Board President George Tracy Lauded for Not Giving Up on Ankeny Students

George Tracy, Ankeny school board president until an election of officers Monday evening, choked up as he responded to praise from other board members.

“Second chances,” he said, then stopped and cleared his throat and grappled with his emotions before he continued.

“If you knew my past in high school. … (I had some) tough times. I’m the poster child for second chances. I’ve lived here since ‘67, this community is phenomenal.”

Tracy added that he believes Ankeny has great students, and “as far as the teachers, I will be an advocate of teachers. Next to my parents, no one had more influence on me than teachers.”

Ankeny Superintendent Bruce Kimpston had earlier praised Tracy's influence on the school system.

“George advocates for all kids,” Kimpston said. “He is the one who sticks up for the kid who may need a second chance or a third chance. I have been so impressed with that, when people in general were ready to be done with somebody, I heard President Tracy stand up for a kid and say, ‘Let’s look at each kid on a case-by-case basis.’”

Kimpston emphasized Tracy’s ability to talk with students. “George’s ability to talk to a lot of people, and most importantly that would be to talk with kids. George wanted to have discussions with kids about experiences at Ankeny schools. They didn’t hold back, and told us what they thought about lunches, P.E. classes, testing out. It takes a special person to talk to kids,” Kimpston said.

Board member Pat Cahill lauded Tracy for his leadership in a year when there were some complicated and tough decisions. "Your leadership helped us get through all the issues we faced this last year," she said.

After the first meeting came to a close, a new meeting was called at which Cahill was elected as the school board president, and Todd Shafer was named the vice president.