Prairie Ridge Principal Says Success is a Team Effort

Northview Middle School in Ankeny isn’t the only middle school in the district with a new principal this year.

Tabby Rabenberg, 38, is the new principal at Prairie Ridge Middle School in Ankeny. Rabenberg officially became the school’s top administrator this summer, and she can’t wait to join the teachers in making Prairie Ridge shine.

“If there is one thing I believe in, it’s shared leadership,” Rabenberg said. “We have a wonderful group of professionals who will make the best decisions for this building as a team – and the kids will always be in the center (of those decisions).”

Rabenberg originally is from South Dakota. She attended Augustana College and Black Hills State University. She and her husband, Tim, moved to Des Moines in 1995.

Rabenberg spent time teaching middle school students and high school science before she earned her administration degree from Drake University. She served as special education curriculum coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools before realizing she missed the interaction with students.

“I wanted to get out of the office and get back to kids,” she said.

Rabenberg then served as dean of students at Central Campus, a regional academy for students grades 7-12, and as a school improvement leader for Lincoln High School.

Rabenberg and her husband have two children, 12-year-old Paige and 4-year-old Jacob.

She decided to come to Ankeny, Rabenberg said, because of its reputation as a growing district.

“I knew I would be a great asset to this district,” she said. “I think we can do a lot to take a great district and make it better.”

She has a lot of goals for the school, Rabenberg said, both short and long-term. During her first year with the district, Rabenberg said she wants to foster a feeling of “community” among the students, staff and families.

“I want us to be a family,” she said. “I want this to be a place where adults love to come to work and where kids love to come to learn.”

Rabenberg and the staff at Prairie Ridge also created building goals, goals that focus on academic achievement and professional development.

Rabenberg is excited for the first day of school at Prairie Ridge.

“All the experience I’ve had in my career has really prepared me for this job,” she said.