I graduated from Hoover High School, right here in DMPS. I received my BA in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa and my master’s degree from Viterbo University. My first teaching job was at Lovejoy Elementary. This is my 20th year of teaching, all of which have been with DMPS. I have taught 4th and 5th grades and been an instructional coach. I serve McKinley as an instructional coach, working with students and teachers. I am happy to be a McKinley Eagle!
I love spending time with my family and friends. My husband and I have 4 children who keep us busy with all their activities. We love sports, especially basketball and baseball. We enjoy being outdoors and traveling.
I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Master in School Counseling. I started my career as a School Counselor in 2014 with Des Moines Public Schools.
I love being outside in nature especially near water.
Miranda Klemme
Behavior Strategist
I am a graduate of Carlisle High School, Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa and I am currently pursuing a masters degree in administration through Drake University.
I enjoy traveling, teaching students at school and dance as well as spending time with my husband and dog.
I have a master’s degree in education and this will be my 16th year teaching.
I am a mother of 3 grown children. In my free time, I like to read, visit my children, and go on motorcycle rides.
I graduated from Wartburg College with a BA in education and later graduated with my Masters degree from Drake University. I began teaching for Des Moines Public Schools in 2005. I have taught 3rd, 1st and 2nd grade. Most of my career has been here at McKinley!
Outside of school I love to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy reading, spending time outside, and binge watching a good show.
I graduated from Dowling High School in 1981. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa where I majored in Bilingual Education and minored in Spanish. I lived in Merida, Mexico for 4 months taking college courses and completing teaching two teaching practicums. I also did coursework at the Colegio de Complutense in Madrid, Spain. I received my Master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). I started my teaching career at McKinley in 1987. In my early years at McKinley, I was a grant writer and the coordinator of EPCI, the Enhancing Parent and Community Involvement Substance Abuse Prevention Program which served as a pilot grant program that later evolved into the Success Way to Grow Program. Later, I worked as a ELL trainer for the Project ROOTS (Reform the Organization of Training and Schools Title III Grant). I helped develop a staff development course and provided staff development teaching ELL strategies to the mainstream staff at McKinley, the K-2 staff at Monroe Elementary, and several other schools during our Catch the Wave summer session. During my time as an ELL trainer, our team did publish a professional journal article about our staff development work. Later, as part of a Prairie Meadows grant, I developed a Language Lab for emergent third and fourth grade students at McKinley. That year, I was awarded the Rotary Club’s Teacher of the Year Award. All of my years of teaching have been dedicated to McKinley as an ELL teacher but I have taught ELL summer school at King, Lovejoy, Carver, Capitol View, and Riverwoods. I have a passion for teaching multilingual learners!
I live in Beaverdale with my husband, Tim. We have two adult children, Joseph and Grace. I enjoy long walks, eating out, interpreting in Spanish, traveling, and baking for my family.