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Meet Samy El-Baroudi

Samy El-Baroudi was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of five. Samy found his passion for education in 1995 serving special needs students at North High School. A third-generation educator, Samy taught for 21 years at East High School and continues to serve the students of Des Moines. Samy is a long-time member of the Des Moines Education Association, Iowa State Education Association, and the National Education Association. Samy has served as DMEA Treasurer for the last 12 years. He also founded the NEA’s Arab-American Educators Caucus. He lives in River Bend with his wife and has two adult children who are both Roosevelt High School alumni and college graduates (Drake and Iowa State University).

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Samy hasn't always been a teacher - he has a wide variety of experiences, which give him an excellent understanding of issues facing Iowans of every background.

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Before becoming an educator, Samy: 

  • Owned a small business

  • Worked in food service from casual dining to fine dining​

  • Worked in retail management

  • Worked in sales for a restaurant magazine, for a regional wine distributor, and insurance sales

  • Worked as a collector with Sears Credit

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Samy also has a long history of service to his community: ​

  • EdCo Community Credit Union Board of Directors, 8 years; 4 years as Chair

  • Founding member and Chair of the Heart of Des Moines Democrats, 8 years

  • Precinct Chair since 2007; active in every political cycle since then

  • Volunteers for multiple political campaigns providing supporter housing, knocking doors, voter registration events

  • Treasurer for Ruth Ann Gaines, 10 years

  • Charter member of the Board of Director for The Iowa Kitchen, a non-profit organization serving community meals

  • Special Education paraprofessional at North High School, 2 years

  • Reading to youth for Read Across America

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As an educator, Samy has served in many leadership roles, notably:

  • 2010 Iowa Jumpstart Financial Literacy Educator of the Year

  • 2013-2014 Excellence in Education Award winner for Upper Iowa University

  • NEA, ISEA, DMEA member, 27 years

  • DMEA Treasurer, 2011 to present

  • Founding member of Arab-American Educators Caucus for the NEA

  • Teacher Leadership Initiative program graduate focused on disproportionality

  • Secondary Teacher Advisory Committee

  • Substitute Shortage Committee

  • Business Department Chair

  • Business Department Building PLC Lead

  • District CTE PLC Lead

  • School Leadership Team (SLT)

  • Faculty President and Vice President

  • Financial Literacy for Educators

  • TQ Coordinator at East and Virtual Campus

  • Virtual Campus Middle School Planning Committee

  • EHS Boys Tennis Coach

  • EHS Girls Tennis Coach

  • Student Government Advisor

  • Assistant Debate Coach

  • Coach of EHS Fusion Dance Team

  • Chess Club Sponsor

  • F-read-om Book Club, an afterschool "banned book" club

  • Organized and ran many events at East High School including 14 homecoming dances, Post-Prom, food drives, blood drives, student talent shows, fundraisers, PD, and faculty social events

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