My Qualifications

I come from a family of educators.

My mother was a librarian associate for Norwalk Community Schools. My wife is a school counselor for Des Moines Public Schools; my father-in-law was a 30-year high school agriculture teacher; my mother-in-law is a school secretary; my wife's grandfather was a teacher, principal, and superintendent; my wife's grandmother was a school board secretary.

My entire life has been built around developing an understanding of how public schools function.

My own experience includes:

  • Classroom teacher (3rd and 4th grades) in Norwalk Schools and Ankeny Schools
  • Instructional coach in Ankeny Schools and Indianola Schools
  • Program coordinator of K-12 teacher leadership in Indianola Schools
  • Adjunct professor of action research methods for current teachers and aspiring administrators in Viterbo University's Master's of Education program
  • Educational consultant for assessment practices with Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA)
  • Intensive study of education
    • Bachelor's of Science in Education, 2002 (B.S.Ed.), Elementary Education, Northwest Missouri State University
    • Master's of Science in Education, 2005 (M.S.Ed.), Education Leadership, Drake University
    • Doctor of Education, 2017 (Ed.D.), Education Leadership, Drake University
    • Iowa certification as a K-6 classroom teacher, 5-12 driver/safety education teacher, and PK-12 school principal/supervisor of special education
  • Presenter and keynote speaker at regional and national education conferences