Fifteen certified staff members from across the district recently became the first to graduate from the Grow Program, a continuing education partnership between West Des Moines Community Schools and Drake University. 

The first cohort of Grow graduates earned a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership and Teaching Practices from Drake. They also obtained an additional endorsement. WDMCS covered the cost of 15 degrees in exchange for continued employment. 

The first cohort of graduates includes:

• Taylor Aiello—Valley High School, Social Studies
• Hanna Bush—Fairmeadows Elementary, English for Speakers of Other Languages
• Matt Carter—Valley High School, Special Education
• Katie Ernst—Stilwell Junior High, Reading
• Satara Fairweather—Western Hills, Kindergarten
• Sierra Feltes—Stilwell Junior High, Math
• Ian Fralick—Crossroads Park Elementary, Fifth Grade
• Kevin Graham—Western Hills, Sixth Grade
• Erin Hunt—Indian Hills Junior High, English
• Justin Le—Stilwell Junior High, Social Studies
• Dhamar Molina—Indian Hills Junior High, Reading
• Natasha Rochford Boettger—Valley High School, Special Education
• Montana Upchurch—Fairmeadows Elementary, Third Grade
• Nicole Ward—Stilwell Junior High, Math
• Jordan Wilmes—Valley High School, Science