ENCORE: New Ankeny High Principal Hopes to Continue Improving School Next Year

Editor's Note: We know the work week can be a busy time and you might not make it to our site. So, for our weekend visitors, here's a second chance to catch a story we ran earlier this week.

Four new adminstrators are poised and ready to take the helm at their respective schools within the next year.

But who are these individuals who will be leading our schools?

In an effort to help you get to know the new faces among the school district's administrative team, we got a chance to ask a few questions to the new leaders of , Ankeny Centennial High School, Prairie Trail Elementary School and .

Each day this week, we profiled one of the building principals who will start their new roles within the district on July 1. Here's your second chance to get to know Jeff Hawkins, .

JEFF HAWKINS

Age: 37 

Family Members: Wife, Stacia; daughters, Adeline (10) and Allison (4); and son, Anthony (8). My kids go to (or will go to) Crocker Elementary School.

Where and when Did You Graduate From College? What Degree Did You Get?

I graduated from college with a teaching degree in the area of English/language arts. I got my master's, specialist and doctoral degrees all from Drake University.

Where Have You Taught Previously and What Were Your Roles at Each School?: 

I taught for six years in Johnston, where I taught English for students in grades 9-12. While there I coached football, basketball and soccer. I served on our building leadership team, student assistance team, and helped plan and deliver professional development. 

I left Johnston to go to my first administrative job in Boone. I was there for one year as an assistant principal and activities director before coming to Ankeny High School as an assistant principal. I have worked at Ankeny High School ever since as an assistant principal, associate principal and then principal (next year).

Name a Teacher Who Most Influenced You and Why? 

While this typically would be answered from the perspective as a student, I will answer the question from that as a colleague. I had the great opportunity to work very closely for a number of years with (Johnston's) Sarah Wessling (former Iowa and National Teacher of the Year). Her dedication to continuous improvement, to always finding the next best answer for her students and her genuine care for the academic and personal success of her students serves as a model we can all strive for. By not ever allowing herself or her students to settle for anything less than their best, that is exactly what she has gotten.

What is Your Educational Philosophy?

I believe that our kids deserve the very best we have to offer them, and that their success, as well as that of our community, state, and nation, is dependent upon us helping all students to achieve to the utmost of their potential.  

What Will You Try to Bring to Your New Role?

I am both honored and extremely excited to have the opportunity to lead Ankeny High School. I have the utmost respect for our high school. Our history of academic and athletic success is a great source of pride for me, for our district, and for our community. This success can be attributed to the dedicated and hard-working staff who care very deeply about our students and helping them be successful. We have fantastic kids and families to work with, and a wonderfully supportive community. All of this makes Ankeny simply the best place to be.

As I approach my new role, I wish to work to continue our tradition of excellence and continue to find new ways to grow our students and staff as we continually look to improve.

What Do You Enjoy Most About Being a Part of Ankeny Schools? 

The people. We have an amazing staff, we work with incredible students and families, and have the support and involvement of a great community. It is the quality and character of the people here that distinguishes Ankeny above all else.

Did you like this story? Come back each day this week to learn more about our new district administrators:

• Wednesday: Jen Lindaman, new principal of Ankeny Centennial High School, scheduled to open in August 2013.
• Thursday: Pam Dodge, new principal of Prairie Trail Elementary School, scheduled to open in August 2012.
• Friday: Amy Dittmar, new principal of Westwood Elementary School.