My name is Katie Barry and I have been working as the Success Case Manager at Jackson since 2010.  I love working with the staff and students at Jackson as this is such a special building in Des Moines!  Please contact me with any concerns or needs you may have.

My name is Kaitlin Bishop, and this is my first year teaching Art here at Jackson. I attended college at Grand View University where I received both my Bachelors in Art Education grades K-12, and Bachelors in Studio/Fine Arts.  I find myself inspired by old and new artists, which in turn has an interesting effect on how I make my own art. When I am not teaching, I am usually painting, gardening, reading, exploring Des Moines, spending time with family, or hanging out with my wiener dog, Moose.  Please feel free to get in contact with me if you have any questions.  

The first thing I want students to feel when they enter our art room is excitement and creativity.  Students  of all skill levels are encouraged to use creative expression, personal experience, and experimentation to come up with new, interesting, and unique work!  I love to incorporate Art History into the class curriculum, but also introduce the students to new artists who have changed the “expectations” of art.  My hope is that seeing artists who have challenged artistic standards will inspire students to be more adventurous in their work, rather than making things that simply meet curriculum standards. Students will explore and learn about the elements and principals of design through many different techniques and methods. I love introducing a problem or question to students and having them come up with an “answer” in an artistic way.  This promotes creative thinking which extends far beyond the art classroom walls. My hope is that my passion for creating art is visible, and inspires students to expand their minds in order to create masterpieces of their own! 

My name is Tammy Bortscheller (Mrs. B) and I have been teaching Special Education and at Jackson since 2004.  I hold two degrees from Iowa State University; a B.S. in Child Services and a B.S. in Early Childhood Special Education.  I also have a K-6 Instructional Strategist I endorsement from Grandview University.   For me, one of the greatest rewards of being a teacher is knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of my students, no matter how big or small.  I have lived in the Des Moines area all my life and I currently live here on the south side with my husband Chuck, daughter Olivia, son Elliot, and dog Scout.  I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading, working out, and eating good food.  My favorite place to visit is Disney World and I’m pretty sure I would live right there in the castle if they would let me!

Hello everyone! I am very excited to be joining the Jackson family. I am a graduate of the University of Iowa and will be entering my 9th year in the classroom. I previously taught in North Carolina and Florida. I am enthused to be back in my home state. I am the proud mother of a newborn baby boy Langston. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I love watching and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes! Looking forward to a great year at Jackson! Go Hawks!

“A person’s a person no matter how small.”
Welcome to our 4th grade class where everyone belongs! In our classroom we will strive to build a community of leaders while celebrating our differences. Using the Growth Mindset model we will use positive thought to cultivate positive results. Students will set individual goals and develop plans to reach those goals. I am committed to highlighting PBIS and rewarding students regularly.
Cooperative learning groups will be the cornerstone of our classroom as we actively engage in hands-on learning experiences. Our classroom will be project based incorporating all of the standards. Oh the places you’ll in 4th grade!

Welcome to 5th grade!  In our classroom activities will be student centered.  I want my students to ask and answer questions using the knowledge they have gained throughout their experiences in school and at home.  I believe in a growth mindset for all, students and teachers alike.  We need to be able to learn from our mistakes and have the belief that we can do anything we set our minds to.  Students will be asked to read for 20 minutes at home each night and will be asked to keep a journal of reading responses to be turned in and shared with their classmates and teacher.

My students will be engaged in all subjects throughout the school day with an emphasis on reading and math in both whole group and small group settings.  My hope is to incorporate some of the social studies and health curriculum into our reading block to help students be critical thinkers and readers.  Students will be given opportunities to work independently, with partners, and in small groups throughout the school day.

Hello!  My name is Ms. Carter.  I am a 2010 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with specializations in Social Studies and coaching.  I have been employed with DMPS since 2011.  I spent my first year with the district subbing in various classrooms and grade levels and then took a full time 5th grade position in 2012.  I came to Jackson in 2016 with 4 years of experience teaching 5th grade.  I enrolled at Drake University in 2016 to get my Masters of Education in Culturally Proficient Leadership and Instruction and to complete my reading endorsement.

