Education

• Drake University- pursuing Master’s Degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction
• Iowa State University- Minor in Child/Adult Family Services and a Social Studies Endorsement
• Drake University- Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement

Teaching Experience

• 4th grade- 1 year
• 2nd/3rd grade Teacher at River Woods- 1 year
• Substitute Teacher for Des Moines, Urbandale, and Johnston School Districts- 6 months

Family/Hobbies

• I live in Des Moines with my husband, my son, two dogs and one cat.  In my free time, I enjoy drinking endless amounts of coffee, getting together with friends and family, cooking and have movie and pizza nights with my husband.

Education

• Briar Cliff University- Bachelor’s Degree in Music

Teaching Experience

• K-5 Music at River Woods Elementary-3 Years
• K-8 Music at Sacred Heart School in Sioux City, IA- 7 Years

Family/Hobbies

•  When I am not teaching, I enjoy reading, cooking and visiting family and friends.  I enjoy traveling and learning about World Music Drumming!

Classroom Twitter- https://twitter.com/riverwoodsdeck

Education

• Drake University- Master’s Degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction
• Wartburg College- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and Early Childhood

Teaching Experience

• River Woods Elementary- 9 Years
• Moulton Elementary- 12 Years

Family/Hobbies

• I have a wife, two boys, two cats, and a very large Greyhound.  I enjoy watching sporting events, taking road trips, running, and watching movies.  I am an avid Star Wars, Marvel Superheroes, and Snoopy fan.  Go Cubs and Iowa Wolves!

Education

• Simpson College- Elementary Education
• University of Iowa- Dance Major

Teaching Experience

• 4th Grade- First Year
• Title Reading/Math- 1 Year

Family/Hobbies

• I enjoy spending time with my family, my husband Mike and my dog Hank.  I also enjoy camping, kayaking, working outside, and reading.  I grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa and enjoy Hawkeye football.

Education

• Drake University- Bachelor’s in Education with an endorsement in Reading
• St. Ambrose University- Physical Education endorsement

Teaching Experience

• Excited to start my first year as a physical education teacher at River Woods Elementary this school year!
• Kindergarten and 3rd grade Reading and Math Interventionist- 1 year at Morris Elementary
• Substitute Teacher- 2 years in Waukee and West Des Moines School Districts

Family/Hobbies

• I am married to my husband Steve.  We have two children together and have two grandsons.  My family is very important to me and I enjoy spending time with them.  I love to run and I have completed 20 marathons.  I also enjoy triathlons and have complete 2 full Ironmans.  I also enjoy kickboxing and I have been a member of Farrell’s for three years.  I love to be outdoors and finding new adventures.  I also enjoy reading.   My summer job is teaching swim lessons.  I feel it is very important for child to learn to swim.  My lifestyle is focused on being healthy and living life to the fullest!

Education

• Drake University- Masters in Educational Leadership
• Grandview University- Bachelor’s in Education

Education

• Iowa State University- Master’s in Education with an endorsement in Level 2 Special Education
• Central College- Bachelor’s Degree Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and Special Education

Teaching Experience

• Special Education- 3 Years
• 4th Grade at Urbandale- 6 Years

Family/Hobbies

• When I am not at school I enjoy playing slow-pitch softball, reading on my deck, taking my dog Buster for a walk, and spending time with my family.

Facebook Page- French Fried in Room 105

Education

• University of Iowa- Bachelor’s in English
• Mount Mercy University- Bachelor’s in Elementary Education

Teaching Experience

• 4th Grade- 7 years

Family/Hobbies

• I live with my daughter, Michaela, my dog and 2 cats!  I enjoy playing with my daughter, reading, and watching movies.

Education

• Viterbo University, West Des Moines Campus- PK-12 Administrator & Evaluator License, Gifted and Talented Endorsement
• Framingham State College, Framingham, MA- Master’s of Education in international Education
• University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in math

Teaching Experience

• Dean of Students
• TLC Instructional Coach
• Induction Coach for Beginning Teachers
• Math Coach/Leader
• Classroom Teacher K-5

Family/Hobbies

• My husband, Mark, and I have two boys ages 19 and 22.  Our oldest attends Purdue University in Indiana and our youngest is currently on a bridge year in France before entering college in the fall of 2018.  As a family we enjoy gardening, traveling, and learning about people and places around the world.  My most recent travels took me to Norway where I visited places my grandfather and grandmother lived and worked before moving to the United States in the early 1900’s.  As a family, we went to Alaska and saw lots of animals in nature including brown and black bears, caribou, moose, and whales.  Our family even caught salmon from a stream with our bare hands!

I am excited to work with staff and students at River Woods as we Think, Learn, and Grow                    together.

Education

• Grandview University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading, Language Arts, and Math

Teaching Experience

• Instructional Coach- 1 Year
• 4th/5th Grade Reading and Math Support- 1 Year
• 1st Grade in Woodward-Granger School District- 9 Years

Education

• Upper Iowa University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in K-8 Reading and K-8 English/Language Arts

Education

• Drake University- Master’s in Literacy Education with an English Language Learner Endorsement
• Wartburg College- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement

Teaching Experience

• 3rd Grade- 6 years

Family/Hobbies

• I live in Des Moines with my husband, two dogs, and one cat.  In my free time I like to go shopping and out for coffee with my mom, watch movies with my husband, read, and go for walks with my dogs.

