My name is Heather Bittner, and I am so glad to be at Lovejoy! I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and got my Master’s Degree from Viterbo University. I have taught fourth grade, first grade, kindergarten, reading, and talented and gifted. I enjoy spending time with my husband, two children, and my dog. I like to read, travel, shop, and go to movies. I love seeing students’ smiling faces and watching them grow and learn each year!

Hello! My name is Lori Craig. I have been a special ed. para-educator for Des Moines Public Schools since 2000. I truly enjoy working with students that need extra support. I am married and have two daughters that have graduated from Lincoln High School. I enjoy riding my Harley, flower gardening, and hanging out with my family.

I am so excited to be the math instructional coach at Lovejoy Elementary. Previous to this current position, I spent 20 years teaching middle school students. I have taught all four academic subjects in three different school districts including spending three years teaching math and science to ELL students for Des Moines Public Schools.

I graduated from Mt. Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in history and reading. I hold a Master’s Degree in Effective Teaching, Learning and Leadership and Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Drake University.

Mr. Hobbs is a connector between the surrounding community as well as the Lovejoy students, students’ families, and staff. This is done by making students and families, staff, and the surround community aware of any services as well as organizations that could address a variety of needs.

He oversees the free services we provide for current Lovejoy Elementary families at the school such as a food pantry, clothing closet, and laundry room (2 washers and 2 dryers).

If you are a parent/guardian and want to find ways to serve the school, or if you are an organization, a community member, or a service that wants to be a positive impact to Lovejoy Elementary, then please contact Theron Hobbs.

I have been with the Des Moines Public Schools since 2007. This is my seventh year at Lovejoy. I am currently serving as a reading/math interventionist. Lovejoy is such a great place to be! I knew instantly that I would love working at Lovejoy because the sign on the door read, “Welcome to Lovejoy—where we foster the Love of Learning and the Joy of Friends.” I graduated from Grand View University with my BA in Elementary Education and from Viterbo University with my MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

As a child, I always wanted to grow up and become a teacher so I feel very lucky my dream came true. My favorite quote is “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Outside of school, I love spending time with my husband and two boys as well as our dog Murphy, traveling, reading, watching movies, and shopping.

Hello, my name is Mrs. Pose. I have been teaching for 28 years in the Des Moines Public School District.  I taught 3rd grade for 15 years, Title Reading for 5 years, and served as a Literacy and International Baccalaureate Instructional Coach for the last 8 years.  I will be an In-Class Interventionist at Lovejoy.

I received my undergraduate degree from The University of Iowa and my Master’s degree from Iowa State University.

As I am passionate about literacy and education, I feel I have the best job in the world!!

My class is made up of 21 students.  We have 11 girls and 10 boys.  We are working very hard at reading by doing centers every day where we get to have the flexibility to choose activities that help us learn the best.  Mrs. Catron comes into our class and assists four days a week with small reading groups. Mrs. Meyer also works with some of our students in both small group reading and in math.  We work hard to be following the Cruiser Pledge, by being kind and trustworthy, and always trying our hardest to reach our goals.

I graduated from Iowa State University with a minor in Spanish.  I student taught in Houston, Texas, where I decided that my love was working with students that spoke other languages as a first language.  I taught two years in Houston, then moved back to the Des Moines area where I began teaching ELL.  I was an ELL teacher at Willard Elementary for ten years.  When my sons began kindergarten, I decided it was time for a change and I moved to Lovejoy Elementary and began teaching second grade.  In the five years that I have taught here, I have rotated between grades two and three.  I love both grades!

I love being a teacher because every day is different.  The students are fun and keep me on my toes!  We are always learning new ways to teach, and so I feel very lucky in knowing many different ways to teach skills to children.  I love seeing where students are at the beginning of the year, and seeing them grow!  It is amazing how much a child can learn in one short year!

As an interventionist, my hope and dream is that the children at Lovejoy will love learning! I have taught in Iowa and South Dakota over the past 29 years. My teaching positions have extended from Pre-K to Sixth Grade with a majority of my focus being placed in the Reading/Language Arts areas. I love reading and learning! Literacy Skills are an integral part of many things we encounter in life! The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go! ~Dr. Seuss

My name is Amber Smith. I am so excited to be a part of Lovejoy Elementary and look forward to supporting our students in any way I can. I love being in the academic environment and observing all of the potential that roams our halls. I enjoy working with students individually, in small groups and during classroom guidance. I received my Master’s degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia and my undergrad from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my husband and two boys. We travel, stay active, explore, read and love to try new things in our free time.

This is my 16th year in DMPS. I’ve taught both 4th and 5th grades along with Technology at the elementary school level and been an Instructional Technology Coordinator for the district as a whole. I now get to dedicate my time to a single building, Lovejoy Elementary. I’m excited to be back where I started my teaching career.

I have been teaching for 8 years with Des Moines Public Schools. Throughout my career I have taught kindergarten, first grade and second grade. I have my Masters of Education in Teacher Leadership, as well as endorsements in Reading, Social Studies and English as a Second Language. I love coming to school every day to see students and help them make growth both socially and academically.