching baseball together (especially the Chicago Cubs), riding their bikes to get ice cream, and playing sports.

His advice for others who feel called to make an impact in the community? Don’t wait to be asked.

“Keep your eyes and ears open and take the initiative,” he said. “Recognize your skill sets, whatever they may be—from gardening to accounting skills for a non-profit. There are so many great organizations in our community. There’s a place for you.”

Kress was presented with a Key to the City during a public open house reception on Wednesday, April 24 at the Waukee Community Center. He will also be recognized as Citizen of the Year while riding in Waukee’s Fourth of July parade.

Continued Growth

July 9, 2019 by admin

Waukee Community School District will open its ninth elementary school, named Radiant Elementary School, at the start of the 2019/20 school year. Located at 5050 170th St. in Urbandale, it will serve students in preschool through fifth grade.

Allison Salow will be the school’s principal. She is currently the assistant principal at Shuler and Walnut Hills Elementary Schools. Dr. Lindsay Law will be Radiant’s assistant principal, as well as the Director of Curricular Arts & Student Equity for Waukee Community School District.

“I am passionate about my work and feel fortunate to be able to work with some of the most talented and dedicated people in our community,” said Salow.

This is Salow’s third year as an administrator in the Waukee Community School District and her 20th year in education. Her experience includes teaching preschool, first and second grade. She was also an instructional coach and instructional mentor for eight years, as well.

The primary focus of Radiant Elementary will be the academic and social-emotional growth of its students. The school will offer additional support services in the areas of Reading Lab, Special Education, Extended Learning and English as a Second Language. With its strong emphasis on meeting the needs of all students through differentiated instruction and research-based practices, its teachers and staff will work to ensure all children fulfill their full learning potential.

The name Radiant Elementary honors the community’s coal mining history. There were coal mines all over the state of Iowa in the late 1800’s. By 1920, there were five coal companies in operation in Dallas County, one of which was named Radiant Coal Company. The others were Dallas Coal Company, Norwood-White Coal Company, Scandia Coal Company and Shuler Coal Company.

The school district’s tenth elementary school is slated to open for the 2022/23 school year, one year after the second high school opens. These new schools have not yet been named, but there is a plan to name the high school by this summer.