Education

• University of Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with an endorsement in Education K-6, Social Studies, and Language Arts

Teaching Experience

• I started out working in the insurance industry as an account manager for small businesses. I missed kids and the creativity that comes with working with children, so I went back to school to get my teaching endorsement.  I have been teaching now for 21 years. The first three years I taught in Houston, TX at Aldine ISD. The school was enormous. It had 10 first grade classrooms and an additional 4 bilingual classrooms. (Yes, that’s just the first grade in a k-5 school!)  Des Moines offered me a job as a title and Reading Recovery teacher at Lucas, so I decided to move back to Iowa to be closer to family and the chance to enjoy 4 seasons again.  After 3 years as a Reading Recovery teacher, I was chosen to be one of the first literacy leaders in the district. I worked as a literacy leader/coach for 8-9 years at several schools around the district. I missed the classroom and working directly with children all day, so I put in for a transfer to River Woods and have been here ever since serving as an intervention teacher and then 2nd grade classroom teacher.

Family/Hobbies

• I have 2 step-children and two furry children. I love spending time with my family and friends. I am active in my church, an avid sports fan (Go Hawkeyes!!) and I enjoy reading, cooking and primitive rug hooking.

Education

• Mount Mercy- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Reading

Teaching Experience

• 1st Grade Teacher- 1 Year

Family/Hobbies

• I have been married for 25 years and have two boys. I love to be outdoors fishing and hunting.

Education

• Morningside College- Master’s in Special Education
• Iowa State University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

Teaching Experience

• Special Education- 4 Years

Family/Hobbies

• When I’m not at school I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, traveling and spending time with my family.

Education

• Upper Iowa University- Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
• Endorsements in Reading and Language Arts

Teaching

• 3rd Grade at River Woods- 1 year

Hobbies

• I enjoy volunteering for The Fence Project of Des Moines: We strive to help dogs live an unchained life with their family.  I love spending time with my husband and pet family as well as fishing, camping, and traveling.

Education

• Drake University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading and Social Studies

Teaching Experience

• 1st Grade- 3 Years
• Preschool- 2 Years

Family/Hobbies

• I am from Moline, Illinois.  In my free time, I like to walk my dog George and play with my son Harrison.

Education

• Northern Arizona University- Master’s Degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education with an endorsement in English as a Second Language
• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Teaching Experience

• I have taught for 14 years.  I have taught in Arizona, Germany, Colombia, and Iowa.

Family/Hobbies

• I enjoy yoga, cooking, and traveling with my family.

Education

• Iowa State University – Masters in Administration
• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Mental Disabilities, Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disabilities.

Teaching Experience

• Volunteer Instructor with Investing In My Future and Corinthian Jump Start Tutoring program
• 7 years 5th Grade at River Woods Elementary
• 15 years 5th Grade and Assistant Principal at Stowe Elementary
• 5 years Behavior Disabilites
• 2 years in Tunisia North Africa with the Peace Corps

Family/Hobbies

• I am from Des Moines and have lived here most of my life. I attended King Elementary the first year it was opened and graduated from Roosevelt High School. After Graduating from UNI my husband and I both taught in Tunisia North Africa for 2 years as Peace Corps volunteers.  I have two daughters both in their 20’s and one granddaughter. On my free time I am active in my local church and enjoy movies and shopping.

Education

• Upper Iowa University-Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with an endorsement in English/Language Arts

Teaching Experience

• 5th Grade- 11 Years
• 3rd Grade- 1 Year

Education

• Iowa State University- Master’s Degree in Education
• Iowa State University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

Teaching Experience

• I’m in my 31st year of teaching.  I have taught 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade.

Family/Hobbies

• I am married with one daughter.  I enjoy reading, watching movies , attending sporting events and spending time with family.

Education

• Drake University – Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement

Teaching Experience

• Kindergarten Teacher -2 years
• K-3 Reading Interventionist- 1 year

Family/Hobbies

I enjoy spending time with my husband Skylar and our new baby girl. I also enjoy reading, watching movies, and spoiling my nieces and nephews.

Education

• University of Iowa- Elementary Classroom Certification K-6 with endorsements in Reading K-8, Social Studies K-8, and ELL K-12
• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration

Teaching Experience

• ELL at River Woods since Fall of 2010
• Kindergarten- 2 Years
• ELL teacher River Woods/Capital View
• ELL teacher in Washington, Iowa
• Kindergarten- Colegio Ingles in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
• ELL/Title Reading & Math in Dows, Iowa- 2 Years

Family/Hobbies

• I am very active with several of the local theater groups and enjoy helping students discover the joy of theater.  I also enjoys gardening.

Education

• Drake University- pursuing Master’s Degree in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction
• Iowa State University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

Teaching Experience

• River Woods Elementary- 12 Years
• Des Moines Public Schools- 13 Years

Family/Hobbies

• My daughter and I enjoy doing anything outside.  We especially love riding our bikes, hiking, and swimming.

Education:

• Upper Iowa University- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement

Teaching Experience:

• Kindergarten- 2 years

Hobbies:

• I enjoy coaching youth sports, playing softball, reading, and spending time with my wife and 3 kids.

Education

• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and K-8 Literacy endorsement

Teaching Experience

• Academic Interventionist- 1 year
• 3rd Grade- 1 year

Education:

• University of Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement

Teaching Experience:

• Title Reading and Math at River Woods Elementary
• 1st Grade at River Woods Elementary

Hobbies:

• I enjoy spending time with family and friends when I’m not at school. My husband and I enjoy riding bikes, doing home improvement projects, and traveling.  I also enjoy reading, doing craft projects, and going for walks with friends.

Education

• Grand View University- pursuing an English Language Learners Endorsement
• University of Northern Iowa- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Teaching Experience

• Kindergarten- 5 years
• 1st grade- 2 years
• Universal Pre-K- 4 years

Hobbies

• I like spending time with my friends and family.  I love animals and have 2 cats, a leopard gecko and a frog at home.  We have a box turtle for our classroom pet.