The Leader in Early Education and Care®
Hours & Location
M-F 6:30 am-6:00 pmAccreditation
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Early Education and Care in Ankeny, IA
Every Moment Matters
- The components of our Balanced Learning® approach are intentionally aligned to create developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
- Your child will stay engaged all day with the right balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided learning experiences.
- Our students learn the foundational skills to develop Active Minds, Healthy Bodies, and Happy Hearts® that will forge a path to a brighter future.
Franchise Owners
Betsy Tonniges & Megan Sifert
Welcome to the Primrose School of Ankeny at Prairie Trail!
Meet Dr. Betsy Tonniges and Mrs. Megan Sifert, proud Franchise Owners and operators of Primrose School of Ankeny at Prairie Trail.
Betsy and Megan share the Primrose belief that who children become is just as important as what they know. Immediately upon stepping into a Primrose school, they were drawn to the research based Balanced Learning® approach incorporating purposeful play and nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration, confidence and compassion. When asked about the Primrose Experience Betsy explains, “The Primrose Balanced Learning approach focuses on developmentally appropriate academics that are inquisitive and hands-on in nature, there is also optimal time throughout the day for children to make choices about their learning.”
Betsy and her husband, Jesse, are the proud parents of three children. A former public school educator, elementary principal and administrator, she was looking for an opportunity that allowed her to stay involved with children, families and learning. The goal she has established is to build lasting and trusted relationships with families to ensure that the choice you make in a childcare provider is one you can speak highly about and be proud of!
Betsy truly is a lifelong learner, graduating from Doane College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Education with an emphasis in language arts and social sciences. She continued to earn her Masters degrees in Curriculum Instruction and Educational Leadership, along with endorsements in Early Childhood, ELL and Reading Specialist. Betsy earned National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) credentials in the area of Literacy and completed her Doctorate of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Megan was one of the first employees to join Primrose School of Ankeny, bringing with her a strong foundation in psychology from Iowa State University and several years of experience in early childhood education. As a parent of two school-age children who attended the program, Megan offers both professional expertise and a personal connection to the school community. Over the years, she has served in a variety of roles, demonstrating a deep commitment to supporting students, families, and staff. She remains passionate about fostering a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for every child.
Betsy and Megan understand the choice of where to send children for their early childhood education is a large decision, and not one to be taken lightly. They look forward to meeting you and learning more about your hopes and dreams for your child’s early childhood experience!
Betsy Tonniges & Megan Sifert
Welcome to the Primrose School of Ankeny at Prairie Trail!
Meet Dr. Betsy Tonniges and Mrs. Megan Sifert, proud Franchise Owners and operators of Primrose School of Ankeny at Prairie Trail.
Betsy and Megan share the Primrose belief that who children become is just as important as what they know. Immediately upon stepping into a Primrose school, they were drawn to the research based Balanced Learning® approach incorporating purposeful play and nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration, confidence and compassion. When asked about the Primrose Experience Betsy explains, “The Primrose Balanced Learning approach focuses on developmentally appropriate academics that are inquisitive and hands-on in nature, there is also optimal time throughout the day for children to make choices about their learning.”
Betsy and her husband, Jesse, are the proud parents of three children. A former public school educator, elementary principal and administrator, she was looking for an opportunity that allowed her to stay involved with children, families and learning. The goal she has established is to build lasting and trusted relationships with families to ensure that the choice you make in a childcare provider is one you can speak highly about and be proud of!
Betsy truly is a lifelong learner, graduating from Doane College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Education with an emphasis in language arts and social sciences. She continued to earn her Masters degrees in Curriculum Instruction and Educational Leadership, along with endorsements in Early Childhood, ELL and Reading Specialist. Betsy earned National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) credentials in the area of Literacy and completed her Doctorate of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Megan was one of the first employees to join Primrose School of Ankeny, bringing with her a strong foundation in psychology from Iowa State University and several years of experience in early childhood education. As a parent of two school-age children who attended the program, Megan offers both professional expertise and a personal connection to the school community. Over the years, she has served in a variety of roles, demonstrating a deep commitment to supporting students, families, and staff. She remains passionate about fostering a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for every child.
Betsy and Megan understand the choice of where to send children for their early childhood education is a large decision, and not one to be taken lightly. They look forward to meeting you and learning more about your hopes and dreams for your child’s early childhood experience!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are all staff members background-checked and CPR/first-aid certified?
Yes. Every Primrose staff member undergoes a thorough background check before joining our school. All staff are also CPR and first–aid certified, so you can feel confident your child is in safe, prepared hands every day.
What curriculum or educational philosophy do you follow?
Our school uses the proprietary Primrose Schools Balanced Learning® curriculum, which is research-informed and designed to nurture the whole child — intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. We believe in balancing teacher-guided learning with purposeful play to build a strong foundation for the future.
How do you support school readiness and the transition to kindergarten?
All of our programs are designed in age-appropriate ways to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond. We focus on early literacy and numeracy as well as social-emotional skill development — so children arrive at kindergarten confident and ready to thrive. 96% of Primrose Schools Pre-K students met ASQ benchmarks for problem solving.*
What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday through Friday from 6:30 am-6:00 pm.
How do you keep parents informed about their child's day?
Connecting school to home is one of the ways we help children thrive. We use the Procare app to share daily updates and photos so you stay connected to your child’s joy, learning and special moments
