DMPS Names New Associate Superintendent: Thomas Ahart

Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce that Thomas Ahart will serve as the district’s Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. Ahart is principal of Warren G. Harding Middle School in Des Moines.

“Tom brings a wealth of experience from nearly every aspect of education, especially in the areas of curriculum and school improvement,” said Dr. Nancy Sebring, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. “I’m very pleased that he will be a part of our district’s leadership team.”

The Associate Superintendent position will oversee a wide range of teaching and learning functions, including curriculum, assessment, ELL, early childhood education, special education, and gifted and talented programs.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the students, teachers and families of Des Moines,” added Ahart. “Our school district has had terrific success in recent years, and I’m looking forward to building on that foundation to make sure every student is provided with the education and support they need to succeed.”

For the past three years, Ahart has been principal of Harding Middle School. He has also served as the Director of Human Resources at the Ankeny Community School District, the Director of Instruction at the Marshalltown Community School District, and as a school improvement consultant at the Heartland Area Education Agency. Ahart has also been a language arts teacher at high schools in Denison, IA and Glenwood Springs, CO.

Ahart has been involved in a number of educational and professional associations, having served as president of the Iowa Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, an editor of Iowa Educational Leadership, and a member of the Iowa Department of Education’s Charter School Advisory Board.

Ahart received a BA in speech and mass communications from the University of Denver as well as a Master’s of Public Administration and Ed.S from Drake University. He is completing his Doctorate in Education Leadership at Drake University this summer, with a dissertation on student achievement factors in Iowa schools.