ELL
Abdi Abdinoor
Bilingual Outreach (Somali)
E: abdi.abdinoor@dmschools.org
Biography
My name is Abdi Abdinoor
I am a bilingual Community Outreach worker. I am a student at Upper Iowa University. My hobbies are playing watching and playing soccer. During my free time I like reading novels.
I like being a Wildcat because of the message and the meaning it has for our school. The wildcat way is staying at Edmunds with safe, responsible and respectable manner at all times that is why it is our slogan and we are obliged to follow.
Joann Brighi
ELL (K & 1st Grade)
Biography
Hi! My name is Joann Brighi. I have been teaching with Des Moines Public Schools for 13 years. This is my 3rd year at Edmunds Elementary. I have previously taught kindergarten, first, and second grade. I am extremely excited for my position this year serving ELL kindergarten and first grade students.
I have two beautiful sons; Mason (20), Myles (17) and a wonderful boxer dog named Duke. I am currently attending Drake University pursuing a masters in Education with a concentration in K-12 English as a Second Language. I enjoy being a life-long learner. I love to spend time with family and friends. I also love to go to the gym and work-out or do some kind of physical activity outdoors. I love to travel to see the world!
I am looking forward to a fantastic year getting to know each student and their family.
Joanne Conradi
Intensive English Language Center 4-5
E: joanne.conradi@dmschools.org
Biography
My name is Joanne Conradi and I teach 4th and 5th graders in the Intensive English Language Center. This will be my 12th year teaching ELL in Des Moines. I previously was a classroom teacher and a Title reading teacher in Wichita, Kansas for 15 years. I graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Reading. In 2003, I received my Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with an ELL Endorsement and a Reading Endorsement from Wichita State University.
I grew up in Reinbeck, Iowa on a dairy farm. I participated in 4-H, band, basketball, softball and track. I have two daughters, ages 12 and 16, and our family also includes two dogs, two cats, and two leopard geckos. I play tenor saxophone in two community bands. In my spare time, I love to do yoga, read, ride my bike, swim, garden, and watch college football and basketball. Go Cyclones!
Regan Davidson
Intensive English Language Center K-1
E: regan.davidson@dmschools.org
Biography
Hello, my name is Regan Davidson. This is my 6th year teaching students in the Intensive English Language Center (IELC). I have been a teacher for 16 years. Previously I taught math, reading and ELL at Perkins and Walnut Street schools. I have two children, a son age 26 and a daughter age 22. I speak Spanish which helps with my new students, but I need to work on learning Arabic, Karen, and Nepali just to name a few! Every day in the IELC is an adventure and it brings me great joy to welcome new families to the United States!
Kim Evans
ELL: 2nd & 3rd
E: kimberly.evans@dmschools.org
Biography
Since 2010, I have been teaching ELL at Edmunds. I enjoy working with children and sharing my love of learning with them. I hold a Master’s Degree in Professional Teaching, with emphasis in ELL. Additionally, I hold a BA degree in Elementary Education, a BA Degree in Communication Studies, as well as K-12 ELL, and K-8 Reading endorsements. My husband and I enjoy traveling, biking, canoeing, and spending time with our two sons, daughter-in-law’s, and our granddaughter.
Kristi Frederickson
Intensive English Learning Center K-1 Teacher
Dustin Hockman
Intensive English Language Center 3-4
E: dustin.hockman@dmschools.org
Biography
My name is Dustin Hockman and I teach 3rd and 4th graders at the Intensive English Language Center. This is my first year teaching in this position and I'm very excited! This will be my eighth year teaching at Edmunds. I taught ELL (English Language Learners) for five years and 1st grade for two years.
Besides teaching I love spending time with my wife and my son, Heath! We love running, biking and yoga. Anything that involves the outdoors has my name all over it! Make sure to say "Hi" next time you're in the building.
Jenna McEntee
ELL (4th & 5th Grade)
E: jenna.mcentee@dmschools.org
Biography
Hello, my name is Jenna McEntee. I am so excited to begin my teaching career as an ELL teacher at Edmunds! I recently graduated from Iowa State University with my B.S. in Elementary Education, as well as endorsements in English as a Second Language and Reading. I love to travel around the world to meet new people and learn about wonderful new cultures. In my free time, I love to spend time with family, friends, and my two dogs.
Firmin Ntakimazi
Bilingual Outreach (Rundi/Swahili)
E: firmin.ntakimazi@dmschools.org
Biography
Hello. My name is FIRMIN NTAKIMAZI and I am from BURUNDI in AFRICA. I came to the USA as a refugee in October 2006. Got my citizenship in 2012. I graduated from Gitega Teachers Training College as a teacher of Elementary Schools in Burundi, and became a headteacher in one of the schools in the refugee camp in Tanzania for 13 years under UNICEF and UNHCR Supervision. I am a trilingual who speaks Kirundi, Swahili, and French; which made me a good candidate in serving our community in the Des Moines Public schools as a bilingual worker. I love being a wildcat because of the diversity found here at Edmunds.
My favorite quote is: “If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people". (Confucius).