Classes will resume at the Perry public schools August 23, and when students file into any of the three school buildings they are likely to encounter a series of new faces standing in the front of some classrooms.
A total of 15 new teachers will either begin, or continue, their careers as educators when the day parents have long-awaited finally arrives and summer ‘vacation’ ends. Seven teachers new to the district will be at Perry Elementary and two at the Perry Middle School while six district newcomers will be in place at Perry High School.
Three of the new instructors have experience as substitutes for Perry schools while one is a face familiar to students at St. Patrick’s Catholic School.
All said they were excited to begin the next step in their careers in Perry and look forward to meeting students and their parents.
Bobbie Barto
Preschool
Education: B.A. Early Childhood Education, University of Northern Iowa
Experience: Has taught preschool in Ida Grove, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota as well as in Des Moines.
Family: Parents Jon and Lenore Saunders, South Dakota.
Hobbies: Fishing, exercising, spending time with family and friends, traveling and reading.
Comments: “This will be my fourth year of teaching. I love working with children and their families!”
Kayla Brown
Third Grade
Education: Elementary Education, with a Minor in Reading and Spanish; University of South Dakota.
Experience: One year as a substitute at Perry, ADM, Boone and St. Patrick’s Catholic School.
Family: Married to Andrew (Raccoon Valley Radio).
Hobbies: Reading, painting, crafting and working puzzles.
Trista Cohea
High School Special Education
Education: B.S. in Education and M.A. in Special Education
Experience: Four years in a self-contained classroom in Missouri, followed by three years at Coon Rapids-Bayard in a Special Education classroom.
Family: Married to Chris, they have a daughter, Ahryn — and Pete, the cat.
Hobbies: Crafting, cooking, baking and reading.
Comments: “I have lived in the Perry community for the last three years and have always felt it was like being home.”
Zach Cole
Elementary Physical Education
Education: B.S. in Physical Education with a Minor in Health. Has coaching endorsement.
Experience: Long-term substitute at Southeast Polk; last year taught P.E., Health and Technology at St. Patrick’s.
Family: Married.
Hobbies: Enjoys spending time with his wife and family, watching sports and playing basketball. Is also a drummer.
Comments: “I am very excited to continue my career in Perry. I am looking forward to an awesome school year!”
Austin Daniels
Seventh grade Social Studies
In addition to his classroom duties, Mr. Daniels will be an assistant varsity baseball coach and assistant middle school football coach.
Education: B.S. Social Science Comprehensive (emphasis history and education), University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Experience: Though new to his own classroom, Daniels spent five years coaching high school and middle school baseball at Easton Valley, Iowa, and served this spring as assistant coach at UW-Platteville.
Family: Father Kevin, brothers Aaron (30) and Arik (16). Recently engaged to Stefanie.
Hobbies: Baseball is a passion, but hunting and fishing and other outdoor activities also rank high. Traveling and seeing new places are also a favorite way to spend free time.
Comments: “I can’t wait to meet new people, become more involved in both the school and community, and embed myself in the city of Perry!”
Michele Hadley
Elementary English Language Learners
Education: B.S. Elementary Education, Morningside College. Currently working toward M.A. at Drake University.
Experience: Taught First Grade in Des Moines for five years.
Family: Married to Steven. Parents are Michael and Debra Witcombe of Cherokee, Iowa.
Hobbies: Biking, cooking, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Abigail Houseman
High School Family and Consumer Science
Education: B.S. Secondary Education, Grand View University. Has coaching endorsement.
Experience: Taught Family and Consumer Science at Des Moines North (2016-17); was a substitute for one year for West Des Moines schools.
Family: Parents, younger sister — and three adopted dogs!
Hobbies: Golf, boating, sewing, baking, crafts, watching movies and spending time with family and dogs.
Comments: “I am so thrilled to be teaching at Perry! My parents are Perry graduates, and my grandfather was employed by the district for 30 years before his passing.”
Alex Kuntz
High School Social Business
Education: B.S. Social Studies, University of Northern Iowa
Experience: Has been a substitute in Perry for two years and for one year in Cedar Rapids.
Family: Engaged. Parents, two younger brothers, along with two dogs and many fish.
Hobbies: I his free time, Alex likes to go fishing, crafting, hiking and Halloween.
Kadarenna Sales
Title I Elementary Math
Education: B.S. Elementary Education, Iowa State University
Experience: This is Kadarenna’s first year of teaching.
Family: Parents Joe and Leelynn Leer and Joey Sales. Sisters Kendra and Katlynn Leer and dogs Charley and Lenny.
Hobbies: Attending ISU athletic events, being active in various sporting activities and spending time with the dogs.
Bryan Scheve
High School Science
Education: B.A. Biology, Simpson College, 2007 and B.A. Science Teaching, University of Northern Iowa, 2010.
Experience: One year and Hawkeye College and five years at Lenox, Iowa.
Family: Married for four years, with two children, ages three years and four months.
Hobbies: Biking, hunting, fishing and spending time with family.
Brad Sparks
High School Instrumental Music
Education: B.M. Music Education and B.A. Music Performance
Experience: Worked with some Des Moines area marching bands and the Colts and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Family: Parents, step-mother and brother.
Hobbies: Brad spends his leisure biking, running a New Orleans-style brass band, “Grand Avenue Ruckus.”
Paige Wilkin
High School Math
Education: B.S. Secondary Education, Central College
Experience: This is Paige’s first year as a teacher.
Family: Father Ward, mother Jane Oglebsy, brother Ryan and sisters Madie and Adalee.
Hobbies: In her free time, Paige likes playing basketball and watching baseball and basketball, cooking and traveling.
Shelbi Williams
Fifth Grade
Education: B.S. Elementary Education, Iowa State University
Experience: Substitute for Perry schools last year
Family: Shelbi is a true newlywed, having exchanged vows with husband Eric July 29. Additional family includes her parents, Jay and Amber Weeks.
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, traveling, reading and crafting.
Amanda Wright
Elementary English Language Learners
Education: B.S. English Education, Iowa State University
Experience: First year. Student taught in Des Moines and Southeast Polk schools.
Family: Husband Anthony and a Border Collie puppy, Cedric.
Hobbies: Reading, painting, trying new recipes as well as walking the new puppy and spending time with family and friends.
