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!

My name is Bettina Bradley and I am happy to teach 4^th grade at Jackson. In 2008 I graduated for the University of Iowa with my BA in Elementary Education. In 2020 I graduated with my M.S.E. from Drake University in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction.  I have been teaching at Jackson since 2016. Prior to moving to Des Moines, I taught 5^th grade and was an Instructional Coach for eight years in North Carolina and Florida.

Student Environment/Class Description  

In my classroom with live by two mottos:

“Don’t Stop until you’re Proud”

“All means All”

We build a community that is based on the 7 Habits of Leader in Me. Students develop skills to prepare them for the rest of their educational careers and life. In all things you do be proud and leave no one behind. We are all in this together. We celebrate and honor our diverse backgrounds.

Hello! My name is Sarah Carter and I am an instructional coach and behavior strategist at Jackson. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2010 with my B.S. in Elementary Education with endorsements in Social Studies and Coaching. I began working for Des Moines Public Schools as a substitute in January 2011, and was later hired full time as a 5^th grade teacher.  In 2017, I graduated from Drake University with a Masters Degree in Culturally Proficient Leadership and Instruction and an endorsement in Reading/Language Arts as part of the DMPS Blue contract. I transferred to Jackson Elementary in 2016, and I am so grateful that I did—the staff and students here are welcoming, caring, and so fun to be around!

Hello! My name is Sierra Chelsvig. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2015 with my B.A. in elementary education. I have endorsements in Reading and English/Language Arts. This will be my fourth year at Jackson Elementary but my first year as an academic interventionist! I am so excited and lucky to be able to work with students in all grades! I love Jackson and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else!

Education

·         Central College – Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Minor in Special Education/Instructional Strategist

·         Drake University – Master’s Degree in progress

Teaching Experience

·         Morris Elementary 2003(Autism Self-Contained Classroom & 1^st Grade Teacher)

·         Monroe Elementary-1^st Grade Teacher & Instructional Coach

·         Jackson Elementary- Instructional Coach

Student Environment/Class Description

·         I  started at Jackson Elementary in 2019 with our fantastic students, teachers and staff.  As a team, we are improving student learning to be prepared for this 21^st Century World. We want students and staff to feel empowered to learn throughout their school day.  We want students to challenge and push each other thinking. As a team of Jackson Stars we are all Learners and Leaders!

Greetings!  My name is Daniel Cubit, and I teach fourth grade here at Jackson Elementary.  I began my teaching career in Waterloo, Iowa, after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 2010.  My wife and I moved to the metro area in 2015, and I started my tenure at Jackson Elementary.  I am grateful for the staff, students, families, and community that Jackson shares.

Student Environment/Class Description 

My teaching philosophy is simple: I want to inspire students to believe in themselves and find their potential.  All students that join my classroom become Cubit Cubbies.  As a Cubbie, they are joining a team of supportive learners who share a common goal of learning in a welcoming environment.  All students share leadership responsibilities and take ownership of their learning.    I am an empathic teacher who values honesty and understands that making mistakes is part of the learning process.

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 with a K-8 reading endorsement and a minor in Psychology in 2004, then began working in Des Moines Public Schools in 2005. I have been teaching at Jackson for the past 6 years since 2014. My first year with Des Moines, I taught first grade then followed my teaching passion to Kindergarten and have been there ever since!

Student Environment/Class Description
Kindergarten is such an exciting time for our new students just learning how to be independent and creative, all while acquiring valuable social and emotion skills for them to be successful citizens in the future.

I want every student to feel safe, respected, and loved, while learning all those very basic academic skills in kindergarten. I want every student to know that they all get to learn and grow together working both independently and as a team, because as they grow up, we are all going to be a part of our community in which every person is valued.

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, and finally reading! 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! Students will be actively engaged in their learning so they are applying these skills (independently and collaboratively) that they will need when they are adults in the real world!

I will constantly provide support and encouragement to help your child blossom into an amazing lifelong learner who never stops growing and learning!

