The Perry Community School District welcomed 16 new teachers for the 2024-2025 school year to an orientation program Friday, with 11 of the new district employees will be working at the Perry Elementary School or Perry Child Development Center.
Fall classes start Friday, Aug. 23 for the following new teachers:
- Amy Archer, a graduate of Iowa State University, will teach family and consumer science at the Perry High School. She taught for three years in the Ankeny Community School District.
- Jodi Baier graduated from Northwest Missouri State University. She taught Spanish for 19 years in the Adel-De Soto-Minburn Community School District and will now teach Spanish at the Perry High School.
- Payton Bitting graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. One of 10 siblings, he will teach social studies at the Perry Middle School.
- Andrew Corral, a graduate of Iowa State University, will teach English at the Perry High School. His student teaching was done in Boone.
- Maria Croyle, an Iowa State University alumna, will teach second grade at the Perry Elementary School. She did part of her student teaching in Taiwan.
- Molly Ellis graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and taught third grade for eight years at the Storm Lake Elementary School. She will teach kindergarten at the Perry Elementary School.
- Mandy Gustafson attended Simpson College and Iowa State University. She brings 12 years of teaching experience to special education classes in Perry as well as classes at the Success Center.
- Amanda Jennings, an Iowa State University alumna, will teach special education at the Perry Elementary School and Perry High School. Her prior teaching experience was in a private school.
- Ryan Jolivette received a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He will teach history at the Perry High School and coach the football team.
- Ella Kane, a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and first-year teacher, will teach kindergarten at the Perry Elementary School.
- Olivia Klein graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. Her parents are teachers in Boone, and she will teach English at the Perry Middle School.
- MaryLou Ledesma, a graduate of Perry High School and Buena Vista University, will teach special education at the Perry High School. It is her first year as a teacher.
- Morgan Lind, a graduate of Drake University, will teach English at the Perry High School. Her student teaching was at Des Moines Christian School.
- Odaly Perla, an Iowa State University alumna and first-year teacher, will teach third grade at the Perry Elementary School.
- Lisa Roberts graduated from Iowa State University and did her student teaching in Boone. She will teach English at the Perry Middle School.
- Kelli Walters, an Iowa State University alumna, will teach third grade at the Perry Elementary School. She has endorsements in both reading and mathematics.
