Des Moines Public Schools is mourning the loss of Dr. Anne Sullivan, former Chief Human Resources Officer for the school district, who passed away this past weekend.

Our condolences go out to her family and friends.

Dr. Sullivan joined DMPS in 2013. She spent her career in public education in Iowa as a teacher, principal and superintendent. Prior to coming to DMPS she was Assistant Chief Administrator and Director of Human Resources at Area Education Agency 267 (now Central Rivers AEA).

A fierce advocate for students, she served on the Board of Educational Examiners for the state of Iowa and was active in several professional organizations, always unapologetically advocating for children in every position she held.

She will be missed by all those with whom she served and remembered for positively impacting the lives of thousands upon thousands of educators and students in her more than 30 years as a public educator.

A memorial fund has been established in the family’s name with proceeds to benefit the ALS Association.