I live in Norwalk with my boyfriend, Matt, our dog Hank, and our cat Willie.  In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family camping and travelling.  I also coach 10th grade volleyball at Johnston High School and I am a kickboxing instructor at the Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping Southside location.  I enjoy being active and learning new things.  My lifelong motto is “Never let and adventure pass you by”.

Greetings from Daniel Cubit! To say I am excited to be a part of the Jackson family is an understatement.    I grew up in Oskaloosa (about an hour south of here) and spent my weekends with my father in Des Moines.  I know the Southside pretty well and only occasionally get lost now! I attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and taught one year of fourth grade and four years of third grade at Highland Elementary in Waterloo.  My wife of four years recently received her Masters degree in Public Policy from UNI so we decided to make the move to the Capital City for new opportunities for the both of us.  We have two cats, which my wife lovingly refers to as her “fur children”.  I am a pinball fanatic and love the Chicago Cubs.  My door is always open so stop in and say hello!

My classroom encourages students to understand the practicality of the things they learn.  I do not want students just to read because they were told to.  I want students to discover how reading and help them dig deeper into subjects they love or take wild adventures in both the fiction and nonfiction realm.  I want students to see reading not as a chore but as a chance to learn more about themselves and the world they live in.  The same can be said for math.  My philosophy is that students must truly understand the why as well as the how.  Conceptual understanding is first and foremost!

My classroom is about more than academics.  It is about learning how to be a contributing member of a community.  Very little is more important to me than manners.  I want students to say “thank you” when someone holds the door for them or be the one who holds the door for others.  I also stress the importance of learning from mistakes and winning or losing gracefully.  As adults, we know how important it is to bounce back after we get knocked down and why we should not let ego corrupt us when we are successful.  It takes love and understanding to make it in this world, and we want to instill these characteristics in our Jackson students!

My name is Suzie Curry and I have been a speech pathologist at Jackson since I joined the district in 2005.  Jackson is the one school that I have consistently worked at since joining Des Moines Public Schools.  This is “home” to me!  I enjoy working with the kids and their families to help them overcome their communication difficulties.  The greatest work accomplishment for me is to know that I have made a difference in a child’s life, no matter how great or small.  I live in Johnston, with my husband and our 2 awesome daughters who are ages 7 and 10.

Hi!  My name is Jamie Dawson and I am a proud graduate of Grand View University.  I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology in 2004 and began working in Des Moines Public Schools in 2005.  I have been teaching for 10 years.  My first year I taught first grade then followed my teaching passion to Kindergarten and have been there ever since!

My husband and I have been married almost 20 years and we have been blessed with two amazing children.  When I’m not found in the classroom you can find me reading, swimming, baking, traveling, and spending time with my family!

Welcome to Kindergarten!  In Kindergarten we will begin learning to read with the basics of letter identification, letter formation, and sound production.  After we have mastered those skills we will begin blending sounds to make words and automaticity of sight word recognition.  In math we start with number identification, shape recognition, and one to one counting correspondence.  By the end of the year we will be mastering addition and subtraction facts to 10!  Lots of help and encouragement from you will help your child blossom into a wonderful reader and writer.  The more your child is exposed to language and skill practice, the easier it will be for him/her to incorporate that new learning!

My name is Angie Donahey.  I grew up on a farm near Lucas, Iowa.  I graduated from Chariton High School in 1990.  I got my degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University in 1994.  I taught first grade at McKinley Elementary from 1994-2002.  I taught 1st grade at Jackson elementary from 2002-2016.  In the fall of 2016 I began teaching 2nd grade.   I am married and have 5 amazing kids.  I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and learning new things.  I love teaching 2nd grade!!!!!!!!!!  Please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions or concerns.  angela.donahey@dmschools.org

My name is Casey Dotzler, and I am so excited to be joining the Jackson family this year!  I graduated from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa and began my teaching career at DMPS as a Head Start teacher in 2007.  I taught Head Start for 2 years, and have been a stay-at-home mom for the past 6 years.

My husband, James, and I live in Bondurant with our 4 children Sophie, Emme, Max, and Brady.  We enjoy spending time outdoors as a family camping, boating, fishing, etc.  We also have fun cheering on the Hawkeyes!

