High school graduation is a proud milestone for students and families. A diploma represents achievement, perseverance, and the start of a new journey.

But what if that diploma carried even greater value? What if it reflected not just the completion of high school but also a student’s unique strengths, passions, and future goals?

That’s the idea behind Diploma+, a new program at Des Moines Public Schools designed to make high school more meaningful by giving students opportunities to explore their interests, gain valuable experience, and graduate better prepared for what comes next.

In this episode, host Amanda Lewis speaks with Chief Academic Officer Dr. Robert Lundin about this new program.

Learn more about Diploma+ by clicking here.

Come Here. Become Here.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dmschools.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Hosted by Amanda Lewis

Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

Graduation season is always a time of reflection, pride, and hope for what’s ahead. No moment captures that more than the words shared by our student commencement speakers.

In this special episode, we’re bringing you the voices of the Class of 2025. You’ll hear speeches from the graduating seniors of East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt high schools -- students who represent the heart, determination, and diversity of our district.

Let’s celebrate the Class of 2025.

Watch the full graduations here.

Come Here. Become Here.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dmschools.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow DMPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hosted by Amanda Lewis

Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

Three DMPS schools have earned the prestigious ⁠RAMP⁠ designation from the ⁠American School Counselor Association⁠ (ASCA), and ⁠East High School⁠ is receiving the Program of Promise Award. Let’s explore what these awards mean and why they matter.

Joining the discussion is Erin Kruger Cavazos, the K-12 Counseling Coordinator at DMPS, Mike Freund, a school counselor from East High School, and Barbara Hogan who is the counselor at The Downtown School, and formerly at ⁠Wright Elementary⁠.

We had so much to cover, we made it a two-parter! Join Erin, Mike, and Barbara as they continue the conversation on school counseling, diving deeper into Social Emotional Learning and Iowa's pediatric mental health crisis.

Learn more about ⁠counseling at DMPS⁠.

Come Here. Become Here.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dmschools.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Follow DMPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hosted by Amanda Lewis

Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV