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An Exciting Year Ahead: The Opening of Northwest High School | Kristen Chavez, WCSD Communications

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The start of the 2021-2022 school year is right around the corner, and the Waukee Community School District is excited about the opening of Northwest High School. From the planning and architectural design to the groundbreaking, hiring of staff, and all of the construction—countless individuals and groups have played a part in bringing this project to completion and making Northwest High School a reality.

Students and staff are anxious to come together in August for the unique opportunity of being the first group to teach, work, and attend classes at Northwest High School. As a district and as a community, we are excited about our continued growth and the increased opportunities that lie ahead for all students of the Waukee Community School District.

There will be a Northwest High School dedication community event in August at the stadium featuring building tours, a ribbon-cutting, and words from district and building leadership. Stay tuned for more details!

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Northwest High School
655 NW 10th Street
Waukee, IA 50263

Dr. Fairouz Bishara-Rantisi, Building Principal
fbishararantisi@waukeeschools.org

Nick Ross, Associate Principal
nross@waukeeschools.org

Christie Pitts, Assistant Principal
cpitts@waukeeschools.org

From Then to Now, A Common Thread:

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By: Kristin Chavez, WCSD

There’s a common theme when talking to students, staff, and the surrounding community about Waukee Community School District—the importance of people and connection.

Even amidst the growth we’ve experienced over the last several decades, one thing we’ve been able to maintain is a sense of connectedness with all of our stakeholders. As we move forward into this next chapter of continued growth, it’s important to look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed.

Past: Where We’ve Been


When talking to those who have been around since the early days, we can see that much of what we still experience as foundational, key components of the district were present even in the beginning.

Susan Hope, Instructional Coach at Waukee Middle School, began teaching at Waukee in 1986 as one of three 5th grade teachers for the district, when K-8 were all in one building, which is now the Vince Meyer Learning Center.

“When I came to Waukee, there was a reputation of excellence, progressiveness and pride,” said Hope. “I was honored to be a part of Waukee early in my career and continue to be proud to this day. The way our school and community have continued to work together and support one another over the years doesn’t happen everywhere. We’re so blessed. We need one another to achieve excellence.”

“There have been many crossroads,” said school board member and WCSD alumni Mary Scheve. “Moving to neighborhood schools, and now opening up a new high school. I’ve been amazed at how well it’s gone, with all the change and growth.”

The school-community connection is a key part of the district’s growth and continued progress, and it’s something that has always been foundational for Waukee.

“We’re still trying to be the best Waukee we can be,” said Scheve. “We have to progress to be the best, to give people and kids the best opportunity.”

Present: Where We Are


As the seventh-largest and fastest-growing school district in the state, with over 1,600 staff members and 11,900 students, we have much to celebrate, including our athletics, academic achievements, and increased student enrollment. We’ve certainly come a long way from the beginning, while still holding on to what makes us Waukee.

Ali Locker, Director of Elementary Teaching & Learning, has been with the district for the last 12 years. She started as a teacher at Maple Grove Elementary and has been in her current role since 2015. When reflecting on the last few years and where we are today, one thing that stands out to her is the importance of people and human connection.

“I’ve seen so many things stay true to the integrity and values that we’ve always had, including our value of human capital,” she explained.  “People are the most important resource to making this district great—staff, students, administrators, families and community members. Every single day, letting people know how valuable they are. Honoring relationships and connection, above all. I love that as we continue to grow, we hold onto those values and pair them with a mindset of innovation and novelty.”

As we continue on the path forward, the threads of connection between staff, students and our community continue to be very important. They’re authentic and real, and so they remain, even amidst the growth.

Waukee High School senior Braden Menz has been part of the district throughout his school career, and to him, the community-school connection is unlike any other, and it plays an essential role in the student experience.

“It’s amazing to think about the things students can do here to prepare them for the future,” said Menz.  “Waukee has exemplified what it can look like to set students up for greater things in the future. We have such a tight-knit community, and it’s a neat thing to think about considering how big we are. The district and community have done a great job to stay close. It’s really second to none.”

Future: Where We’re Headed


As we move into the next chapter of growth and progress, we will remain committed to the sense of connectedness with our students, staff and community. Looking back at our history allows us to see how our connection and value for one another has made this journey possible, while looking forward allows us to see the ways in which connection will play a part in our growth and continued student success.

“The most important strategy in maintaining connection is focusing on individual students and their needs, even as we have grown,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Buck.

