Laura Balmer
Position: Third year teacher
Year of graduation from university: Iowa State 2021
Degree: Primary education
Family: Married to Jesse, parents in Des Moines, three siblings living in Des Moines and Iowa City
Hobby: Hiking, football, volleyball, longboard, reading
Comments: It is a joy to join the Perry team. Go Bluejays!
Addie cook
Position: Elementary special education
Year of graduation from university: Iowa State University 2021
Degree: Primary education
Family: Husband – Ty Cook
Hobby: Reading, board games, being outdoors, spending time with family and friends
Comments: I am delighted to be part of this community!
Chris Dardanes
Position: At-risk teacher, wrestling trainer
Year of graduation from university: 2015 from U of MN
Degree: Sports management
To live: HS in Oak Park, Illinois. Wrestled for the U of M, trained for Hawkeye Wrestling Club and coached at South Dakota State U.
Family: I have a brother and a sister, both younger. We all grew up together in Williams, IA. My parents now live in Webster City.
Hobby: Hunting, fishing and golf
Comments: The first three months were very welcoming and enthusiastic about turning boys into men.
Brianna derrick
Position: Third year teacher
Year of graduation from university: Iowa State University 2021
Degree: Bachelor of Elementary Education
To live: I have worked with teachers in Boone, Des Moines, Urbandale, and State Center.
Family: My parents and a younger sister
Hobby: Read, draw, craft, spend time with my friends and family
Jinni dingel
Position: Preschool special education
Year of graduation from university: Iowa State University 2021
Degree: Early childhood education
Hobby: Cooking, reading, spending time with my family
Comments: Happy to join the Perry CSD preschool team.
Shayla filson
Position: Second year teacher
Year of graduation from university: Central College 2019
Degree: Primary education
To live: I taught for two years as a first grade teacher in the Fairfield Community School District.
Family: My parents live on our family farm in Birmingham, IA. I also have an older brother and sister.
Hobby: I love to travel, play volleyball and golf, and spend time with my family and friends.
Comments: I am very happy to work for CSD Perry!
Morgan glienke
Position: Kindergarten teacher
Year of graduation from university: University of Northern Iowa 2021
Degree: Primary education
To live: I am a teacher in the first year.
Family: I’m from Alta, IA, and my family still lives there. Sister – Mallorie; Mom – Shelly; Dad – Travis; Husband – Jack
Hobby: I love to read, take walks and spend time with my friends and family.
Erin holmes
Position: Kindergarten and first grade Title I reading
Graduated year: 2009 from the University of Iowa; 2005 Perry High School
Degree: I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with the following honors: elementary grade K-6, reading K-8, language arts K-8 and social studies K-8.
To live: This will be my 12th year of teaching. My previous experiences include reading, language, and social studies grades 5-8 at Assumption Catholic School in Granger and most recently Grade 6 at Elementary School in Madrid.
Family: My family includes my husband, Matt, and our two boys, Tucker (7) and Thayer (3).
Hobby: When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me spending time with my family, walking the aisles of Target with a coffee in my hand, reading a good book, or listening to a real detective podcast.
Comments: I am delighted to continue the profession that I love in my alma mater and to have the opportunity to support the children of the community where I grew up!
James kingsley
Position: Fifth grade teacher
Year of graduation from university: Iowa State University 2021
Degree: Primary education with approval in mathematics
To live: Teaching students – Ames and Waterloo; Subbing – Perry Elementary (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th)
Family: Mom – LeAnn; Dad – Timothy (Cedar Falls); Brother – Jon; Brother – Guillaume
Hobby: Golf, exercise, baseball, video games, outing with friends
Ryan koch
Position: Seventh grade science
Year of graduation from university: 2017 from the University of Montana-Tech
Degree: BS in Biological Sciences
To live: Two years teaching experience at Southeast Valley High School in Gowrie, IA as an HS Biology teacher
Family: My wife Shannon and I live in Polk City.
Hobby: Being from Montana fly fishing is what I love to do whenever I can.
Claire Marburger
Position: 6-12 Online Learning Coordinator and Head Coach of Women’s Basketball
Graduated year: 2019 from Luther College; Perry’s 2015
Abby peterson
Position: Elementary music
Year of graduation from university: 2018 Simpson College
Degree: Bachelor of Music in Music Education
To live: Substitute and music teacher in DMPS
Family: Fianc̩ РDerek, parents live in Shenandoah, IA
Hobby: Read, Netflix, see friends, travel
Ben phillips
Position: Seventh Grade Social Studies
Year of graduation from university: 2019 from the University of Upper Iowa
Degree: All social sciences
To live: I graduated from Perry in 2008, worked here for several years while also graduating and am delighted to be back.
Family: Mother (Melissa Simmons), former PCSD employee; Sister (Jessica Phillips), graduate of Perry
Hobby: I love to travel, cook, cats and study ancient Egypt.
Comments: This is the third time that I have been a Perry Bluejay!
Blaine schmidt
Position: High school orchestra director
Year of graduation from university: University of Iowa 2021
Degree: BA Musical Education and BM Musical Performance
To live: Employed by the Hawkeye Marching Band, conducted a community orchestra in Iowa City and conducted the Phi Mu Alpha Choir at the university.
Family: Most of my family are from Quad Cities (Davenport).
Hobby: Listening / playing music, watching movies and playing video games
Noah Sharp
Position: Seventh grade special education
Year of graduation from university: 2020 from the University of Buena Vista
Degree: History, English, Special education
To live: One year as a para-educator, but this year will be a first year teacher.
Family: An only child and grew up in Madrid
Hobby: I love being outdoors, but I’m also a nerd who enjoys watching historical documentaries, playing board games, and video games.
Chad Sorber
Position: Automatic teacher
Graduated year: 1990 Perry Community Schools
To live: 30 years in the automotive industry
Family: Wife Audra, daughters Mckenzie and Kennedy
Hobby: Work on cars and golf
Mackenzie sutton
Position: Eighth grade special education
Year of graduation from university: 2020 Northwestern Missouri State
Degree: Elementary and special education
To live: One year at DMPS; Softball coach since summer 2016 in Adel
Hobby: Reading, training, recreational league sports, training, watching TV shows and sports, spending time with friends and family
Comments: I can’t wait to start the year!
Maddie tucker
Position: Mathematics third-fifth
Year of graduation from university: 2015 by Olivet Nazarene
Degree: Primary education
To live: This will be my seventh year of teaching.
Family: Husband – Taylor, basketball coach at DMACC
Hobby: Running, hiking
Naomi Veldboom
Position: Preschool teacher
Year of graduation from university: University of Northern Iowa 2021
Degree: Early childhood education
Family: Parents (Grinnell), three sisters – one is 4th EL to Perry (Emmaleah Beam)
Hobby: Travel, hikes, puzzles, board games, reading
Comments: I am delighted to meet the Perry community!
Lydia winkler
Position: Elementary special education
Year of graduation from university: 2018 Buena Vista University
Degree: Special education
To live: I graduated in 2018. I then worked as a para-educator in a nursery school. I then moved to Florida and taught for two years.
Family: I have a brother and a sister, both younger. We all grew up together in Williams, IA. My parents now live in Webster City.
Hobby: Reading
Comments: I can’t wait to start the school year!
Olivier Wood
Position: K-5 e-learning coordinator
Year of graduation from university: University of Northern Iowa 2021
Degree: Primary education
Family: My parents and three sisters are from Waukee.
Hobby: Spending time with friends and family, reading, playing board games.
Comments: Go Bluejays!
