Directors
Mr. Scott Growdon
Scott Growdon is in his third year as 7-12 Vocal Music Director at North Polk. Mr. Growdon is also co-director of North Polk's fall plays and spring musicals. He went to high school at Galena High School in Reno, NV and graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2001. Before coming to North Polk, Scott taught HS and MS choir at South Hamilton in Jewell. Some of his hobbies include soccer, kickboxing, golf, and computers. His interests are anything and everything. Scott is married to Jill, and has a daughter, Amelia. They live in Ankeny.
Mrs. Melanie Sponheimer
Melanie Spohnheimer is in her second year as High School Band Director. Previously, she was the Middle School Band Director at North Polk for two and a half years. Her responsibilities include leading the marching band, concert band, pep band, and jazz band, as well as teaching individual and small group high school and middle school lessons. This has been her first teaching job after graduating from ISU and student teaching in West Des Moines, and she couldn't be happier for the opportunity to work in such a great school district! She is an active member of Iowa Bandmaster's Association, as well as the Music Teachers National Association. When given the opportunity, she loves to perform on oboe and piano for local performing groups. Mrs. Spohnheimer lives in Slater with her husband Kent, her dog Kailey, and cat Daisy. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and being outside.
Mrs. Samantha Beeman
Samantha Beeman is Middle School Band director. This is her second year teaching after graduating from Iowa State University. She was a drumline instructor all four years she was in college at Ankeny High School. Mrs. Beeman student taught at Southeast Polk high school and right here at the North Polk Elementaries. She performed with the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and was the principle percussionist in the Wind Ensemble. She performed in the Ames Municipal Band this summer and plans to continue in the coming years. Mrs. Beeman lives in Ames with her husband, Micah, and their pet bearded dragon named Gigabyte. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves to be outdoors. She and her husband enjoy camping on long weekends during the summer.
Mrs. Elaine Menke
Elaine Menke is in her eighth year as Elementary Band Director and eleventh year of teaching. She teaches 5th grade bands at Central and West Elementary and 6th grade band at Central Elementary. In previous years she has also team-taught 7th & 8th grade bands and coached color guard. Before coming to North Polk, Mrs. Menke taught 2 years at Southeast Warren Schools as 5-12 band director, and 1 year at Hoover High School as assistant high school director and 5th grade director at surrounding elemenarties. She is an active member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association where she is the District News Editor for the IBA magazine and South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association. Mrs. Menke lives in Norwalk with her husband and son Carson, and enjoys cardmaking and spending time outdoors with her family. She teaches private clarinet lessons and performs with the Grinnell College Symphonic Band and Des Moines Municipal Band.
Mrs. Marcy Ostrander
Marcy Ostrander is the elementary music teacher at West Elementary. This is Mrs. Ostrander's fourth year in the North Polk district, but her seventeenth year teaching vocal music. She has taught all over the state of Iowa at all levels, K-12. Elementary is her favorite and she enjoys watching the kids grow and learn more about music each year. Mrs. Ostrander lives in Waukee with her husband, Doug, and enjoys camping, boating and traveling.