Tenesha Cooper
Dawniele Gardner-Wurtz
This is my 14th year of teaching, my 11th at Cattell. I have the following degrees/endorsements:
BA from Briar Cliff University
Teaching Endorsement from Texas
Teaching Endorsement from Iowa -Upper Iowa University
Masters in Teaching and Reading Endorsement – Morningside College
Learning should be a fun experience. I want to build community in my classroom by working hard and playing hard, while striving to build relationships with my students. At the end of the day I want to send them off with a smile and hug.
My husband and I have 6 children. We have one grandchild , one grandturtle (that should be living with his dad not grandparents ) and two granddogs.
I can be reached by phone (242-8403) from 7:00-7:15. You may call after this and leave a message. I will return your call when I am not attending to students. Feel free to email me:
joan.osborn@dmschools.org
This is my 18th year of teaching, my 16th at Cattell. I have the following degrees/endorsements:
BA from Briar Cliff University
Teaching Endorsement from Texas
Teaching Endorsement from Iowa -Upper Iowa University
Masters in Teaching and Reading Endorsement – Morningside College
Learning should be a fun experience. I want to build community in my classroom by working hard and playing hard, while striving to build relationships with my students. At the end of the day I want to send them off with a smile and hug.
My husband and I have 6 children. We have two grandchildren , one grandturtle and one granddog.
I can be reached by phone (242-8403) from 7:00-7:15. You may call after this and leave a message. I will return your call when I am not attending to students. Feel free to email me:
joan.osborn@dmschools.org
Wanda Phillips
Hello! My name is Alex Hackley and this is my second-year teaching and my second year at Cattell Elementary. I received my bachelor’s degree from Grand View University. I grew up in Clarion Iowa and moved to Des Moines while attending college. I live with my fiancé and our three dogs who keep us busy! If you need anything feel free to email me and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
I am going into my 6th year of teaching special education. I graduated from Iowa State in 2016 with my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. I will be graduating from Drake University in December with my Master’s in Urban Education and Leadership and my Strategist II: ID. I live with my husband, Brian and my German Shepard, Caesar. I love to play outside with my dog, read, and watch Netflix in my free time. My passion is working with children, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with students and families in the Cattell community!
I earned my Bachelor’s from Grand View University. I earned my Master’s from Morningside College. I have been teaching in the Des Moines School District for over 20 years.
I am a special education teacher who will be supporting 4th and 5th grade students in their classroom. My educational philosophy is that all students are unique individuals that have the ability to learn and grow educationally, socially and emotionally. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to facilitate the learning and growth of students by creating a safe and challenging learning environment.
I have lived in the Des Moines area for 25 years now. I am a wife and mother of 3 active boys. We have 2 family dogs who require as much, if not more attention than my children. In my spare time I like to read, make jewelry and soap. I consider myself a lifelong learner and frequently take classes for fun.
OFFICE HOURS” / BEST WAY TO CONTACT/EMAIL: The best way to contact me is through email: neomi.voeller-case@dmschools.org. I will check my email periodically throughout the day and reply as soon as I can. You can also reach me by phone 515-242-8403. If I cannot be reached by phone, please leave a message with the office and I will return the call as soon as I can.
I graduated from Ellsworth Community College with an Associative Arts Degree. Then I went to the University of Northern Iowa where I got my Bachelor’s degree in Education. I also received a Master’s Degree from Drake University.
I work with identified special education students at Cattell. I work primarily with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders and focus on reading, math, and writing skills. I have taught at Cattell for 20+ years. I believe that every child can learn. I try to be encouraging and figure out the best strategy to help children be successful and grow. When not at school I spend time with my family and friends. During the summer I run a camp in the Kansas City area for girls with disabilities and their friends.
The best way to reach me is by email. My email address is karen.whittlesey@dmschools.org I will check my email throughout the day and get back to you as soon as I can. You may also try calling between 7:00 and 2:45. The number is 242-8403. If I am not available then leave a message and I will get back to you.
I graduated from Ellsworth Community College with an Associative Arts Degree. Then I went to the University of Northern Iowa where I got my Bachelor’s degree in Education. I also received a Master’s Degree from Drake University. I loved learning so much that I went back to Drake University and got my masters.
I work with identified special education students at Cattell. I work primarily with 2nd and 3rd graders focusing on reading, math, writing and behavior skills. I have taught at Cattell for 25+ years. I believe that every child can learn. I try to be encouraging and figure out the best strategy to help children be successful and grow. When not at school I spend time with my family and friends. I have a sweet dog, Bella and a beautiful sun conure, Sunny at home. During the summer I run a camp in the Kansas City area for girls with special needs and their friends. The best way to reach me is by email. My email address is karen.whittlesey@dmschools.org. I will check my email throughout the day and get back to you as soon as I can. You may also try calling between 7:15 and 3:00. The number is 242-8403. If I am not available then leave a message and I will get back to you.
Megan Wicker
My name is Megan Wicker and I have worked at Cattell for 7 years. This will be my 4th year as a Special Education Associate. I am attending Upper Iowa University for my bachelors in birth-third grade: inclusive settings with a special education endorsement. I have 3 fur babies and a baby girl due in October. I am excited to continue working with the Cattell community this year!
Please note that Ms. Wiechmann serves multiple schools, email is the most effective way to reach out.