Hello! My name is Mrs. Garland! I teach first grade at Jackson Elementary. I have worked for Des Moines Public Schools since 2012 and at Jackson since 2014! I graduated with my BA in Education at Iowa State University 2011 and I am currently working on my Masters at Drake University. My passion is teaching and learning! I see myself as a lifelong learner and encourage my students to always seek more knowledge and understanding about the world around them!

I grew up in Des Moines and graduated high school from Abraham Lincoln High School in 2008. My husband and I bought a house on the south side of Des Moines 2014 and love calling Des Moines home!

Hi, I’m Tammy Hurley
I’ve been teaching at t Jackson since 2000. I’ve taught first, second and third grades.
Teaching is my passion, children excelling is my mission.
In my spare time, I love to read, shop, garden and spend time with my wonderful son.

My name is Joy Huse and I am a first year teacher!  I’m excited to be working at Jackson Elementary and can’t wait to get to know the students!  I graduated with a BA in Elementary Education last May from Upper Iowa University and have endorsements in Reading and Language Arts.  This year I will be a reading intervention teacher that meets with small groups of students.

My husband and I have been married for 27 years and we have three children.  Our daughter, Michaela, is a college sophomore at BYU-Idaho and she’s holding our two-year-old shih tzu named Chloe. Anthony is a high school freshman at Eastview in Norwalk, and Kevin is in 7th grade at Norwalk Middle School, sports, scouts, work, church, and family activities keep us on our toes, but we enjoy being active and spending time together.

Hello!  My name is Daphne Ingram.  This will be my tenth year teaching in Des Moines.  Nine of those years have been spent teaching 4th grade.   I have a B.A. in Elementary Education with endorsements in  English/language arts, reading, and social studies.  I also have a B.A. in Human Services.  I have three children.  Eli and Elena are in their second year of college, and Isabel is a sophomore in high school.  We live in Ames, and love to follow the Cyclones.  In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking, and attending my kid’s events.

In fourth grade we will develop a classroom community where all students can be successful.  We will spend the majority of our day focused on reading, writing, and math.   We will be using many skills and strategies to become stronger readers.  We will also spend time developing vocabulary and working on our reading fluency.  In writing we will continue to grow as writers.  We will examine examples of good writing, and then use the skills we discover to improve our writing.  In math the main focus is multiplication and division, we will also spend time on other areas such as geometry, measurement, and fractions.  Making sure students know their facts will help them as we move toward more challenging math.  We will explore areas of science through experiments and study the Midwest region and focus specifically on Iowa in social studies.

My name is Rob Johnson and I have been teaching PE at Jackson since 2008. After teaching at a few other schools I finally found my home at Jackson. My focus is to get the students moving and keep them moving. We do a lot of fitness based activities as well as traditional games. I have been an athlete my whole life starting out in traditional sports and gradually getting into non-traditional ones. At Lincoln high school I played four sports and went to College and played three sports. I finished my athletic career at UNI running track for the Panthers. After college I got into rock climbing as well as long distance running and triathlons. I have climbed all over the world and having summers off I am able to go to some amazing places. I also play Ultimate Frisbee and had the opportunity to represent USA at the world championships in 2011 in Italy. We won gold! In 2013 I played for the Minnesota Windchill in its inaugural season as a professional team. We had a rough season at 4-12 but it was an amazing experience to play a professional sport. If you have any questions about what we are doing in PE feel free to contact me.

My name is Craig Johnston and I am delighted to be entering my first year of teaching at Jackson Elementary, having had a fantastic experience here during my Student Teaching placement. I spent the majority of my life in Scotland, and have since settled down here after pursuing college soccer and education in the states. I have played soccer (forever known to me as football) since I was four and ultimately that is what brought me here today! I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, endorsed in Reading from Grand View University. I am excited to have the opportunity to lengthen my stay in the U.S., here in the Des Moines area which has become home for me over the past few years. Aside from teaching, coaching has been a passion of mine for the past five years and has played a major role in helping me find my path into teaching. I coach for Altoona Soccer Club year long and complete coaching education courses along the way. In my time off I love to travel and of course, plan to visit my friends and family home in Scotland as often as I can!

Hi! My name is Miss Kress and I have been the librarian at Jackson Elementary since 2008. I have 3 kids and LOVE to watch them play sports.

The best part of my job is that I get to connect with every student each week, throughout their six years at Jackson Elementary School.

