News
Dr. Erick Pruitt Appointed Superintendent of Ankeny Schools
The Ankeny Board of Education is pleased to announce Dr. Erick Pruitt as the next Superintendent of Schools for the Ankeny Community School District. The announcement is a historic one as Pruitt is the first person of color to lead the district. Dr. Pruitt is currently the Deputy Chief of High Schools for Chicago Public Schools and will take the district’s reins on July 1, following interim Superintendent Dr. Al Azinger.
“The Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Erick Pruitt,” stated Board President Aaron Johnson. “His experience as an academic leader in some of the largest districts in the nation will position him well to lead the next chapter of Ankeny’s long history of success.”
“Ankeny Community School District shares my commitment to academic and lifetime personal success for every student. I want to be part of a district that is proud of its success but seeks ways to continuously improve outcomes for students,” said Dr. Erick Pruitt. “Ankeny is the kind of community my family and I want to be a part of and the kind of district my career has prepared me to lead. I look forward to working with students, staff, families, and the community to realize our shared vision of elevating leadership, innovation, and achievement.”
Early in the school year, the Ankeny Board of Education retained HYA & Associates to lead the district through the process of hiring the Superintendent of Schools. The firm led the district through a thorough process in collaboration with students, staff, and the community to develop a leadership profile to guide the search. (Profile of an Ankeny Superintendent) The profile outlined many desired characteristics, including a communicator, visionary, relationship builder, collaborator, innovator, and more.
Following the profile development, HYA & Associates conducted a national search to attract the best and brightest candidates from across the country. In addition to in-depth interviews with the Ankeny Board of Education, the candidates participated in meet-and-greet style gatherings with various stakeholders, including staff, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.
“Dr. Pruitt more than exceeds our expectations in achieving the priorities laid out in the leadership profile developed in partnership with our community,” noted President Johnson. “In his role with Chicago Public Schools, he has facilitated the development of district strategic plans in collaboration with numerous stakeholders and managed complex budgets for the 96 high schools he oversaw. Furthermore, he led the development of high-quality instruction, making him well-positioned to drive Ankeny’s record of success even further. In addition to all this, he has a proven record of successful relationship building with staff, parents, and the community. He is described as visible and approachable by staff and the community. Lastly, he is a proven leader in integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into the overall district vision. The Ankeny Board of Education is confident he is the best candidate to help our district excel.”
In addition to his current role in Chicago Public Schools, he served as Chief of Schools for Network 17, Deputy Chief of Schools for Network 9, and as an elementary principal for the district. He has also served as Chief School Officer for the South Area Schools and School Support Officer for the East Area Schools in the Houston Independent School District.
Dr. Pruitt received his Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University in Chicago, IL. He also holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Loyola University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Purdue University.
Dr. Pruitt and his wife, Kenya have been married for 26 years. They are the proud parents of five children, daughter India, currently serving in the Army, son James, Freshman at Howard University, son David, 6th grade, daughter Anaiah, 3rd grade, and daughter Imani, 2nd Grade.