Rabenberg returns to Iowa, named principal of Horizon Elementary
By Lynn Meadows, JCSD Director of Communications
JOHNSTON, Ia. (July 7, 2025) — Longtime educator Dr. Tabby Rabenberg is returning to central Iowa after working in North Dakota for the past decade. She has been selected to be the next principal of Horizon Elementary and will succeed Dr. Lindsey Cornwell, who has accepted a job in Urbandale.
Rabenberg most recently served as principal of Prairie Rose Elementary and previously served as principal at Horizon Middle School, both in Bismarck, North Dakota.
She also held a role called “CTE (career and technical education) expansion portfolio” which included writing grants, working with industry leaders, leading the design team for a middle school career academy, and expanding a middle school summer school. She also assisted in the design and equipment selection for a new high school electrical, plumbing, HVAC and precision agriculture facility, and creation of an Advanced Technology Center/Mechatronics Lab.
Prior to her time in North Dakota, Rabenberg worked in school leadership in the Des Moines metro area for 10 years. She was principal of Prairie Ridge Middle School in Ankeny for four years and an administrator in the Des Moines Public Schools for six years, serving as a school improvement leader, CTE administrator at Central Campus, and district special education curriculum facilitator.
“With over 20 years of experience in school leadership, I have dedicated my professional life to fostering educational environments where students thrive, teachers feel supported, and families are engaged partners in learning,” Rabenberg said. “As a servant leader, I believe that the most effective leadership begins with a commitment to serve. My approach centers on empowering others by listening intentionally, supporting their growth, and creating a school culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and inspired to contribute. I have found that when people feel genuinely heard and supported, they rise to meet and exceed expectations.”
Her background is as a teacher. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Rabenberg taught at Indian Hills Junior High and the Walnut Creek Campus in West Des Moines, and at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She also designed and instructed medical career courses in partnership with Des Moines University Medical and Health Sciences, and Mercy College of Health Sciences.
In her new role, Rabenberg will be the leader at Horizon Elementary, providing onsite administrative oversight and promoting the district’s mission, vision, core values and strategic directions. She will develop building goals, manage building finances and human resources, facilitate community relations, and ensure quality instruction for all students in a safe, equitable and secure environment. She will be a member of the Johnston Community School District’s Administrative Team and will report to Chris Billings, the Executive Director of School Leadership.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Rabenberg to the Johnston Community School District,” Superintendent Dr. Nikki Roorda said. “She is a well-established school leader with nearly three decades of experience who prioritizes strong, authentic relationships and leads by example. We appreciate her passion for working with children, and championing their academic and personal success.”
Rabenberg’s ties to central Iowa extend beyond her work in schools. She received her doctorate in educational leadership, specialist degree in school administration, superintendent licensure and master’s degree in educational leadership all from Drake University in Des Moines. Prior to that, she received her bachelor’s degree in education and biology, with a minor in chemistry, from Black Hills State University.