Drake University

In the Drake School of Education (SOE), we are transforming every day to achieve our mission to prepare, support, and inspire our students to lead and serve in a constantly changing world.  

Nearly 850 undergraduate and graduate students are experiencing the transformational impact of a degree from the School of Education. For the fourth year in a row, 100% of our alumni were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.  

Our transformational impact is also visible in the work of our faculty. Under the leadership of Dr. Jill Johnson, nearly 150 Des Moines Public School (DMPS) teachers are earning their master’s degree in education at Drake through the Building Leaders in Urban Education (BLUE) Program. And Dr. Johnson, along with Dr. Robyn Cooper, launched a new program in which 18 DMPS teachers and administrators are earning their doctorate in education. In addition, Dr. Tonia Land wrote a new math curriculum, which is being incorporated into classes at Des Moines Central Campus and is reshaping the way students in skilled trades classes learn and apply math to real world problems.

In August, we welcomed more than 30 high school students from diverse backgrounds for the Wanda Everage Academic Success Symposium, which is focused on supporting students from Des Moines Public Schools who come from backgrounds that are often under-represented on college campuses. We also hosted more than 150 teachers from across Iowa to the Emerging Educators Conference, which is designed to support teachers new to the profession. And in May, we will again host the regional conference for Latinos in Action, an organization designed to build leadership and academic success skills for Latinx youth. Events like these develop a pipeline of strong current and future educators and create learning opportunities for the communities we serve.  

The All In Giving Challenge is critical to each one of these efforts. Your gifts will empower us to transform every day and provide for the NOW that will build the better FUTURE for us all. Thank you for your support!