An outstanding group of DMACC Education students join U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ (center), DMACC Education Program Chair and Professor Patsy Steffen (left of Cardona) and DMACC President Rob Denson (right of Cardona) for a photo after participating in a panel discussion about teacher apprenticeship programs on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

Pictured (left to right) are Chaz Robinson, a second-year DMACC Education student from Des Moines; Gabe Young, a second-year DMACC Education student from Algona; Nicole Kindley, a second-year DMACC Education student from St. Charles; DeMontae Clark, a second-year DMACC Education student from Charlotte, N.C.; Cameron Bergman, a first-year DMACC Education student from Conrad; Patsy Steffen, DMACC Education Program Chair and Professor; Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education​; Rob Denson, DMACC President; Jose Nevarez, a first-year DMACC Education student from Perry; Ariana Gray, a second-year DMACC Education student from Urbandale; Jay McCord, a second-year DMACC Education student from Perry; Lillian Irwin, a first-year DMACC Education student from Dallas Center; Esther McCord, a second-year DMACC Education student from Perry; and Emelie Cross, a first-year DMACC Education student from Perry.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (above) visits the DMACC Ankeny Campus on Dec. 7, 2023, to hear from students about the importance of teacher apprenticeship programs​, including the DMACC Paraeducator Certificate Program​, and how these impactful programs help open doors for individuals who want to work as an educator.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (above) visits the DMACC Ankeny Campus on Dec. 7, 2023, to hear from students about the importance of teacher apprenticeship programs​, including the DMACC Paraeducator Certificate Program​, and how these impactful programs help open doors for individuals who want to work as an educator.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (left) and DMACC President Rob Denson (right) listen intently as DMACC Education students talk about their experiences and how the DMACC Paraeducator Certificate Program has helped them overcome challenges and pursue their goal of working in education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (left) and DMACC President Rob Denson (right) listen intently as DMACC Education students talk about their experiences and how the DMACC Paraeducator Certificate Program has helped them overcome challenges and pursue their goal of working in education.

Second-year DMACC Education student Jay McCord (left) of Perry joins U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona for a photo on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus. "I want to give students a reason to come to school and be able to serve as a positive role model for students who don't have one," said McCord, who has worked as a paraeducator in the Perry Community School District for the past three years and is currently furthering his education at DMACC.

Second-year DMACC Education student Jay McCord (left) of Perry joins U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona for a photo on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

"I want to give students a reason to come to school and be able to serve as a positive role model for students who don't have one," said McCord, who has worked as a paraeducator in the Perry Community School District for the past three years and is currently furthering his education at DMACC.

Second-year DMACC Education student Ariana Gray (left) of Urbandale takes a selfie with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus. Gray, who is working toward an elementary education degree, participated in a student panel with Dr. Cardona during his visit to the College. "The thing I'm most looking forward to as an educator is getting to experience the moments when a child connects with the information and understands what I'm trying to teach them," Gray said.

Second-year DMACC Education student Ariana Gray (left) of Urbandale takes a selfie with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus. Gray, who is working toward an elementary education degree, participated in a student panel with Dr. Cardona during his visit to the College

"The thing I'm most looking forward to as an educator is getting to experience the moments when a child connects with the information and understands what I'm trying to teach them," Gray said.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (facing camera)​ is interviewed by WOI-TV (ABC 5) photojournalist Rachel Wente (center) and Iowa Capital Dispatch reporter Brooklyn Draisey (right) as ​Sean Sibley (left), Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, listens in on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (facing camera)​ is interviewed by WOI-TV (ABC 5) photojournalist Rachel Wente (center) and Iowa Capital Dispatch reporter Brooklyn Draisey (right) as ​Sean Sibley (left), Press Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, listens in on Dec. 7, 2023, at the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ meets pre-school students while visiting a classroom at Perry Elementary School on Dec. 7, 2023, during his visit to Iowa. Seated next to Cardona is Felicia Moe, ​who began working as a paraeducator at Perry Elementary in 2018 through the Teacher Paraprofessional Registered Apprenticeship Program in collaboration with DMACC and UNI.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ meets pre-school students while visiting a classroom at Perry Elementary School on Dec. 7, 2023, during his visit to Iowa. Seated next to Cardona is Felicia Moe, ​who began working as a paraeducator at Perry Elementary in 2018 through the Teacher Paraprofessional Registered Apprenticeship Program in collaboration with DMACC and UNI.

