Associate Principal Changes For 2024-2025
The Ames Community School District is excited to announce three associate principal changes in the District for the 2024-2025 school year. Anthony Jahr will be an associate principal at Ames Middle School, Michelle Fuqua will be the associate principal at Fellows Elementary, and we welcome Aaron Weddle as a new associate principal at Ames Middle School.
Jahr and Fuqua are familiar names in the District. Most recently, Jahr served as the associate principal at Fellows Elementary and previous to that was at Ames High School. He received his undergraduate degree in biology/science education from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. He then started teaching high school science at Centerville High school and then BCLUW High School. Jahr obtained his Masters in Educational Leadership at UNI and worked at South Tama County High School where he was the High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director for two years.
Fuqua has deep roots in the Ames community having worked for the Ames CSD since 2004. Most recently, she was an associate principal at Ames Middle School. Prior to that, she was an Instructional Coach at Ames High School where she facilitated professional learning communities (PLCs), utilized data to drive building goals and decisions, and led equity-focused coaching. Prior to that, Fuqua worked in the area of special education where she coordinated and provided Tier 2 and 3 interventions and managed a therapeutic classroom environment for students with severe behavioral and emotional challenges. She earned her Masters of Arts in Special Education degree from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Science in Education Administration from Iowa State University.
We welcome newcomer, Aaron Weddle, to Ames Middle School as an associate principal, pending board approval. He is currently the principal at Fairview Elementary in Grinnell. Weddle has extensive experience as both a school counselor and teacher. As a teacher he gained valuable insight into curriculum development, classroom management,and fostering a positive learning environment for students. He is experienced in collaborating with administrators, teachers, parents, and community partners to remove barriers to learning and help each student thrive. In Weddle’s current role, he oversees all aspects of school operations and leadership. Throughout his entire career he has been part of a building’s leadership team. Weddle obtained a Master of Science in Education from Buena Vista University and a Master of Arts in Education from Viterbo University.
As a District, we are excited for the 2024-2025 school year and look forward to the leadership of Jahr, Fuqua, and Weddle. Their roles officially begin on July 1, 2024.