DES MOINES, Iowa — For the 2024-2025 school year, all four Des Moines Public School preschools will have a designated principal on campus for the first time ever.
District officials explained that preschool is a priority for DMPS. The district believes that its new principals will help create a strong culture at the preschools they lead.
Melissa Sambu is one of the four new principals and works at the Taylor Learning Center.
“It shows the importance that not only we feel, but also that the board and superintendent really value the power of early education and providing those opportunities for students to begin at a young level,” Sambu said.
Sambu was promoted from associate principal of the Taylor Learning Center to principal.
“Watching the growth from the beginning to the end of the school year and to see the hard work that the teachers put in every day and the student growth is really special,” Sambu said.
Sambu has been with DMPS for 18 years.
“I am excited to continue the work that is started in our Early Childhood Department to really lay that foundation,” Sambu said.
Before, the preschools had associate principals that led them. Some of them even served in dual roles, overseeing specific programs at the schools as well.
“Our district recognizes that preschool is a fundamental part of our system and it recognizes that we need the same level of leadership as elementary, middle and high schools,” Director of Early Childhood Kristin Rourk said.
DMPS believes that the principals will make students more ready for elementary school and lead to better overall student success.
“Now that we’re really focusing on them just being principals and instructional leaders, we’re really excited about what that means for outcomes for students,” Rourk said.
This comes after DMPS announced it will offer more free preschool classes this year, going from six classes to eight classes.
Another change this school year is that DMPS will offer bus transportation to some of its preschools.