The Perry Community School District hired a new Associate Principal at the elementary school prior to the 2025-26 year.

Perry Elementary will see the return of Principal Laura Skeel and Associate Principal Morgan Rinker, but is bringing in Adam Tjeerdsma as the other Associate Principal. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that he was born in Aplington, Iowa where he graduated from high school, then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, receiving his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and History Endorsement. 

Following college, Tjeerdsma was a Sixth Grade Teacher at Benton Community Schools, and then switched to Dallas Center-Grimes, where he was a teacher as well as an assistant coach for the football program. He highlights the decision to choose the Perry School District.

“I grew up in a small community. I graduated with about 80 kids in my class, so I was used to the small community feel. I’ve been to Perry several times, both for my kids sporting events as well as officiating. (I) have some friends who have been here as well, who have been teachers and when I got to talking with them, I heard a lot of good things about Perry Elementary School and the Perry School District, and so I thought I’d give it a try and just be apart of this community.”

Tjeerdsma praises all the administrators he’s interacted with including Skeel, Rinker, Superintendent Clark Wicks, and those in the middle and high schools as being positive individuals that have made the transition seamless for him. Tjeerdsma replaces Chris Aggin, who served in the role for the past two years. He is already happy to have the teachers in the building, and he’s excited to welcome the kids back on Monday for Perry’s first day of school.