Jackson Destiny Library http://destiny.dmps.k12.ia.us/common/welcome.jsp?site=124

Iowa AEA Online www.iowaaeaonline.org(contact your library staff for user name and password)

Welcome to Jackson Elementary! My name is Tricia Kurtt and I am thrilled to serve as the Associate Principal.  In my twenty years as an educator I have enjoyed learning and growing in several different roles which have included kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, 5th grade teacher, Gifted and Talented teacher, and Instructional Coach.  I am passionate about partnering with parents and the community to ensure that every child learns and grows academically, socially, and emotionally every single day!

Hi, my name is Xeuay Lothi-Baccam.  I am very happy and lucky to be part of the Jackson Team!!  I have been teaching since 1991.  I have taught Title math and reading, 4th grade, 3rd grade and now 2nd grade, which is by far the best grade to teach.  I got my elementary education degree and reading endorsement at Buena Vista College.  My husband and I have been married since 1995 and we have three children.  Our oldest daughter, Asianna was a former student of Jackson School and now attends East High School.  Bailey is our middle child and our youngest is Cooper- they’re both at Jackson School with me.  During the summer time, my children and I always have events to do and places to go.  I like to curl up with a good book or do a Sudoku puzzle when I have time for myself.

In our 2nd grade class we learn and work together as a team.   We start our daily routine with math, which includes the calendar, the Daily Math Review, problem solving (CGI) and work on math strategies as a whole class or in small group so we can be fluent in math facts.  Then we get into literacy which is spelling/phonics, vocabulary work, comprehension strategies and during our small group instruction we also do literacy stations to reinforce the reading skills.  After our lunch recess, we continue with language arts and follow with fluency.  We end our learning day with health, social studies, and science after specials (music, P.E., art).  We have library every Tuesday and guidance every Monday.   We go to the computer lab to work our math fact fluency, four days a week.  In our classroom, we try our best to do the very best so we can be successful.

Hi! My name is Felicia Magee. I am so excited to begin my second year at Jackson Elementary as a fifth grade teacher! Last year I was a Title Reading/Math teacher for 4th and 5th grade, and am so excited to get to see the kiddo’s again this year as a classroom teacher! I graduated from Iowa State University in 2013 with my B.A. in elementary education with endorsements in Reading/Language arts. I began subbing for the Des Moines district for a little over two years before I was hired at Jackson. I am so excited for the school year to begin and to be learning right along with the kids!

I live with my family in Grimes. My boyfriend Josh and I  have three children. Blake and Janaya are both going into first grade and my youngest Addilyn, just turned two. Needless to say, they keep us busy! Occasionally when I get time to myself, I love to read, watch tv, or spend my days at the pool!

First and foremost, I want my classroom to make every child feel safe, welcomed, and loved. In my class we will learn how to work as a team, think critically, and understand how the knowledge we learn applies to real life situations. I want my students to realize that what they are learning now will be applied and used over and over as they grow older. My classroom will have an underlying focus on working together and learning how to be a positive impact on our community. We must learn how to be Caring, Respectful and Responsible. We must know that mistakes are a part of learning and making mistakes is when you learn the most. Having a growth mindset and knowing we will keep trying until we succeed is an important goal in my class. My classroom will focus more on student led learning- with students working together and teaching each other.

I don’t want my students to read just because they “have to”, but because they have a chance to live in another world and experience life through someone else’s eyes. To think critically about what they read in order to make decisions and apply this knowledge to the reality they live in. To learn about themselves and the world around them. I want my students to understand that Math is not just solving problems. It is not only understanding HOW we do things, but WHY we do it and WHEN we use these skills.

My name is Barb Moeller.  My husband & I have live on the south side of Des Moines for many years.  We have been blessed with 4 daughters and 12 grandchildren.  Before coming to Jackson I was at Smouse Opportunity School for 8 years.      I am happy to be a part of the Jackson Stars team!

Welcome to 4th grade, room 1022 with Mrs. Newell!  I have been teaching with DMPS for 10 years.  I have taught 1st grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade.  I was born in Des Moines and was raised on the Southside where I graduated from Lincoln High School.  I then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and worked in the business world for several years before earning my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at Upper Iowa University and pursuing my lifelong dream to teach.  Leaving the business world to become a teacher is the best decision I have ever made.  I love my job!  I have been married for 6 years and I have a 4 year old son named Max, who is the light of my life.   He is constantly entertaining and is the sweetest little boy.  I am so lucky!

