Dunsbergen to lead Terrace Elementary School
An Oskaloosa elementary school principal will be the newest elementary leader in the Ankeny school district.
The Ankeny school board has hired Matthew Dunsbergen as the principal for Terrace Elementary School for the 2014-15 school year. He begins July 1 and will succeed Tiffany O'Hara, who is leaving to join the Des Moines Public Schools Human Resources Department.
Dunsbergen, a native of Sully, is currently the second- and third-grade principal at Oskaloosa Elementary School. He has 13 years of experience in education, beginning in 2001 as a fourth-grade teacher for the Lynnville-Sully district. He served as a third- and fifth-grade teacher for Pella Community Schools from 2006-08 before becoming an elementary principal in Oskaloosa. He also has coached both junior high basketball and high school baseball.
"I am thrilled at the opportunity to work closely with the students, parents and staff at Terrace Elementary," Dunsbergen said. "The excitement from students and teachers when I visited was high. I look forward to building on that excitement with the entire Terrace team."
Dunsbergen holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Central College in Pella and a master's degree in educational leadership from Drake University. He also earned an educational specialist degree from Drake University in 2011.
"We were very pleased to have an extremely strong pool of candidates, and the interview committee was very impressed with Mr. Dunsbergen's experiences as an administrator," Superintendent Bruce Kimpston said, adding Dunsbergen's strong interpersonal skills will help him connect with a variety of parents and community stakeholders.
As an educator Dunsbergen has worked on initiatives to expand the use of technology in his schools, led the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and worked with staff to create and lead professional development.
Dunsbergen and his wife, Rochelle, have four children.
— Submitted by the Ankeny school district