I grew up in Northwest Iowa. I attended high school in Rock Valley and college at Bemidji State University in Minnesota. After graduating from college, I taught at the Leach Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. We moved to Des Moines and I taught at Holy Family School. In 1999, I began working at DMPS. I was a Reading Recovery Teacher at Willard Elementary. After that I went to Studebaker, where I was an interventionist. Then I moved to McKinley, where I was an Instructional Coach and continued in this role at Morris Elementary. I am married with 2 kids, 2 grandchildren, and 4 grand dogs!
I grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I attended Sioux Falls Lincoln High School and then went to college at University of South Dakota where I studied Psychology and Social Work.
I grew up in Ohio and attended Catholic Central High School. I went on to college at the University of Toledo. I started working at DMPS in 2018. My parents live in Ohio. I have an older sister in New Jersey, an older brother in Arizona, and two dogs still in Ohio. I enjoy biking, baking, being out doors, and being around my family and friends.
I grew up in Spencer, Iowa graduating from Spencer High School. From there I went to the University of Iowa graduating with my B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. During my undergraduate studies, I was able to intern in Phoenix, Arizona with Daring Adventures. It was there, I fell in love with the school environment and applied to Creighton’s Master Program for School Counseling. During school, I lived in Okoboji and helped make hand sanitizer at a local distillery! I’m so excited to be able to practice my counseling and form relationships with everyone at Morris Elementary School!
I have worked for DMPS since 2015. I have 4 older sisters. I am the only man in the family. I play drums and the bass guitar. I enjoy my music and spending time with my family.
I grew up in Perry, IA–born and raised. I attended Perry High School from Kindergarten thru 12th grade and am a Perry graduate. I have lifelong friendships still to this day from being raised in a small town. I started working at DMPS in 1995 for the Success Program for about 3.5 years and then left briefly to work elsewhere. Then, returned in 1999. I attended Northwest Missouri State University for undergraduate–B.S. Psychology. Applied and was accepted into the University of Iowa School of Social Work Program and attended from 2011-2015. Then, was hired as a school social worker for DMPS and have been in this job for 6 years. It is a very challenging job. I have worked in the following DMPS elementary school buildings over my career: King, Findley, Morris, Samuelson, Perkins, Greenwood, Windsor, Cowles, and the Downtown School. I also served several parochial schools such as, St. Augustin, St. Teresa’s, Holy Trinity, and St. Francis of Assisi. Each building is unique is its own right….that is for sure! I don’t have any of my own children, but I am an aunt to 3 lovely nieces and I also have 4 great nieces and 1 great nephew (and another on the way). I have one black cat, fur baby, name Cleo who is almost 18 years old! I love flowers and plant several pots every year around my house and patio area–also like to travel, shop, and spend time with family and friends.
I grew up in Carlisle, Iowa. I went to high school at Carlisle High and I attended college at Simpson College in Indianola. I started with DMPS right out of college in 2001. I taught Special Education for K-5 at Longfellow/Carver Elementary for 9 years. I then taught 5th grade for 10 years at Carver Elementary. Then I was the K-5 Literacy Instructional Coach and IB Coordinator at Park Avenue before coming to Morris Elementary as an Instructional Coach. I come from a small family with two older sisters. My parents and sisters live within walking distance of each other in my hometown. I married my husband, Joe. We have one daughter, Sofia . We live in Ankeny. We also have an Aussidoodle puppy named Lexi. We love to do anything outdoors including biking, hiking, and playing ball.
I grew up on the north side of St. Louis! I went to high school in St. Louis, then I went to Iowa State for college where I majored in music education, with a minor in biology. I started working for DMPS in 2019. I live with my partner (who is also a music teacher) and my dog! I like to arrange and compose music in my free time, and I also love putting together Lego sets!
I grew up in Indianola, just south of Des Moines. I attended Indianola High School and Iowa State University. I started teaching Special Education in Des Moines Public School in 2003. I am married and have four children. Three boys and a girl. We love to be outdoors, spending time with family and friends.
I am the ALP (Advanced Learning Program) Consultant for Morris Elementary. I grew up in this great city of Des Moines and graduated from Roosevelt High School here in DMPS. St. Olaf College is where I spent my college years and received my teaching degree and a degree in Psychology. After college, I moved back to Des Moines and got my first teaching job in Waukee where I taught third grade, fifth grade, and was an ELP (Extended Learning Program) teacher for 13 years.
I began teaching in 2017 at DMPS- all within the Advanced Learning Program. I serve Morris, Lovejoy and Park Ave. I love my job! Being able to support both students and teachers provides an opportunity for me to build wonderful relationships throughout the years and meet the needs of all of my students.
I live in Des Moines with my husband, two daughters- Lily and Elizabeth, and our dog, Goose. My girls also attend DMPS schools. We love to be outside, play games, cheer on the Cyclones and spend time with friends and family! I am looking forward to a wonderful year!
I grew up in Ankeny, Iowa. I went to Ankeny High School and attended Iowa State University for 1 year. I then attended Simpson College for 3 years. I went on to graduate school at Drake University. In 2006, I began teaching for DMPS. I have been married to Alicia since 2018. We have a son, Conor. We also have 3 pugs, Cooper, Doug, and Walter. I come from a family where most have been in the field of education. My mom and stepmom taught and worked for DMPS before retiring. My brother still teaches kindergarten at Capitol View Elementary.
I grew up in Adel, Iowa. I went to Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2016 with a degree in Child, Adult, and Family Services. I then went to the University of Iowa in 2018 to earn my masters in social work. I became a school-based therapist with Morris Elementary in 2020. I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and cat, Cleo.
I grew up in Williams, Iowa. I attended high school at Northeast Hamilton. I attended Simpson College for my undergraduate courses and Drake University for my graduate courses. I began working at DMPS in 2011. I am married to Ted. We have 3 children. Max loves to be the “boss” and tell her brothers what to do. Our twin boys, Cal and Trig, love to play outside and learn about animals. We enjoy going to the park and we’re excited to spend time at the zoo and the pool this summer.
I grew up in Des Moines and attended East High School (3rd generation Scarlet). I graduated from Grand View College School of Nursing. I began working for DMPS in 2006, after being employed as a hospital staff nurse for 20 years. I have one son who is a Morris Elementary alum. I have been a registered nurse for over 34 years. I love Morris and I love being a school nurse!