Meet Ms. Reidy

The 2023-24  school year is my 29th year in education. I served the Independence Community School District as a substitute teacher before being hired to teach fifth grade at West Elementary.  While I was at West, I taught fifth, third, and fourth grades. In 2016 I took the position of Instructional Coach for the building. In 2020 I was hired to be the principal at East Elementary and the Early Childhood Center.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on reading from the University of Northern Iowa in 1994. I completed my Masters of Education from Morningside College in 2010. In 2017 I earned my Advanced Studies Certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Iowa.

I love being in education and feel very fortunate to have the chance to work with so many wonderful young people.  

I was born and raised here in Independence. I attended St. John School thru the sixth grade then switched to public school. That means I have been a Mustang for more than 39 years!  I have two younger brothers.   Marty lives in Boise, Idaho with his family and Brian lives here in Independence, with his wife and two children.  I also have a younger sister, Erin, who lives in Fairbank with her husband and three children.

I have seven children, my step-son, Eric, Justin, Julia, Jeremy, Jason, Jackson, and Jenavieve.  They are all grown now.  Jenavieve is completing her first final year at UNI. She will graduate in May and enter the education profession as an art teacher.  I also have twelve beautiful grandbabies: 8 beautiful granddaughters and 4 handsome grandsons.  When everyone comes home my house is full and crazy! I have a 3 year-old German Shepard named Fiona and a 2 year-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Fechin (which means little raven in Gaelic). The fur girls keep me company and I am thankful for their snuggles.