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The Leader in Early Education and Care®
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M-F 6:30 am-6:00 pm
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Cognia
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Early Education and Care in Ankeny, IA

Our school is more than a daycare. Through purposeful play and nurturing guidance, we help lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Right next to John Deere Des Moines Works and down the road from Prairie Trail Elementary School, we are conveniently located on SW Vintage Parkway. Come by and see Balanced Learning® in action.
child in daycare classroom

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 lyndi mcvey and megan sifert standing in front of the school

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! 

Our family would love to meet yours.

Contact us to schedule a tour.
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© 2026 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. We will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. Contact Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 3200 Windy Hill Road SE, Suite 1200E, Atlanta, GA 30339, to request a copy of our FDD.

*Study was conducted on a representative sample of Primrose Pre-Kindergarten students across twelve Primrose schools in nine states in the Spring of 2024. The Bracken School Readiness Assessment 4th Edition assesses children’s school readiness in terms of their understanding of concepts that are strongly related to early childhood cognitive and language development as well as early academic achievement.

**Based upon recent assessments of approximately 3,900 Primrose students aged 4 screened using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition during the 2024-2025 school year. Ages & Stages Questionnaires® and ASQ® are registered trademarks of Paul H Brookes Publishing Co, Inc.