In my 4th grade classroom we will spend a majority of our day reading, writing, and doing math.  In reading we will work on fluency and comprehension strategies in whole group and small group instruction, and students will practice these skills during their independent time during literacy stations.  Students will be expected to practice reading at home as part of their homework each week as well.  Students will also have opportunities to work with other students in small groups or in pairs to practice their reading skills and learn from each other.  In writing, students will learn how to be a part of a writing community and they will learn how to listen to good writing, get ideas from others, add to their own writing, and edit their writing before writing a final copy.   In math we will be learning about place value, multiplication and division, fractions, time, measurement, and geometry.  We will also do a lot of problem solving (CGI).  Homework will be handed out each Monday and will be due on the following Monday.  If you ever have any questions about homework, curriculum, or how your child is doing in class, please email or call me.  I look forward to working with you this year!

Hi, I’m Mrs. Palacios and I am one of the English Language Learner (ELL) teachers. I’ve been at Jackson since 2006 and I LOVE our school! It’s a great feeling to walk down the halls every day and be greeted by our students and staff. 🙂

I really enjoy working with our students who are learning English and do my best to pronounce words in many other languages. It might make some of our students laugh to hear me trying to speak in their language, but I hope it makes them feel better about learning English, too. I speak English and Spanish, so I try to remember what it was like when I learned Spanish and connect that to our students who are learning their second, third, fourth, etc. language.

If you ever want to talk about your student, their progress, or need help with something else, please call me at 242-8415. I will be happy to do what I can for you and your families.

My name is Katie Pfannebecker.  I received my BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics from UNI.  I subbed for DMPS until I was hired as an interim teacher at Jackson Elementary.  I loved it at Jackson and became a full time teacher the following year.  Since then I have taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grade. I am very excited to be a TLC Coach this year because I believe that one of Jackson’s unique qualities is how our staff pulls together to make sure everyone can be successful.  I can’t wait to have the chance to work with students at a variety of grade levels and see the teachers work their magic!

When I am not at school, you will find me at home with my family.  I enjoy board games, cards, curling up with a good book, snuggling with my boys, and traveling.  My husband, Michael, and I have been married since 2006. We have two boys that keep us on our toes.  Espen will be starting kindergarten this year.  His current fascination is drawing pictures and finding objects that he can tape or glue to them.  He is also fond of books and full of questions.  Aiden will be three this year, he loves playing catch, action figures, and food.  If he had a super hero power, it would be his ability to detect when someone is preparing food.

I look forward to getting to know your students and working closely with all of our wonderful teachers!

External Links- www.spellingcity.com (Need a fun way for kids to practice their spelling words? Try this site!)

Welcome to 2nd grade room 1015! I have been teaching with DMPS and Jackson since 2002. I have taught kindergarten, first grade and my favorite of all, 2nd grade. I earned my Elementary Education Degree from Grand View College and my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Viterbo University. I grew up, lived and went to school in Des Moines my entire life. I have a one year old son Kingston who is my pride and joy and two lazy dogs, Max and Tokyo. In my spare time I like to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes for football and during basketball season our house roots on the Kansas Jayhawks! I am very fortunate to say, “I get paid to do what I love!”

In our 2nd grade classroom we spend a majority of our day with reading, math and writing. In reading we are working on Fluent reading with accuracy, expression and good comprehension. In math we do a lot of work with our math strategies and problem solving (CGI). In writing we work on being a better writer by adding details. Students will have a Spelling homework assignment each Monday and a Math homework assignment each Tuesday. On Fridays students will bring home their Progress Folder to let their family know how they did in school for the week. Their Progress folder should be signed and returned on Monday. In our classroom we work as a team to reach our goals!

I’m really happy to be teaching at Jackson School. I’ve taught in Des Moines for 25 years. I’ll be teaching Reading Recovery as well as reading strategies to students in small groups.

Some of my favorite things are cooking, flower gardening, reading and spending time with my family.

My hope for children is that they always have a favorite book and a desire to read.

Hello, I’m Katie Schneider!