My name is Angie Donahey.  I am a 2^nd grade teacher at Jackson Elementary.  I graduated with a Bachler’s degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State in 1994.  I started teaching for Des Moines Public Schools in 1994.  I taught First Grade at McKinley Elementary form 1994-2002.  I have been at Jackson Elementary since 2002.  I have taught First and 2^nd Grade at Jackson.

Student Environment/Class Description
I want every 2^nd grader to feel like they belong.  I want them to be risk takers.  We spend a lot of our class time building on our reading skills we learned in first grade.  We spend a majority of our math on addition and subtraction concepts.  We develop our Leadership Skills with the 7 Habits from Leader in Me.

Hello! My name is Casey Dotzler. I am so happy to be teaching 1st grade at Jackson! I graduated from Upper Iowa University in 2006 with a B.A. in early childhood education. I also received an endorsement in K-8 reading. I began my teaching career at Des Moines Public Schools in 2006. My teaching experience includes preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade. I am so thankful to be part of the Jackson family!

Student Environment/Class Description
The one thing that I strive to provide my students with every single day is a welcoming, fun classroom, where all students feel safe, loved, and important. It is my belief that when children feel safe and loved, their confidence in learning and their willingness to take risks grows tremendously. I want all students to feel like our classroom is their home away from home where long-lasting and trusting relationships are built. Relationship building allows us to work together and learn from each other. My goal is to provide students with as many opportunities to collaborate with their peers as possible.

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 in 2011 and I received my Master’s degree from Drake University in 2017. 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!

Student Environment/Class Description
My goal is for my students to feel safe, successful, and loved in my classroom. I believe that a student first needs to feel loved before they can take the risks needed to learn and grow socially and emotionally. Every student can learn at high levels and I believe having high expectations for all students is key to students being successful. Not all students learn in the same ways or at the same pace, so I strive to build in interactive lessons that keep students engaged and adapt my teaching to meet each student where they are. Students interacting and learning from each other is critical and I foster a culture where students can do just that. The diversity at Jackson Elementary is one of its best features and my students learn to value each other’s ideas, backgrounds, and experiences while expressing and valuing their own. I want all students to meet grade level expectations, so I let the students always know how amazing their progress is and that they are capable of doing difficult things with some hard work and practice. We are a team and we celebrate each other’s successes and support each other in learning each and every day.

I have a been teaching for a log time/. I have spent all, except for 2 of those years at Jackson. As a child, I knew I wanted to become an educator.Teaching has been my life-long passion. In my spare time when I am not teaching, I love to spend time with family, garden and shop.

My name is Joy Huse and I am excited to teach kindergarten at Jackson Elementary! First, I began my career as a teacher after I graduated in 2015 from Upper Iowa University with my bachelor’s degree in education, then I graduated from Drake University in December 2020 with my master’s degree in Culturally Relevant Leadership and Instruction as part of the DMPS Blue contract. I have endorsements in Reading and English Language Learning.

Student Environment/Class Description
Building a classroom that feels more like a family is my main goal because I firmly believe that no significant learning occurs without a significant relationship (James Comer, 1995). In my classroom, each student is valued, understood, and accepted. As kindergarten students learn foundational skills, we work together to solve real-world tasks, learn how to use our voices and minds, develop growth mindsets, learn how to persevere, and become lifelong learners.

My name is Daphne Ingram and I teach 4th grade. I have worked for Des Moines Public Schools 13 years and have taught at Jackson for 6 years. I have a B.A. in Human Services, a B.A. in Elementary Education with endorsements in reading, English/language arts, and social studies. I also have a M.S. in Education with an emphasis on culturally responsive leadership and instruction.

Student Environment/Class Description

My classroom focus is to develop an environment that is equitable for all students. I strive to offer each student what they need to be successful. I work to develop a culture where students feel safe to make mistakes and are empowered to strive for excellence.

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.