This year, Perry Elementary School is one of just 353 schools nationwide to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School​.

“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to raise the bar in education,” Dr. Cardona said. “The leaders, educators and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. As the Biden-Harris administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students and engaging families.”​

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​​ smiles as he listens to third-grade teacher Daisy Diaz work with her students at Perry Elementary School on Dec. 7, 2023. When Cardona asked students what they liked best about their school, he said the most frequent answers were their teachers, pizza and ice cream —​ in that order!

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​​ smiles as he listens to third-grade teacher Daisy Diaz work with her students at Perry Elementary School on Dec. 7, 2023. When Cardona asked students what they liked best about their school, he said the most frequent answers were their teachers, pizza and ice cream —​ in that order!

Upon his arrival in Perry on Dec. 7, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​​ is greeted by nearly 800 students from Perry Elementary School, who stood together to spell PERRY on the district's football field. Dr. Cardona (above, in front row) was delighted by the creative and enthusiastic welcome and joined the elementary school students, as well as their teachers and school administrators, for a group photo celebrating the school's 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.

Upon his arrival in Perry on Dec. 7, 2023, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​​ is greeted by nearly 800 students from Perry Elementary School, who stood together to spell PERRY on the district's football field. Dr. Cardona (above, in front row) was delighted by the creative and enthusiastic welcome and joined the elementary school students, as well as their teachers and school administrators, for a group photo celebrating the school's 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.

After taking a tour and visiting classrooms at Perry Elementary School, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona participates in a 45-minute roundtable discussion focused on the nationwide shortage of teachers, as well as on Perry's successful paraeducator-teacher apprenticeship program and partnership with DMACC.

After taking a tour and visiting classrooms at Perry Elementary School, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona participates in a 45-minute roundtable discussion focused on the nationwide shortage of teachers, as well as on Perry's successful paraeducator-teacher apprenticeship program and partnership with DMACC.

DMACC Perry VanKirk Center Director Eddie Diaz (second from left) participated in the Dec. 7, 2023, roundtable, along with (left to right) Callie Steva, Perry High School Student-Teacher Prep Program participant; Autumn Love, Paraeducator-Teacher Apprenticeship Program participant; Felicia Moe, Paraeducator-Teacher Apprenticeship Program participant; Clark Wicks, Perry Community School District Superintendent; Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education; Dr. Ryan Marzen, Perry Elementary School Principal; Melissa Kinney, Paraeducator-Teacher Apprenticeship Program participant​; Layce Chicoine, Paraeducator-Teacher Apprenticeship Program participant​; ​and Laura Skeel, Perry Community School District Director of Learning Supports.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (center) shares a light moment with Eddie Diaz, DMACC Perry VanKirk Center Director (left, back to camera), and Callie Steva, Perry High School Student-Teacher Prep Program participant (right, back to camera), during a Dec. 7, 2023, roundtable discussion at Perry Elementary School. Dr. Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher in Connecticut and went on to become an elementary school principal. He said Perry Elementary’s recognition as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School is an accomplishment the entire community should be proud of and celebrate.

U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona (center) shares a light moment with Eddie Diaz, DMACC Perry VanKirk Center Director (left, back to camera), and Callie Steva, Perry High School Student-Teacher Prep Program participant (right, back to camera), during a Dec. 7, 2023, roundtable discussion at Perry Elementary School.

Dr. Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher in Connecticut and went on to become an elementary school principal. He said Perry Elementary’s recognition as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School is an accomplishment the entire community should be proud of and celebrate.

DMACC Perry VanKirk Center Director Eddie Diaz (left) joins U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ for a photo during Cardona's Dec. 7, 2023, visit to Iowa.

DMACC Perry VanKirk Center Director Eddie Diaz (left) joins U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona​ for a photo during Cardona's Dec. 7, 2023, visit to Iowa.

For more information, contact:

Sean Sibley, U.S Department of Education, sean.sibley@ed.gov

Lisa Schmitz, DMACC Marketing & Public Relations, lmschmitz@dmacc.edu