Support Our Schools
Looking for an opportunity to support Ankeny students?
I WANT TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOME WAY
There are several ways to get involved with Ankeny Community School District. We have them broken out into three categories: Expertise • Time • Resources. Please review the menus below and who to contact to contribute to the future of our students.
What opportunities are sharing EXPERTISE?
Contacts: Amy Steenhoek / Erin VanDorin / Al Neppl / Heidi Palkovic
Career awareness and exploration
Worksite tour: Introduce students to your business or organization through a worksite tour to gain a better understanding of the industry and the careers that exist there.
Career fairs: Host a booth that represents your organization and/or careers within the organization.
Career immersion: Provide an industry specific experience allowing for hands-on interaction through simulations and activities.
Informational interview: In person experts allow students to interview them about their career, pathway & connection to classroom content.
Job shadow: Provide students an observational short term (2-8 hours, unpaid) opportunity to be exposed to a career area of interest
After-school opportunities: Get involved in an after-school career exploration program for middle schoolers.
Classroom speaker: In person experts share their perspective on their career, pathway & connection to classroom content.
Career preparation, training and professional development
Provide mock interviews: Provide opportunities for students to engage in practice interviews to further develop professional interview skills.
Workplace readiness simulation: Provide ongoing work tasks specific to your business or organization that can be completed within the school setting.
Provide an authentic project or challenge: (Orbis project based experience or authentic project for a classroom): Career exploration experience that engages industry partners through meaningful projects completed by students that connects curriculum to specific careers. Industry partners would interact with students throughout the duration of the project.
Provide an internship: Provide a structured experience for a set period of time with specific learning goals. This would be aligned with a student’s long term career goals to further their skills and understanding.
Provide a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program:
- Pre Apprenticeship: Training experiences that include a set of strategies to prepare students to enter and succeed in an apprenticeship program. A pre-apprenticeship program meets requirements set forth by the US Department of Labor.
- Apprenticeship: Provide on the job training with related technical or classroom instruction. Students are paid and employed by the employer or organization during the apprenticeship. It meets certain requirements set for by the US Department of Labor.
Externship for teachers/staff
[dropdown title="Community class"]Share your passion and expertise by teaching an evening or weekend class through the Community Engagement department.
Special events/fairs
Skilled volunteer
[dropdown title="Professional development"]Lend your knowledge to teachers and staff with continuing education training and learning opportunities.
Keynote speaker
Podcast guest
Participation in media requests
What opportunities are sharing TIME?
Contacts: Jessie Dirks / Samantha Aukes
Volunteers
Serve on a committee
Create service learning opportunities (Silver Cord hours) for students
Joining an affiliated group (PTO, Boosters, Foundation, etc.)
Ambassador/social media influencer (share district info on social media)
What opportunities are sharing RESOURCES?
Contact: Heidi Palkovic