Committees
West Des Moines Community Schools connects families and the community to the district through a variety of committees. Click on the committee name to learn more.
Community Education Advisory Council
The WDMCS Community Education Advisory Council (CEAC) is a group of volunteers who work together to understand and meet the needs of our community. Members come from different areas and groups in the West Des Moines Community School District. They meet every month during the school year.
Here are the responsibilities of CEAC members:
- Attend at least six meetings from September to May.
- Serve for one year, and it can be renewed.
- Work together on a project committee to achieve goals.
- Support WDMCS Community Education and talk about it with others.
- Share any new community needs, ideas, or concerns that affect the community's quality of life.
- Keep two-way communication between CEAC and their represented group.
- Check the budget and make sure money is used responsibly.
Needs Assessment
Every five years, the WDMCS Community Education Advisory Council carries out a thorough assessment of community needs. This evaluation pinpoints both the strengths and concerns within the community, providing guidance for the work undertaken by the CEAC.
2020 Needs Assessment Summary of Findings
School Improvement Advisory Council
The School Improvement Advisory Committee's (SIAC) role is to learn about and discuss student achievement, programs, and community connections and serve as the district's access committee. The committee's role is to apply a culturally affirming lens in understanding and advising on the district's strategic priorities and efforts.
Iowa Code requires that the SIAC membership be approved annually by the School Board. The West Des Moines Community Schools SIAC membership includes parents, community members, teachers, students, and building and district administration.
2026-27 Meeting Dates
Meetings are held from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Learning Resource Center.
- Sept. 1, 2026
- Nov. 17, 2026
- Feb. 2, 2027
- April 6, 2027
2026-27 Members
- Dr. Matt Adams - staff, Learning Resource Center
- Kate Amdor — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Arbenita Berisha — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Nicole Biase — staff, Westridge
- Jessica Christensen — parent/guardian, Jordan Creek
- Alex Corado — student, Valley
- Joseph Danielson — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Kyrie Dismute — student, Valley Southwoods
- Dani Dvorak — parent/guardian, Western Hills
- Rebecca Dyer — parent/guardian, Clive
- Melissa Eadon — parent/guardian, Jordan Creek
- Gage Edwards — parent/guardian, Crossroads Park
- Fannette Elliott — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Kate Gainer — parent/guardian, Crossroads Park
- Pearl Gaye — student, Valley
- Jaimie Hesterberg — parent/guardian, Clive
- Ceu Hnin Thang — parent/guardian, Hillside
- Jennie Hogan — parent/guardian, Westridge
- Jamie Hommer — staff, Westridge
- Sarah Hosack — parent/guardian, Hillside
- Tom Hosack — parent/guardian, Hillside
- Roman Ingeldue Hernandez — student, Valley Southwoods
- Kimberly Jacoby — parent/guardian, Crossroads Park
- Pamela James — staff, Westridge
- Dau Jok — staff, Learning Resource Center
- Traci Kennedy — parent/guardian, Fairmeadows
- Ashley Knepper — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Allison Koontz — staff, Indian Hills
- Steve Leib — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Ragan LeLaCheur — student, Valley
- Megan Light — staff, Westridge
- Raoudha Mabrouk — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Jennifer Maffucci — parent/guardian, Valley
- Tin Mang — student, Valley
- Alex Marske — parent/guardian, Crossroads Park
- Julie Medhus — parent/guardian, Clive
- Shanese Miller — parent/guardian, Valley Southwoods
- Raj Murugesan — parent/guardian, Westridge
- Erin Musset — staff, Valley Southwoods
- Brock Nekvinda — parent/guardian, Indian Hills
- Lexi Nekvinda — parent/guardian, Indian Hills
- Jane Njai — student, Valley Southwoods
- Kyle Olberding — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Crystal Pyle — parent/guardian, Western Hills
- Bob Ready — parent/guardian, Jordan Creek
- Brant Reif — staff, Valley Southwoods
- Jessica Reinert — parent/guardian, Westridge
- Nicole Riggs — parent/guardian, Fairmeadows
- Emily Roemmich — parent/guardian, Valley
- Steve Schappaugh — staff, Learning Resource Center
- Shannon Schlichte — parent/guardian, Stilwell
- Porter Schwarts — student, Valley
- Tasha Schwingendorf — parent/guardian, Valley
- Amy Seidelman — parent/guardian, Valley Southwoods
- Mike Sherman — staff, Learning Resource Center
- Conner Stein — student, Valley
- Kurt Subra — staff, Learning Resource Center
- Van Tha Par — parent/guardian, Hillside
- Lily Thomas — student, Valley
- Ashley Thoreson — parent/guardian, Indian Hills
- Virginia Tonelli — parent/guardian, Western Hills
- Isabelle Turner — student, Valley
- Brooke Von Stein — staff, Western Hills
- Mary Williamson — parent/guardian, Valley
- Suyau Woehler — parent/guardian, Westridge
- 2 members of the WDMCS Board of Education
School Community Network
WDMCS is dedicated to involving our parent/guardians in what we do. School Community Network (SCN) is a group of parent/guardians from different parts of the district. They meet to talk face-to-face and share ideas and information. Sometimes, school leaders join the meetings to give important updates. This helps SCN members share district information with the community.
SCN Meetings
School Community Network meetings are typically the third Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meetings will not be held in December or March. Meetings are held virtually or in-person at the Learning Resource Center. Members will be informed each month of the meeting's location.
2026-27 Meeting Schedule
- Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026 — Meeting #1 (Hillside Room)
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 — Member Collaboration (Hillside Room)
- Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026 — Meeting #2 (Community Room)
- Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027 — Member Collaboration (Fairmeadows Room)
- Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2027 — Meeting #3 (Fairmeadows Room)
- Tuesday, April 20, 2027 — Meeting #4 (Fairmeadows Room)
- Tuesday, May 18, 2027 — Member Collaboration (Fairmeadows Room)
2026-27 Members
- Board of Education — Lila Starr, Loni Dafney
- District — Bryan Geelan (executive director of communications)
- WDMCS Foundation — Heather Tweed
- Clive Learning Academy — Paige Closter, Casey Laskowski
- Crestview School of Inquiry — Jazmin Tobar, open
- Crossroads Park Elementary — Jeff Daniels, Annie Tekippe, Tessa Tranberg
- Fairmeadows Elementary — Rachel Lunsford, Anna Shull
- Hillside Elementary — Allison Carstens
- Jordan Creek Elementary — Ashlee Karasch
- Western Hills Elementary — Krista Becker, Peri Montufar
- Westridge Elementary — Hallie Wemmie
- Indian Hills Junior High — Kelsi Salmon, Amy Seidelman, Ashley Thoreson
- Stilwell Junior High — Samantha Ahn, Kate Amdor, Dane Hays, Amanda Mahannah
- Valley High School/Valley Southwoods — Alicia Emanuel, Suzy Hider, Mary Williamson
2024-25 Meeting Minutes
2023-24 Meeting Minutes