One of the most significant changes in our path forward is the addition of a second high school. While we’re excited about the additional opportunities this will create for our students, we’re also committed to our continued connectedness, and a transition to something even more powerful—belonging.

“The work associated with belonging is part of our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts,” said Dr. Buck. “We envision a future in which all of our students feel a sense of belonging, where the diversity of our student body is considered a strength, and where we appreciate one another for what we bring to the table—without a pressure to conform in order to belong.”

Even as we evolve and grow, the foundational pieces that make us Waukee will continue to unify and bring us together. A focus on people—our students, our staff, and our community—will continue to be at the root of what we believe.

“It will be exciting to see the traditions that remain as we move forward, and to see what new traditions begin to distinguish the high school pathways from one another,” said Dr. Buck. “But through it all, we’ll still be one Waukee, with a focus on meeting the individual needs of our students. In all of this work, we’re guided by a vision—inspiring learners who feel valued, challenged and prepared to embrace tomorrow’s opportunities.”

With all of the growth, transition and progress, one thing has been and always will be a foundational piece of who we are—connection. We will continue to put each other first on this path forward, creating the best opportunities for our students, staff and community.

Your Voice Matters: Waukee’s Work with Equity

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Your voice matters. At Waukee Community School District, staff, students and families come together to make this a reality and help further the important work around equity.

Background & Development
What started in 2019 as a group of teachers discussing equity and the importance of student voice has grown into the Student Equity Team, made up of staff, administration, students and families. The team met in the summer of 2020 to listen and learn with one another, and to engage with different voices around

the topics of diversity, equity and identity. Out of these important and ongoing conversations, the district’s Equity Standards were born.

The Waukee Equity Standards are a set of anchor standards and age-appropriate learning outcomes divided into four domains: identity, diversity, justice and action. The standards provide a common language and organizational structure to reduce prejudice and advocate collective action. In today’s world, these are essential skills and lifelong pursuits for all humans.

Teachers will use the standards to guide classroom discussions and learning opportunities, making our schools more equitable. The standards are modified from the “Learning for Justice” Social Justice standards, and they’re designed to be integrated into any K-12 classroom across the district, despite the content area or grade level, and not tied only to humanities or social sciences.

Incorporating the Work
There are several pieces to implementing the Equity Standards throughout our district’s K-12 classrooms, and one of those pieces is staff learning. Much of the district-level professional development for our teaching staff during the 2020-2021 school year has been focused on equity and how to incorporate the equity standards into content and core curriculum.

During the December professional development session, teachers heard from guest speaker Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, a Black Muslim educator and Associate Professor of Language and Literacy at Georgia State University. Dr. Muhammad wrote the book “Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy.”

Dr. Muhammad spoke to teachers about practical approaches to incorporating equity into student learning. Part of this practical approach includes helping students to see themselves within their learning by using real-world examples that are relevant and relatable, such as music, art, poetry and entertainment from present-day popular culture.

Another piece to implementing the Waukee Equity Standards is engaging with student and community voices. Dr. Lindsay Law, WCSD Director of Student Equity, has been involved in initiating many of these conversations and opportunities to engage with students and families through virtual roundtables where teachers, administrators and families are invited into discussions to listen and learn together. These conversations, and many more like them, continue to lead us forward on this equity journey.

The Path Forward
Around the district, we see many examples of teachers, leaders and students engaging in the important conversations and learning that lead to growth and progress with equity. When asked about future goals and the path forward, Dr. Law said this work is an ongoing pursuit—one that leads to understanding, acceptance and a culture of dignity and belonging.

“We look at these standards as not having an endpoint, not something we would measure,” said Dr. Law. “Dr. Muhammad talks about how we approach these standards as life-long pursuits, as skills we will develop for life. It’s an active part of how we approach student learning. If we honor students as individuals and support the development of healthy identities, we are contributing to the social-emotional well-being of our students. These humanizing practices co-create a culture of belonging and togetherness in our schools and community.”

Waukee Community School District is committed to providing an equitable education for all students. We believe students should feel and be welcomed, connected and supported in our schools and community.

Your voice matters in our collective movement toward equity, anti-racism and building inclusive environments.

Waukee School District

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“Give love.” These two words have come to life throughout the Waukee Community School District (WCSD) as our staff, students and families navigate this ever-changing and uncertain world. The current year has been full of challenges and uncertainties, but it’s also been full of kindness, connection and intentional care for one another. 

