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.

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!!

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.

Hi, my name is Jen Wandell. This will be my fourth year teaching at Lovejoy Elementary and my eighth year teaching. I have taught Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade. I love teaching 2nd grade and seeing all of the growth that students make each year.

I have a master’s degree in Teacher Leadership and endorsements in Reading, and Social Studies. I am currently working on finishing my endorsement in English Language Learning through Grandview University. I love teaching all content areas but especially Literacy with Science and Social Studies and Math.

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.