Dr. Paula Vincent named Interim Superintendent of Ames Community School District

On Monday, June 21, the Ames Board of Directors approved Dr. Paula Vincent as the Interim Superintendent of Ames Community School District. Dr. Vincent will be the 27th superintendent of Ames Public Schools in its 151-year history. 

Dr. Vincent was the Chief Administrator of Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) from 2010 to 2017. As the chief executive officer, she provided leadership for 650 staff serving in 53 public school districts and 30 accredited non-public schools across 11 counties in central Iowa. AEA services are designed to accelerate children’s learning and development with an emphasis on providing educational equity for all Iowa children, especially those with diverse learning needs. Additional professional learning services and resources are intended to inspire educators and to provide efficiencies for Iowa school districts.

From 2004 to 2010, Dr. Vincent served as superintendent of Clear Creek Amana CSD. As superintendent, she implemented rigorous professional development processes and facilitated a community vision of education to guide the development and implementation of a comprehensive school improvement plan. 

Currently, Dr. Vincent is an educational leadership consultant with an emphasis in strategic planning. She is also the current editor of the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) Perspectives Magazine and has served as a member of the AESA Federal Legislative Platform Development Team. 

Dr. Vincent earned her doctorate degree in Planning, Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa. 

Professional Experience History:

• Educational Leadership Consultant (2017 – Present)
• Chief Administrator, Heartland AEA (July 2010 – June 2017)
• Superintendent, Clear Creek Amana CSD (July 2004 – June 2010)
• Associate Superintendent, Cedar Rapids CSD (October 1998 – June 2004)
• Executive Director, Special Education Director, Grant Wood AEA (August 1993 – September 1998)

Ames School Board President Sabrina Shields-Cook said, “Dr. Vincent stood out from the pool of applicants based on her outstanding resume and leadership experience. We are incredibly excited to begin working with Dr. Vincent this upcoming school year and are confident that she will lead our district toward advancing our purpose of equity and access.” 

A few of Dr. Vincent’s past honors include School Administrators of Iowa Central Office Administrator of the Year, AESA Order of Women Leaders inductee, and recipient of the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the National University Council of Educational Administration. Dr. Vincent was also invited to provide testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor on the topic of modern public school facilities. 

As a District, we are excited for Dr. Vincent to begin her tenure within the Ames Community School District. Her new position will begin on July 1, 2021.