The district’s commitment to “give love” continues to be foundational in the way our community members support each other and help each other stay connected, especially in a virtual learning environment. From teachers, to those who work in nutrition and technology, to students and families—there are countless examples of individuals and groups showing up with love, innovation and generosity to make our district a place where people come first. 

Staying Connected 

Teachers like Mrs. Killam (Health, Waukee High School), Mrs. Eikenberry (First Grade, Radiant Elementary), and Mr. Wright (Engineering, Waukee APEX) are thinking outside the box to increase engagement and keep students connected—and they are just a few of many coming up with ways to foster connection. 

“Connection is so important. We all need that, and it’s something [students] are not getting right now,” Mrs. Killam shared when talking about different ways she’s helping to facilitate connection within her Health 2 class at Waukee High School. Whether it’s five minutes playing an online game together or just chatting at the start of class, Mrs. Killam is carving out time for students to socialize and connect.

The class recently discussed empathy as part of their unit on mental health and completed an exercise in which students designed a shoe reflecting their own life story. Without assigning their name to the design, they listed different situations, events, hobbies or descriptive words about their personal journey thus far. The assignment was to spend a few moments “walking in the shoes” of their peers to connect with their stories. What a valuable way to foster connection and promote kindness, even within our virtual world. 

Mrs. Eikenberry at Radiant Elementary recognizes the importance of connecting with her students, and part of that is getting to see one another’s faces. She loves it when her first graders log in every morning. “Their faces and their smiles make it all worth it, and make it easier to step into a day of learning,” she said. Along with many other teachers throughout the district, Mrs. Eikenberry is coming up with new ways to provide an authentic learning experience for all of her students during this time. Whether that’s reading groups, math activities, or playing a short game, the learning and connection go hand-in-hand. 

An important part of the Waukee APEX program includes connection with peers, instructors and business partners. In a virtual environment, some of the opportunities to connect have not been there in the same way. Waukee APEX instructor Mr. Wright discovered from his students that they were missing these connections with their peers.

“One of my biggest concerns for our students during online learning is disconnectedness and loneliness,” he explained. “While I was checking in on my aspiring professionals, a few of them mentioned they missed the unstructured time meeting with individuals from other APEX sectors. That conversation became a catalyst for the idea of a Virtual APEX Triangle that associates from any APEX team could join.” This virtual meeting takes place during the lunch hour on Wednesdays and is an opportunity for students and instructors to socialize, play an online game or just eat lunch together virtually.

Just as connection is essential for our students, it’s just as essential for our community and staff. The families of Grant Reagan Elementary recognized how important it is to make sure the teachers feel valued and appreciated by the community. Many of the students and parents put together signs and letters for the teachers and posted them on the windows and doors around the school building—a small but meaningful way to bring about connection between families and the school staff. 

Finding ways to stay connected in this virtual learning environment is something we can do to practice kindness and give love—for ourselves and others. The staff, students and families of WCSD have continued to show up for one another and do just that. 

Putting the “Give” in “Give Love” 

In the same spirit of kindness and connection, several departments throughout WCSD are going above and beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of students and families within our district. 

Our nutrition staff has shown up with a smile to prepare and distribute hundreds of meals each day to families within our district. The Grab and Go meals have been available for students and families since last spring when the district initially moved to online learning, and over 185,000 total meals have been distributed across the district since the start of the school year. 

We cannot talk about generosity without mentioning our incredible Information Technology department. The countless hours spent connecting students and families with the proper devices and offering technology support during online learning have been essential to our success. The IT staff members have generously gone above and beyond to offer resources and support to our teaching staff, students and families throughout the district. We would not have been able to successfully transition to virtual learning without all of their hard work and support.

At WCSD, we are so fortunate to have staff that puts students and families first, and consistently goes the extra mile to put the “give” in “give love.” We would not be the district we are without each and every one of them.

Waukee School District

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Students Find New Ways to Help Others During the Pandemic
In the midst of a global pandemic, the start of the school year has seen its fair amount of challenges, but still, students and faculty continue to overcome it by pivoting with each new obstacle. At Waukee Community School District, we understand that success is not always about numbers and rankings. Somedays, it’s just about getting through the day safe and sound. 

Students like sixth-grader Clive Voynov and seventh-grader Kiera Shadd recognized the difficulty of our current climate, and both have demonstrated that sometimes success is just about making a little extra effort in practicing kindness. 

