English Department Teachers
Click to schedule a PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE with Academy teachers on October 9, 2024.
Scheduled phone conferences appointments are available from 1:00 – 3:45 PM and are 5 minutes in duration. Please make your appointment at least 6 hours in advance.
Drop in conferences (no appointment necessary) are from 4 – 6 PM.
Email the teacher directly for questions and concerns about your child’s progress in class if you cannot attend conferences on October 9.
Sherry Brooks has been with Central Academy since 2001. She has taught every course except for 9th 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
Luci Core joined the Central Academy staff in 2014 and teaches Prep Academy English Language Arts and Accelerated Language and Literature III. She received her BFA from Iowa State University and her master’s in teaching from Morningside College. She is endorsed 5-12 English/Language Arts, 5-12 Speech/Theatre, 5-12 All Language Arts, K-8 Reading. 5-12 Reading, and PK-12 Talented and Gifted. Ms. Core has had various teaching experiences in large school districts, private schools, and online, as she has worked for Sioux City Community Schools, Dowling, and Iowa Connections Academy.
Prep Academy English Language Arts
Accelerated Language and Literature I
Accelerated Language and Literature III
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
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
Mr. Desman Oakley has been at Central Academy since 2019. He is part of our Prep Academy English Language Arts and Accelerated Language and Literature teams. Prior to coming here, Oakley taught at Interstate 35 High School in Truro, IA since 2008. He has worked with Upward Bound, the Peace Corps (Mali 2002-2004), and served a Fulbright-Hayes Education Scholarship for an educator exchange seminar in Namibia, South Africa (2010). Mr. Oakley has also coached track, cross country, football, basketball, and presently is a youth soccer official. Oakley graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN with a degree in English and earned a teaching degree from Simpson College in Indianola, IA. He earned his K-12 Gifted and Talented Endorsement in 2022.
Accelerated Language and Literature I
College Accelerated AP Language and Composition
Accelerated Language and Literature II
College Accelerated Language and Composition
College Accelerated Language and Literature Capstone
