Hello!

Mrs. Mace 

 About me

Hi! My name is Mandi Mace and I am a Kindergarten Teacher. I also coach Middle School Volleyball and Middle School Girls Basketball. This is my fifth year at DC West and I love being part of the Falcon family!  :) 

I graduated from Morningside College in May of 2021 with a degree in Elementary & Special Education and an endorsement in Reading and Coaching. I love interacting with students and watching them learn and grow!

I currently live in Elkhorn with my husband, Cody. In my free time I enjoy watching and participating in sports, spending time with friends and family, and shopping. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I look forward to a fun-filled year in Kindergarten! :)

Preferred method of contact:

Seesaw or email (mmace@dcwest.org) 

Favorites

Places to Eat: Chick-fil-A, Runza, HuHot, Panda, Raising Cane’s, Chipotle

Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, T.J. Maxx, Hobby Lobby

Drinks: Scooter’s coffee, Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke

Scents: Vanilla, Coconut, fall scents

Sweets: Dairy Queen, sour patch kids, sour skittles

Snacks: Chex Mix,  chips, crackers, cookies

Color(s): pink, light blue, pastels

Mrs. Janssen

  About me

Hello! My name is Natalie Janssen and this is my seventh year of teaching kindergarten at DC West!  I love kindergarten because of the amazing growth the kids make from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  I graduated from Wayne State in 2019 and I received my Masters in Curriculum & Instruction from York University in the Spring of 2024.   In addition to teaching, I love to coach.  I have coached high school softball, high school volleyball, and middle school basketball.

I currently live in Elkhorn with my husband Vance and we are expecting our first baby at the end of November.  In my free time I love to shop, go on walks, watch Netflix, and most importantly spend time with family and friends.   

Preferred method of contact:

Seesaw or email

njanssen@dcwest.org

Favorites

Places to Eat: Chick-fil-a, McDonald’s, Good Life, Buffalo Wild Wings, Blue Sushi, Runza, Jimmy John’s

Places to Shop: Target, TJ Maxx, Village Pointe

Drinks: Dr. Pepper, Iced Coffee, Pepsi

Scents: coconut, vanilla, and fall

Sweets: M&M’s, Hershey, Snickers, Reeces

Snacks: chips, fruit snacks, cookies, popcorn

Colors: neutral colors

Miss Shepard  

About me

Hi! My name is Samantha Shepard and I am a kindergarten teacher at DC West! I am living out my childhood dream! This is currently my third  year as a teacher and I love being  a part of the Falcon Family! This place is really special and I have loved working with all of the students and staff!!

I graduated from Midland University in the spring of 2023 with a degree in elementary education and endorsements in early childhood, english as a second language and social and emotional learning. I have a passion for kids and I love watching them learn new things and grow!

I was born in Fremont, Nebraska and I currently still live there. In my free time I love to hangout with my family and friends, go shopping and go for walks! I am beyond excited to be here at DC West!!!

Preferred method of contact

Seesaw or email (sshepard@dcwest.org)

Favorites

Places to Eat:  Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, 402, Cheddars

Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, Hobby Lobby

Drinks: Starbucks, Scooters, Spindrift, Lemonade

Scents: Fall, Vanilla

Sweets: Cookies, Brownies, Scotcharoos, Dark Chocolate

Snacks: Popcorn, Trail Mix, Chips/Guacamole, PB Filled Pretzels

Color(s): Pink, Neutrals, Pastels

Mrs. Stanek

  About me

Hello Kindergarten Families!  I'm Mrs.  Stanek and this is my 20th year of teaching and 17th year at DC West.  I absolutely love teaching Kindergarten!  It's full of those magical "lightbulb" moments of learning.  

I live in Elkhorn with my husband Joe and our daughter, Emery, and son, Miles. We love to spend time together along with our lovable Bernese Mountain dog named Sadie.

I enjoy going on long walks, gardening, playing card & board games as well as cheering on Husker football & volleyball and Creighton basketball.

Preferred method of contact:

Seesaw or email

sstanek@dcwest.org

Favorites

Places to Eat: Blue Sushi, Jimmy John’s, Firehouse Subs, Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A

Places to Shop: Target, Amazon, Costco, Lakeshore

Drinks: unsweetened tea, Scooter’s coffee, Pepsi, lime cucumber Gatorade, Arnold Palmer

Scents: lemon, apple, peach, fall, eucalyptus

Sweets: Almond Joy, M&M’s, 3 Musketeers, Take 5

Snacks: cashews, Dot’s pretzels, beef jerky, Cheez-its, Monster Trail Mix 

Color(s):  teal, green, gray, black