• Teaching Experience
  • Jackson Elementary: 2018 – Present (Grades 2-3)

• Education
  • B.A. Elementary Education with Reading Endorsement – Grand View University, IA
  • In Progress: M.Ed. Administration + Principal Endorsement

Student Environment/Class Description

Students in our class will strive to be their best selves every day. We will work as a team, valuing the strengths that every student has to offer and work to overcome weaknesses together. Teamwork is at the center of how we engage in rigorous tasks, and instill the values needed to create student leaders, who can guide and support others in the class.

Students should enjoy school, and we take pride in ensuring students feel respected by all adults and classmates that are a part of Jackson. Our class is a community we want all students to want to be a part of. Students will take on board values that live on outside of the school environment, and lead by example in their homes and communities.

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!

Hello! my name is Xeuay Lothi-Baccam. I am lucky to be part of the Jackson Team. I graduated from Buena Vista College in 1991 with B.A degree in elementary education and a reading endorsement. I taught Title Reading and Math for the first five years of my teaching career. I taught 3rd and 4th grade before switching to 2nd grade. I have been teaching 2nd grade at Jackson School since 2002.

Student Environment/Class Description
In my classroom, we strive to be safe, respectful, and responsible. Students learn best when they feel safe and good about themselves. It is also my responsibility to encourage my students to be successful in the classroom by letting them to actively discover and acquire knowledge. My goal is to be a positive influence and inspiration to my students. I hope to motivate my students to become life-long learners who will continue their education and become positive and successful adults.

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!

My name is Jennifer Newell and I love teaching 4th grade at Jackson Elementary. I have been teaching in Des Moines Schools for 16 years. I have been at Jackson for 6 years. I have taught 4th grade for a total of 12 years. I have also taught 3rd grade and 1st grade. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University. After several years in the business world, I went back to college and graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. The decision to pursue a degree in Elementary Education was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

Student Environment/Class Description

I strive to make every student feel welcome, safe, and important in my classroom. I want every student to feel like they belong and to feel like they are a leader. I believe every child has the potential for greatness. My students set goals for themselves and they monitor their goals throughout the school year. When our learning gets hard, we learn how to persevere and keep trying. We learn how to work with others, and we learn how to listen and embrace other people’s ideas and differences. We work on being kind, caring, respectful and responsible students and we learn and practice the 7 habits of The Leader in Me.

Hello! My name is Katie Pfannebecker. I received my BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics from UNI in December of 2004. I attended school while I was teaching to add a reading endorsement, and again later to get my Reading Recovery Certification.

I have held many roles at Jackson Elementary since I was hired in 2006. I have taught 4th grade, 5th grade, 1st grade, and been an Instructional Coach before settling into my current role as an interventionist.

Student Environment/Class Description

My role as an interventionist gives me the privilege to work with a variety of students ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade. I provide small group instruction throughout the day that supports children where they are. The goal is to give them an extra boost of instruction that will help close gaps in their learning. Groups are short term and fluctuate throughout the year. I strive to create a community of learners in which students feel loved and challenged to work hard. I want them to love reading and see that hard work pays off.

Welcome to 2nd grade room 1015! I have been teaching with DMPS and Jackson since 2002. I truly feel Jackson is my home away from home! I have taught kindergarten, first grade and my favorite of all, 2nd grade. I earned my Elementary Education Degree from Grand View University 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 am a proud product of Des Moines Public Schools! In my spare time I love to cheer on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs! I am very fortunate to say, “I get paid to do what I love!”

Student Environment/Class Description
In our 2nd grade classroom, I strive to have a classroom that is not only safe but FUN! I want kids to always feel safe, cared for and loved. I want students to love coming to school each and every day! My hopes are that when they leave my class they are leaders who show kindness and empathy to others, embrace their differences and learn from one another. My desire is for all my students to have a love of reading and learning! We learn so much from one another so in our classroom we have a team approach! Our classroom moto is TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK! In our classroom we work as a team to reach our goals!

