West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) welcomes nine new school administrators for the 2019-20 school year. Two former Valley associate principals now lead the Stilwell Junior High team, with two new administrators joining the district as associate principals at Valley High School. Two district administrators and a WDMCS teacher leader will take on new roles as elementary principals, while new leaders will join WDMCS in the Human Resources Department and the Teaching & Learning Services Department.
Erica Whittle is New Stilwell Principal
Whittle has served as an associate principal at Valley High School since 2015. Additionally, she led as director of the Project Based Learning Network (PBLN) pathway as courses were added to Valley during the 2018-2019 school year. Prior to coming to WDMCS, Whittle was an instructional coach and classroom teacher for the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District.
Whittle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in middle school education from Northwest Missouri State University, followed by a Master of Science degree in Education at Graceland University. She earned an educational specialist certificate focused on educational leadership from Drake University. Most recently Whittle will complete her superintendency endorsement this summer and will then continue to purpose her doctorate in educational leadership—both from Drake University.
David Perrigo is New Stilwell Assistant Principal
Perrigo has served as an associate principal at Valley High School since 2014. Prior to coming to WDMCS, Perrigo served as principal at Collins-Maxwell Community Schools, principal and dean of students at Edmunds Elementary School, and as a teacher at Four Oaks Alternative School. He also acted as an at-risk coordinator for the South O’Brien Community Schools and an elementary physical education teacher at Sergeant Bluff-Luton. He has coached baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, football, golf, and boys’ track throughout his career.
Perrigo earned his bachelor’s degree in K-12 physical education/health education from Northwestern College, followed by a master’s degree in educational leadership from Viterbo University.
Shannon Campbell is New Valley Associate Principal
Shannon Campbell comes to WDMCS from the Waukee Community School District where she worked for six years. Most recently, she taught seventh grade at South Middle School. Prior to that, she served as a fifth-grade teacher at Maple Grove Elementary.
Campbell earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Upper Iowa University and her master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University. In addition, she completed her PK-12 principal and PK-12 special education supervisor licenses.
Josh Griffith is New Valley Associate Principal
Josh Griffith joins WDMCS from Des Moines Public Schools where he served six years as a vice principal at Callanan Middle School. He previously served as the high school principal for two years in the Collins-Maxwell School District and taught math at Hoover High School for eight years.
Griffith earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Drake University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Viterbo University. He also holds K-12 administrative and standard secondary teaching certificates.
Tamara Tjeerdsma is New Crestview School of Inquiry Director
Tjeerdsma started her career in education in 1991 and worked in both K-12 and higher education roles prior to joining WDMCS in 2004. She taught sixth-grade at Western Hills Elementary, Crossroads Park Elementary, and Westridge Elementary for the next decade. Most recently, she served at both Jordan Creek and Westridge elementary schools as assistant principal to Paul Wenger and Nathan Ballagh. Additionally, Tjeerdsma has overseen the district’s Stretching Minds program. This summer opportunity offers students entering grades 1-6 a chance to gain support in math, reading, or writing.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwest Missouri State and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Iowa State University. Over the years, Tjeerdsma has been recognized as an Iowa Teacher of the Year finalist, a Who’s Who Among Teachers recipient, and was nominated for Disney’s American Teacher Award and the Kansas Oscar.
Beth Brewer is New Westridge Elementary Principal
Brewer has served as director of elementary curriculum for WDMCS since 2017. Prior to coming to WDMCS, Brewer served as an instructional coach and a classroom teacher for the Waukee Community School District and as a classroom teacher for the Ankeny Community School District.
Brewer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in early/elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa, followed by a Master of Arts degree in elementary education from Viterbo University. Most recently, she received a PK-12 principal and evaluator license from Viterbo in 2016.
Annie Orsini is New Jordan Creek, Westridge Assistant Principal
Orsini has been a K-12 multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) coordinator for WDMCS for the past two years. This role entails coaching teachers, teacher leaders, and principals regarding MTSS. Additionally, she’s worked in the district as a curriculum facilitator, instructional coach, and teacher. Her leadership roles over the past decade also include adjunct teaching at both Drake University and the University of Iowa.
Orsini earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa, followed by a Master of Science in education at Drake University. She is on track to complete her educational leadership specialist degree from Drake this year.
Leigh Goldie is New Elementary Curriculum Director
Goldie comes to WDMCS from the Johnston Community School District where she worked for seven years. Most recently, she served as the learning coordinator of English Language Arts and Social Studies. Prior to that, she was an instructional coach at Timber Ridge Elementary for five years. Additionally, she taught third and fourth grade for several years in the Des Moines Public School District.
Goldie earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in effective teaching and learning, and a specialist degree in education leadership and PK-12 principal licenses from Drake University.
Jesse Johnston is New Human Resources Director
Johnston earned her undergraduate degree from Drake University, followed by a Master of Arts in teaching and a juris doctorate in 2015. She joined WDMCS after working four years at the Dickinson, Mackaman, Tyler, & Hagen law firm. Prior to working in the corporate sector, Johnston was a secondary teacher and curriculum coordinator with Des Moines Public School District.
Please join us in welcoming these administrators to their new positions!