This is my first year teaching and I am excited to join the Jackson family! I graduated from Iowa State University and am eager to help my students grow. In my free time I enjoy cheering on the Boston Red Sox and Hawkeyes with my husband, exercising, reading, and taking my dog Millie on walks.

I have worked in the Des Moines Public Schools since 1986.  I was an elementary classroom teacher and middle school teacher for my first five years in the district.

After earning my Master’s Degree in School Counseling at Drake University in 1992, I became the full-time counselor at Jackson Elementary.  I have been here ever since! I love the Jackson students, families, and staff.  Every day I walk through these doors, I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such amazing people.

My husband (Phil) and I have been married for for twenty-five years, and we have two wonderful teenage children.  We have two hilarious, loving dogs– Zoe, a black standard poodle, and Ollie, a Newfoundland mix. When I’m not working, my hobbies include:
writing children’s stories, singing, reading, and goofing off in any way possible.

My dream is to someday have a house that is as neat and organized as the fantasy one that exists in my brain.

Classroom Guidance – taught by Marla Sobel, Counselor

Classroom Guidance lessons are taught to all K-5 students at Jackson.  A good education includes not only learning to read, write, and do math, but learning good social skills and life skills that will also help them be successful at school and in the workplace.

Guidance lessons follow the Des Moines Public Schools comprehensive curriculum and teach skills such as: getting along with other people, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility, staying safe, being aware of one’s strengths/weaknesses, handling stress, developing effective study skills, understanding the world of careers, etc.

As the counselor, I am also available to help students who are facing particular life difficulties.   Such family disruptions as illness, death, divorce, incarceration or substance abuse may affect your child’s progress in school.  I am available to counsel students individually or in groups, should that be necessary.   School staff and parents can make referrals for counseling.  If you have any concerns about your child that you would like to discuss with me, feel free to call me at school.  I can be reached at 242-8415.

My name is Tracey Stephens. I have been a DMPS employee since the 2003/2004 school year.  I started out as a special education associate.  With a few classes I moved up to paraeducator and stayed in this position until April of 2017.  I was named the Jackson Office Manager.  I enjoy learning and working with my Jackson work family.  I strive to make Jackson Elementary the very best it can be.

My name is Katelyn Stessman, and I am thrilled to be on the staff at Jackson Elementary as the music teacher. In 2015, I graduated from Drake University with degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance. Upon completion of my undergraduate studies at Drake, I earned my Masters of Music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio. Throughout the last several years in Des Moines and Cincinnati, I have spent time serving as a private instrumental lessons teacher, a preschool teacher, and an after-school music teacher for at-risk children. I am delighted to be living in Des Moines again, and I can think of no greater joy than combining my passion for teaching music and working with children. Your students will learn to create, sing, dance, play, improvise, and collaborate with one another in our exploration of music! We will discover new concepts in music literacy, music history, and music performance. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!

Welcome to my page.  My name is Tracey Stevens and I have been teaching for 14 years.  I taught special education from 2002 – 2009.  I was fortunate to work with many different types of children and abilities and feel as though those years provided a great deal of experience.  Then I taught Kindergarten from 2009-2015, I found that Kindergarteners bring so much joy to teaching and they really make you realize how excited they are about learning.

I graduated from Upper Iowa University in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education with a focus in Reading and Special Education.  I then graduated in 2007 with my Masters of Science in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment from Walden University.

I got married in 2010 and my husband and I both enjoy watching many different kinds of sports and we are avid Hawkeye fans!  Go Hawks!

I believe that all children deserve to have a warm, welcoming environment to learn and to become the best they can be.

Welcome to Jackson!  I have have worked as an educator for DMPS for over 20 years.   I love Des Moines Public Schools.  It truly is a great place to learn and grow.  I am a product of DMPS.  As a kindergarten and 1st grade student I went to Monroe and then my parents bought their first house so I a finished my elementary years at Moore School.  I went to Meredith Junior High and graduated from Hoover High School.  After college I moved to Arizona for 10 years and taught 4th, 5th and 6th grade in Yuma.  In 1998, I moved back to Des Moines and begin working for DMPS in the fall of 1989.  The first five years I was a 1st grade teacher, 2nd grade teacher and an Instructional Coach at McKee Elementary.  The past 15 years I have worked as a Dean of Students and Principal for Brubaker, Wright, Monroe, and Jackson.