Roorda On Board as New Executive Director of Teaching and Learning

Nikki Roorda, Ed.D.

A new face will join the Johnston Community School District executive cabinet for the 2019-20 school year.

Nicole (Nikki) Roorda, Ed.D, has been hired as the district’s Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. She has most recently led Heartland AEA (Johnston, IA) as their regional director.

The teaching and learning executive position combines staff professional learning, exploration of unique student learning opportunities, and technology visioning for the district. In her role, Roorda will oversee three academic coordinators, as well as serve as the chair for district professional learning and work closely with the Teacher Leadership Project committee. She will join the superintendent’s executive cabinet, along with superintendent Laura Kacer, associate superintendent of school leadership Bruce Amendt, Ed.D., chief financial officer Jan Miller-Hook, and executive director of student support & equity Joy Wiebers.

“We are thrilled to have Ms. Roorda joining the Johnston Community School District,” said Superintendent Laura Kacer. “She brings nearly 25 years of experience in teaching, along with school administration and school improvement leadership to Johnston. Her passion for teacher and student learning will reinvigorate our focus for growth in the school district.”

Roorda’s past education experience spans the K-12 spectrum. Her career began in Montezuma schools in 1995 as an elementary school teacher. She then went on to teach elementary school in the Ankeny, West Des Moines, and Highland Ranch (Colorado) school districts. She returned to Iowa in 2004 as the Ankeny Community Schools K-12 literacy coordinator. She then moved to Heartland AEA as a school improvement consultant and in 2007, took over as the Heartland AEA regional director.

Roorda holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Health Studies and a certification in Elementary Education from Central College (Pella), Master’s Degree in Education with a focus in Teaching and Learning from Regis University (Denver, CO), and a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Educational Administration for Teaching and Learning from Walden University (Minneapolis, MN).

“I am excited and humbled to begin work in the Johnston Community School District,” said Roorda. “The district is known for the caliber of teaching and learning that is provided for students, as well as the support provided by the community for the district. I am excited to be a part of this great learning organization.”