Amy A. Denney

Perry Creek Elementary School
Sioux City Community School District
Sioux City, Iowa
denneya@live.siouxcityschools.com

Amy Denney recently celebrated 20 years of service to Sioux City students and families, and has served for four years as principal of Perry Creek Elementary School (PCES) and Clark Early Childhood Center (CECC). Known for her strength in change management and instructional leadership, Denney has made numerous district-level impacts. In 2015-2016, she led the construction of PCES from a merger of three community schools. The only principal in Iowa who is also a Certified Blueprint Trainer, Denney has led the charge to elevate literacy instruction at Perry Creek. She provides intensive professional development to teachers and leaders, laying the groundwork for the implementation of evidence-based literacy modules, which have yielded three-year growth from 70 percent to 81 percent in reading proficiency, as well as growth at other district schools. She spearheaded development of a specialty schools model in the district, winning critical stakeholder support and paving the way for her former school, Hunt Elementary, to be designated as an A+ School in the Arts. Other schools in the district have gone on to develop specialties in dual language, coding, STEM, and environmental science. Additionally, Denney has led the way for PCES and CECC to be candidates for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program, including piloting transdisciplinary, inquiry-based models for instruction. Denney holds an M.S. in Education Administration from Wayne State College and a B.A. in Education from Morningside College.