Clive Voynov loves to help others. That’s why he decided to start “Waukee Tech,” a Youtube channel designed to help other online learners with some of their FAQ’s. Clive has created more than 50 videos tackling different issues. ]

For Kiera Shadd, cooking became a way to interact with her fellow online learners. Shadd is now holding a cooking show online during the lunch hour a couple times each week. Kiera says she loves the chance to interact with her peers. Sometimes the meals and snacks don’t come out as planned, but that really isn’t an issue for Kiera. She’s just happy to have this special time to make others feel connected and less alone. 

Woodland Hills Counselor Shares Mental Health Tips
As students, teachers and families navigate a new normal in 2020, the importance of mental health has become more and more apparent. Jes Young, Woodland Hills Elementary school counselor, has started sharing tips and tricks on how to remain energized as the community continues to push through the pandemic and adjust to the new normal. 

“There’s a quote I like: ‘Life is ten percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond to it.’ I still believe and agree with it to a certain extent, but I have shifted my thinking on it,” she explained. “I feel like we had a lot of life change in the last several months, and I don’t want to minimize that 10 percent. I think that life is 100 percent what happens to you and 100 percent how you respond to it. That’s how I’ve shifted my thinking.”

Her “Mental Health Tips Monday” is posted weekly on Waukee Community School District’s social media, and it includes plenty of points on how we can respond to life during these difficult times. 

Radiant Elementary Receives Energy Efficient Design Award
The Waukee Community School District is proud to announce that Radiant Elementary School has received a 2020 Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award for achieving 49 percent kBTU energy savings when compared to the Commercial New Construction (CNC) program baseline.

The Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award recognizes outstanding efforts in reducing energy use. Award candidates are selected from projects whose designers participated in the Commercial New Construction program offered by Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy Company. Projects received a CNC program final verification report between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. The top projects with the highest kBTU savings percentage in Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy’s service territory are selected for an award.

Some of the key energy efficiency features at Radiant Elementary include:

  • High-efficiency boiler and water-cooled chiller
  • Demand Control Ventilation
  • Improved wall and roof insulation, low U-value glazing
  • LED lighting with daylighting and vacancy sensors

The district was presented with their award during a virtual ceremony on October 1.

Boys Golf Team Wins State
The Waukee Boys Golf Team did it again! The Warriors captured their third straight state team title with a dominating performance at the Class 4A State Tournament played at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

The Warriors captured the crown by 16 shots with a two-day score of 605.

Senior Jack Starr won the individual state title at +3 and his teammate Junior Brock Seiser finished second at +4.

As we prepare for the beginning of 2021, we continue to come together as a community to support one another and find the joys in both the big and small things. There is no better way to weather the storm than to stand side-by-side with our neighbors to continue to make Waukee Community School District the best for our students and families. 

Waukee School District

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The fifth season in Iowa is construction, and the same is true in Waukee. Sugar Creek Elementary, the district’s tenth elementary school, held its groundbreaking event on May 21. The new school is located in the southwest area of the district, north of Ashworth Road and southwest of the Sugar Creek Golf Course. Construction has begun, and the building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2022.

The district is working on several improvement projects over the summer. We are looking forward to further enhancing our facilities and learning environments for

staff, students and families. We were able to start some of these projects early due to the school year ending early this year.

Vince Meyer Learning Center Preschool and Office Addition
This project will add 20 preschool classrooms and administrative areas to the east side of the existing Vince Meyer Learning Center building in order to consolidate the district’s preschool programs into one location.

  • The project also includes a smaller office addition to the west side of the building for the technology and community education departments. 
  • The existing “ranch” or “bus barn” building will be demolished over the summer of 2021.
  • Construction activities will significantly impact the use and occupancy of the VMLC building for a good portion of the construction timeframe.

Waukee High School and Prairieview Parking Lot Improvements
This project entails removing and replacing the asphalt and concrete in both south parking lots, selected driveways and the WHS north loading dock areas. This project is a continuation of the paving improvements that began last summer.

  • Parking and access to Prairieview will be impacted the most by Phase 3 and 4 of the project. During this time, primary parking will be provided in the WHS east parking lot with access to the building through the Theater Arts Center. Both street entrances from University will be closed during this time, as well.
  • WHS’ north driveway and loading dock will be closed during Phase 5 of the project.
  • Barricades and signage will be provided to assist motorists and visitors. Please do not drive around the barriers.
  • The project schedule may change depending on the weather.

Timberline Stadium Improvements
Phase 1 of this project includes improvements to the existing stadium to prepare it for competition use. This will include lights, fencing, an entrance area for spectators, bleachers, a press box and a scoreboard.

