Iowa’s 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year Chose Dordt
Aimee Sivak is an alumna of Ƶ’s Master of Education (M.Ed) program; she has also been named Iowa’s 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year, highlighting the transformational and innovative ways she has made a difference as Assistant Elementary Principal for Cardinal Community School District in Eldon, Iowa.
“Aimee Sivak is a dynamic, student-centered leader whose commitment to collaboration, early learning, and strong family partnerships is making a lasting impact on her school community,” says Lisa Remy, School Administrators of Iowa executive director.
When considering where to enroll for an M.Ed degree, Sivak initially learned about Dordt’s program through her colleagues. However, it was the program’s values that ultimately led her to enroll.
“At the time, I was serving in district leadership and wanted a graduate program that would strengthen my leadership capacity while aligning with my values,” she says. “Dordt’s emphasis on faith integration, practical application, and servant leadership made it the right fit.”
Additionally, Dordt’s 100% remote program allowed Sivak to earn her degree without stepping away from her robust career—without sacrificing a meaningful learning community. During her time in the program, she served as her district's At-Risk Coordinator for PreK-4th grade. Additionally, she filled in for administrative positions in the Truancy Office, served as a Homeless Liaison, led MTSS/SAT interventions, and directed both her school's daycare and early education programs. “The flexibility of the virtual format allowed me to balance full time responsibilities, and I valued coming to campus in the summer to build deeper connections with peers,” says Sivak.
Sivak is especially grateful for Dordt’s instructional leadership and school improvement courses, which connected classroom knowledge with her daily work. “Assignments required us to analyze our own district data and strengthen systems we were actively leading,” explains Sivak. “I was able to refine our MTSS/SAT intervention procedures and apply research-based practices immediately in my role.”
As the Assistant Principal at Cardinal Elementary, Sivak works with preschool-4th grade and oversees many of the same programs she did while completing her master's degree. She is happy to be recognized as a top Iowa educator—and credits Ƶfor helping her reach this career milestone.
“Ƶstrengthened my ability to think systemically and lead intentionally. It also helped me refine my leadership lens and provided the foundation to lead with clarity and purpose,” says Sivak. “It reinforced my commitment to being forward-thinking and creative with funding to sustain programs that support students and families.”
