Sherry Brooks has been with Central Academy since 2001. She has taught every course except for 9^th grade. Currently, she teaches College Accelerated Literature and Composition and Accelerated Language and Literature 1. She received her MAT from the University of Iowa in 1997. Prior to teaching at Central Academy, Ms. Brooks taught for four years at North High School. She has received the Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award twice and received the Distinguished Secondary Teacher Award through Northwestern University in 2019, the Yale Educator Award in 2020, and the Rotary Club Educator of the Year in 2021. Ms. Brooks earned her Gifted and Talented Endorsement in 2019 and is her department’s Professional Learning Community lead and the head of the English Department.

College Accelerated Literature and Composition AP Literature and Composition

College Accelerated Literature and Composition AP Language and Composition

Accelerated Language and Literature 1

Environmental Science

Conceptual Physics

Accelerated Chemistry

Francesco DallaVecchia just arrived this year to join the group of World Language Instructors at Central Academy, and he will be teaching Italian in lieu of Giovanni Leo. DallaVecchia was born in Padua, Italy, where he graduated in Italian Literature in 2001. Then he moved to Iowa City to complete a PhD in Musicology. While at the University of Iowa, he taught Italian Language & Culture at college level for about eight years. He published two simplified versions of G.Boccaccio’s “Andreuccio” and C. Goldoni’s “La locandiera”. After graduating, he briefly worked as an instructor at the Italian Cultural Center of San Diego, CA. DallaVecchia is also a member of the Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa, and the Sister States Association that promote cultural exchanges between the State of Iowa and the Italian Veneto Region.

Hello!

I am the first, and only, associate principal for Central Academy. I am excited to be at Central Academy for so many reasons and I am looking forward to supporting our students and staff. I started my administrative career at Hoover High School in 2021 after teaching science and Spanish in multiple districts in Colorado, Kansas, Utah and finally here in Iowa, most recently teaching Chemistry at Dowling Catholic High School. I earned my Master of Arts in Education from Viterbo University and my B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. I consider myself an eager lifelong learner who finds passion in helping others on their path to lifelong learning and I am here to serve the needs of our students and staff so that they can become the best version of themselves.

I have a lot to learn as I transition here to Central Academy but my door is always open and if I don’t know the answer we will find it together. It’s going to be an awesome year!

Lindsay Fredregill teaches Accelerated Language and Literature I and Accelerated Language and Literature III. Ms. Fredregill earned her BA in English and Spanish and her Master of Arts in English and Spanish Education from the University of Iowa. She joined the Central Academy faculty in 2008, teaching Spanish ab initio and Spanish B courses in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Prior to teaching at the Academy, Ms. Fred taught Spanish levels I through AP for six years at Roosevelt High School and taught English for one year at Lincoln High School. She earned her K-12 Gifted and Talented Endorsement in 2016 and currently serves on the School Leadership Team.

Accelerated Language and Literature I

Accelerated Language and Literature III

College Accelerated AP Literature and Composition

Dara Green joined the Academy faculty in 2008 teaching DMPS’ first class dedicated to teaching students how to throw on a pottery wheel. Ms. Green graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1998 and taught for Chicago Public Schools before moving to Des Moines, Iowa. She received her National Board Certificate in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood Art in 2004 and 2014. Ms. Green’s classes are structured using Flipped Learning and Training to Teach models. Please explore the links below to learn more.

Throwing Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced

Karen has been supporting students for over 15 years. She brings with her a robust background in mathematics and sciences, having taught AP Calculus and AP Chemistry, among other courses.  Her students have participated in the Penn State NACK Program, Science Olympiad, Mu Alpha Theta National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honors Society, and National Science Honor Society. In addition to taking part in the Horry County Schools Science Curriculum Writing and the Math Curriculum Writing teams, she has also worked with the AdvancEd STEM Accreditation and Cognia STEM Accreditation teams. Additionally, she has presented at the NCAIS Biennial Teacher Conference and the South Carolina Science Council Conference. Karen’s favorite part of teaching is learning about her students’ passions as a way of guiding them toward success.

Conceptual Physics

Academy Algebra I

Academy Algebra II

Kristin came to Central Academy in 2001.  She earned her BA in English from Luther College in 1993 and her Masters in Counseling from Drake University in 1997. Before coming to Central she served as high school counselor at Norwalk High School from 1997-2001.  She began her career as a middle school English teacher, first in Remsen, Iowa and then at Norwalk Middle School.