  • Phase 2, scheduled for the summer of 2021, will include field turf, a concessions area and restroom facilities.
  • Phase 1 work will mainly affect the track and field areas, which will be unavailable for use during the project timeframe.
  • If all goes according to plan, Waukee Community School District will hold competitive athletic events at Timberline Stadium beginning in the fall of 2020.

Prairieview Fitness Center Addition
This project allows for a dedicated fitness center for students in grades 8-9 that are in the Northwest High School feeder. This fitness center will be used for curricular physical education at Prairieview, along with before- and after-school and summer strength and conditioning.

  • This project mainly affects the north and west areas adjacent to the existing gym and locker rooms.
  • The school’s north entrance/exit doors will remain largely available for use.
  • Parking in the northernmost lots may be temporarily adjusted to accommodate construction traffic.

Brookview Elementary Classroom Addition
This project will add three new classrooms, a band room and two small group rooms for personalized instruction.

  • This project mainly affects the northernmost ends of the kindergarten and first-grade wings of the existing building.

Eason Elementary Classroom Addition and Parking Lot Improvements
This project will add five new classrooms, a band room, a small group room for personalized instruction and other support spaces.

  • Part of the project will include the complete reworking of the south parking lot and driveway to improve the safety and efficiency of student drop-off and pick-up. It will significantly increase the amount of driveway length available for vehicle stacking, and should help prevent vehicles from backing up onto SE Boone Drive.
  • The addition portion of this project mainly affects the northernmost end of the second-grade wing of the existing building.
  • The parking lot improvements are expected to take place over the summer of 2021.

A New Reality

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Countless hours have been spent pivoting to our new reality of being away from school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every staff member has stepped up and provided our community with their best self during this time of uncertainty. We wish we could be finishing our school year in our buildings, but we will be together again soon.

Although we are not physically together, we have continued to make connections via staff parades through neighborhoods, read-alouds online, and Google Hangouts. We want to express our sincere gratitude to our staff for their outpouring of support and understanding during this difficult time.

● More than 40,000 meals have been served during the school closure and will continue as long as necessary.

● Nearly 1,330 students have been provided with devices and hotspots.

● 2,000,000 sq. ft. of buildings have been cleaned and disinfected.

School District Staff Members Step Up to Help Fight COVID-19

Bille Veach, nutrition purchasing coordinator, is part of the district’s nutrition team preparing free meals for students every Monday-Friday. She quickly realized her team was in need of face masks to help keep everyone healthy, so she reached out to a Waukee High School teacher for help.

Laura Calvert, a family and consumer science teacher, had already recruited her sisters, Kaity Gale and Lacey Calvert, to make masks for local families, and they were happy to make more to help the school district. Calvert and her sisters made 20 masks for the district’s nutrition department, 50 for the operations department, and 26 for families in our community.

“For me, helping is something I’ve always felt compelled to do,” said Calvert. “When times get tough, you roll your sleeves up and help wherever you can. This was one way in which I could help people feel a little safer at the end of the day.”

Industrial Technology Teachers Help Print PPE

The Waukee Community School District is participating in a statewide effort to provide healthcare workers with the equipment necessary to fight COVID-19. The district has been asked to use its 3D printers to help produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors, nurses and other frontline workers throughout Iowa.

The Waukee Community Schools Foundation is contributing to this remarkable project by providing grant money to purchase the filaments needed for printing. The Foundation also provided a classroom grant to purchase one of the 3D printers in 2019.

Andrew Hauptmann, an industrial technology teacher at Timberline, is coordinating the effort on behalf of the Waukee Community School District. Area515, a local makerspace, initially had the idea as a way to help. Here in Waukee, Hauptmann, South Middle School teacher Cole Kleinwolterink, and Prairieview teacher Jonathan Galli were granted permission by the administration to take all eight of the district’s 3D printers home with them. When the printing is complete, the teachers will take the printed pieces to a drop-off site in the Des Moines area for assembly and distribution. The Iowa Department of Education is involved in the distribution, delivering the face shields through AEAs.

Hauptmann said he’s already looking forward to sharing this experience with students when everyone is able to return to the classroom. “This is really a remarkable lesson in production,” he said. “We never would’ve guessed that we’d be able to contribute to the effort in this way.”

District Earns Award for Outstanding Financial Reporting

The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has awarded the Waukee Community School District (WCSD) with the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE). ASBO International’s COE recognizes districts that have met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and accountability. WCSD earned the Certificate of Excellence for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year 2019. Waukee Community School District has participated in the COE program for the past 15 years.