Hello, I am Miss Raper. I am beginning my 7th year as a Special Education Teacher at Jackson Elementary. Before becoming a Teacher, I spent 25 years working with Intellectually Disabled adults in a group home or sheltered workshop setting. I decided to update my education and pivot my career in a different direction. I completed my Master’s in Teaching from Drake University in 2014 with endorsements in Special Education and Reading. I have been at Jackson since 2014 and love the school and its students.

Student Environment/Class Description

My number one priority for my students is to let them know that I believe in their ability to learn. My classroom is a safe space for all students. My daily message to my students is that they are smarter than they realize, my students come to know that I am one of their biggest cheerleaders. I am committed to helping my students achieve academic growth and proficiency.

My message to the parents of my students is that I am a passionate advocate for your child. I understand that concerns about your child and their education do not stop at the end of the day so I make my personal phone numbers available for parents with the understanding that they can get in touch with me at their convenience.

Hi! My name is Cindy Reighard. My teaching career started with my education from Drake University. Later, I attended Viterbo University to complete my Masters of Education. I completed my Reading Recovery training in 1999.

After graduating from Drake University, I started my teaching experiences with Des Moines Public Schools in 1990. Des Moines Public Schools has given me many opportunities to teach in several of the elementary schools.

I’m thankful for all the moments I’ve had teaching, learning and celebrating our great opportunities to enhance our minds and to realize the strength and relevance all are created with. I hope to enhance other people’s abilities, strengths and weaknesses by walking the path of learning together. I want the students to know that they have great potential and value.

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.

Hi, Everybody! My name is Marla Sobel, and I am a professional school counselor. I work at Jackson full-time, and I have been lucky enough to be serving Jackson students, families, and staff for almost twenty-eight years (since 1992)! I have been employed by the Des Moines Public Schools since 1986, when I began my educational career as a classroom teacher for the first five years in the district. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa in 1986 and a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Drake University in 1992.

I believe that ALL children have the ability to learn and to become productive, contributing, successful members of society. They also have the ability develop satisfying relationships and to manage their lives/feelings in a way that can bring them joy, fulfillment, and positive regard for themselves and others. It is my job as a counselor to help children learn and develop the skills for social-emotional-behavioral management to help them reach those goals.

EVERY child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. EVERY child deserves to have a voice. EVERY child needs to be taught how to effectively manage the challenging ups/downs of real life. I hope to touch their lives in a positive way as I work with them in their classrooms, small groups, or individually.

My name is Tracey Stephens. My first 3 years in education started in Norwalk Iowa.  I have been working for the DMPS starting the school year 2003-2004 as a Special Ed behavior paraeducator, switching to Office Manager in April 2017. I find great joy and satisfaction working for the families and staff of Jackson Elementary. I am also currently volunteer as the lead coach for the Girls On The Run (GOTR) team as well as the boys STRIDE run team here at Jackson.  Watching the growth of our youth has been one of the greatest gifts I have received from my job. I look forward to holding the Office Manager chair until retirement, only then to volunteer to support our youth. GO JACKSON STARS!

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!

Education
• Upper Iowa University, West Des Moines, Iowa
• Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Teaching Experience
• 2002-2009 Monroe Elementary, K-5 Special Education
• 2009-Present Jackson Elementary, Kindergarten, 1st grade, Interventionist, 5th grade

Student Environment/Class Description
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, and that working through a team environment will help them as they learn how to solve problems.

I want my students to be excited about what they are learning. We focus on working together and learning how to be a positive impact on our community. We strive to always be caring, respectful and responsible. I want my students to know that mistakes are a part of learning and making mistakes is when you learn the most.

I believe that part of a strong classroom is one that the students are leading the learning as much as possible.

Reading is an exciting part of our classroom. We are just learning how to read, so, it is important to spend time reading every day. Students can look at books or ask an adult to read to them. It won’t be long, and they will be reading to you!

Math is another exciting part of Kindergarten. We are learning about numbers, counting, how numbers make sense, and then we learn about addition and subtraction and we also learn about shapes. It’s important to always practice those counting skills.

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.