Brad Jacobson has been with Central Academy since 2016, teaching AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, and AP Physics C Electromagnetism. He received his BA in Physics from Drake University and his Masters of Arts and Teaching from Drake University. Prior to joining the Academy staff, Brad taught Chemistry, Physics, and AP Physics C: Mechanics at Johnston High School.

AP Physics 1

AP Physics 2

AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP Physics C: Electro-magnetism

Japanese I

Japanese II

Japanese III

AP Japanese IV

Darci joined Central Academy in 2014, where she taught World Literature, Advanced Placement Language and Composition, and Advanced Placement Literature. Previously she taught DMACC Composition and Introduction to Literature at Roland-Story High School. During the summer, she also teaches for Grand View University and Des Moines Area Community College. She received her BS in English Literature and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University.

Instructional Coach

College Accelerated AP Language and Composition

Prep Academy 7th Grade Math

Academy 8th Grade Math

Academy Geometry

Michael Marcketti joined the Central Academy staff in 2007. He has taught Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Radically Accelerated Math 1, IB Mathematics SL Year 2, AP Calculus AB, and Advanced Math Problem Solving. He received his BA in Mathematics from Grinnell College, and his M. Ed from Graceland University, with additional courses from ISU, U of I, and Southern University. Mr. Marcketti has previously taught at West High School in Iowa City, The Episcopal School in Baton Rouge, Roosevelt High School and is an instructor for the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education. He is a two-time recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Secondary Mathematics Teaching. Additionally, he has been an American Regions Mathematics League Coach, an officer of the Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Radically Accelerated Geometry/ Algebra II A

AP Pre-Calculus

AP Calculus AB

Advanced Mathematical Problem Solving

Jeff Marks joined the Central Academy in 2018 and is currently teaching in the Prep Academy program as well as Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Radically Accelerated I. He received his B.S. in engineering at Iowa State University as well as his secondary mathematics teaching endorsement. He received his Masters in Education at Viterbo University and has taken additional graduate level mathematics courses at other universities. Mr. Marks started teaching at Hoyt Middle School in 1991, moved to Brody Middle School for 14 years, then switched to Roosevelt High School for the 12 years prior to moving to Central Academy. He has been published in two NCTM publications: Promoting Purposeful Discourse and Teaching Middle School Mathematics. He is a National Board Certified teacher in early adolescence mathematics and was the state of Iowa finalist for Presidential Award for the Teaching of Mathematics and Science.

Prep Academy Math 7

Academy Math 8

Radically Accelerated Algebra I/Geometry A

College AP US history

College History of Latin America

AP Seminar

AP Research

https://youtube.com/shorts/jXr8U-yPmng?feature=share

Accelerated AP Human Geography and Histories

Kelly Randleman was hired into the district in 2005 after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a sociology minor from Grand View and a master’s degree in education with a reading endorsement from Drake. She received her Talented and Gifted Endorsement from the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education (Go Hawks! ?).

Her experience before teaching advanced learning included teaching core reading, math, science, and social studies as well as teaching reading and math intervention. She has taught students in general education, special education, and students who were learning English as newcomers to the United States. Because she has worked with such a wide variety of student populations, she is able to understand and better support the various, unique needs of advanced learners.

She enjoys spending her free time boating, camping, and living the country life with her husband and two kids. She is an avid solver of the daily Wordle and Quordle puzzles every morning, and she finds it rewarding to work with data.

Brian Reece joined the Central Academy staff in 2007.  He received his BA in Mathematics from Central College, and his MSM from Iowa State University.  Brian has previously taught at Lake Mills High School, Melcher-Dallas High School and Johnston High School. In 2010, Brian completed a real world externship with Hy-Vee.  Brian is a member of the National Council of Mathematics Teachers, a 2008 Edith May Sliffe Award recipient, a 2013 awardee of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

AP Pre-Calculus

AP Statistics

AP Calculus BC

AP Computer Science A

Computer Science II

central.attendance@dmschools.org

Arabic I

Arabic II

Arabic III

Arabic IV

Kara has been with Central Academy since 2018 teaching AP Chemistry and Accelerated Chemistry and Biology. She received her BA in Chemistry from Wartburg College and her Masters of Arts in Education from UNI as well as her Gifted and Talented Endorsement from Viterbo University. Prior to joining the Academy staff, Kara taught Chemistry and several Biology classes at Roosevelt High School.

Accelerated Chemistry

AP Chemistry

Accelerated Language and Literature I

College Accelerated AP Language and Composition