Smart Phones. Smarter Parents.

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The Waukee Community School District has experienced an increasing number of conversations with students, teachers and parents about cell phones, social media and mental/physical health in relation to the use of technology.

In response, the district hosted an event for parents and guardians this past September called SmartDevices SmarterParents. This event focused on how to be healthy consumers and users of technology. It was the first in a series of workshops aimed at identifying how school and community can work hand-in-hand to be part of a solution.

Due to the positive feedback we received from those who attended, we will host a second workshop on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Waukee Innovation & Learning Center (Ashworth & SE LA Grant Pkwy). This event will focus on anxiety, depression, risk and safety planning, substance abuse, body image, device safety, using devices for learning, and parenting with love and logic. All parents, guardians and caregivers of students in the Waukee Community School District are invited to attend.

It will be a night of learning, sharing and conversation, including a presentation, Q&A session and social time for participants to chat and connect with fellow parents, guardians and caregivers who share their concerns. Those who sign up for these workshops will also be provided with ongoing information (e.g., articles, resources, videos, etc.).

As a district, we believe these workshops are a positive step in providing parents, teachers and students with guidance, solutions and support on this increasingly important subject.

Going Far With Apex

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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.

Community Spotlight: Prairieview Teacher Baedke Receives Excellence in Education Award

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The Waukee School District consistently ranks as one of the top school districts statewide, and the latest evidence of its merit was on display this past July at the Iowa State Education Association’s (ISEA) Celebration of Excellence Awards Banquet.  Prairieview Spanish teacher Kerisa Baedke was presented with the ISEA Excellence in Education Award, which celebrates educators across the state who touch the lives of their students on an everyday basis. The winner acts as ISEA’s nominee for the National Education Association’s (NEA) Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Now in her 31st year of teaching world languages, Baedke caught the teaching bug early on.  “I feel like I’ve been teaching most of my life,” she said. Both of her parents taught at UNI, and with two older brothers already in school, Baedke, who was still too young to attend, contented herself with playing school “all the time” at home.

During high school, she decided to study to become a world language teacher, initially planning to major in French.  On the advice of her mother—also a world language teacher—she decided to study Spanish as well, to make herself more marketable.

“My mom is very wise,” explained Baedke, “because all these years later, with a double major in French and Spanish, a teaching certificate, a semester studying abroad in Mexico, a year of teaching English in France, and a Master’s in Spanish, I am living my best life teaching young people language and culture!”

During that year in France, Baedke interviewed by phone for a position teaching French and Spanish at West Delaware High School and Middle School in Manchester, Iowa.  Not only was she hired, but her husband Bruce was also hired as the chemistry and physics teacher in the district. After teaching in West Delaware for five years, the Baedkes moved to the Des Moines metro area so that she could teach at Valley and he could teach at Dowling.  Baedke came to Prairieview in the fall of 2006 and is now entering her 14th year of teaching there.

Baedke is in her element at Prairieview.  The building is home to eighth and ninth grades, and she said she loves this because those are her two favorite grades.  She also praises the district as an excellent place to work and enjoys working with the students at Prairieview. “The students at Prairieview are incredible,” she said. “They’re kind to each other and they’re fun.  They want to learn and grow.” She also described the Prairieview staff as a family: “We strive to create a culture of love and respect that makes coming to Prairieview every day a joy.”

Clearly, Baedke’s appreciation of her students is mutual, as it was one of her students who nominated her for the Excellence in Education Award.  She received a call from Mike Beranek, the President of ISEA, in mid-April to inform her that she had won. “I was shocked,” she said. “I hadn’t known anything about the award and had to ask him several questions about it before I believed him…I still am rather flabbergasted, truth be told.  It’s a great honor, and at the same time, it’s incredibly humbling.”

Baedke’s colleagues aren’t as surprised as she was.  “[This] is a reflection of the impact she has on her students,” said Prairieview Principal Mark Stallman in a press release announcing her receipt of the award.  “We are so proud that she will represent Prairieview, Waukee and the state of Iowa as one of five national finalists for the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.”

As a finalist for this national award, Baedke will take an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, in February for the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.  She is planning to attend with her husband and her mom. “We’re all very excited!” she said. “I’m looking forward to the event and to meeting all of the other teachers being recognized for excellence by their state education associations.”  

It’s safe to say that regardless of the outcome in Washington, DC, Baedke is already a winner with her students, her colleagues and the Waukee School District.  Congratulations! 

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