Hello! My name is Linda Ehrhardt! I currently teach first grade at Lovejoy Elementary. I have been teaching within the Des Moines district since 2006. I earned my degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa. I also have a K-8 Reading Endorsement from Upper Iowa University. I have two adult children named Jess and Josh. In my free time I like doing any kind of outdoor activities and reading books.

My name is Kenessa Jones, and I’m so excited to have your student in my class. I am eager to meet you, and to partner with you on your child’s educational journey! After teaching everything from kindergarten through eighth grade, as well as supporting high school teachers, I am teaching first grade at Lovejoy Elementary and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

A few of my goals are to engage, challenge, and inspire growth in my students. I will do this by creating an environment of mutual respect and a sense of community. Our classroom is hands-on and designed to meet children where they are. I believe in challenging children when appropriate, but also providing supports needed for them to feel success.

I hold myself to the same standards that I hold my students. That is, I strive to become a skilled thinker and learner, and I believe that this process is life-long. Balance and a growth mindset are often critical to our success—both as young learners and adult professionals. With that said, I encourage my students to find the things in life that they’re passionate about, and that bring them joy. You may notice that a lot of the stories I share in the classroom revolve around traveling, music, and working on the farm, as those are the passions I’ve cultivated for myself over the years.

I look forward to getting to know you and your student during the course of the school year, and embracing opportunities for growth as well as celebrating our successes during the months ahead of us!

Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions, comments, or concerns. I hope to work with you to create and guide learners.

Sharing in the Journey,

Ms. Jones

Hi, my name is Cari O’Connell and I teach 1st grade.  I have been teaching in Des Moines Public Schools since 2001.  I currently live in West Des Moines with my husband Paul and our 2 children Ethan and Morgan.   I am very excited for this school year, I love coming to school every day and seeing the smiles on the students faces.  My favorite part of teaching is seeing the growth that each student makes every year.