I am very fortunate to be teaching orchestra at several elementary schools in Des Moines. I have been teaching since 1990 and in Des Moines Schools since 2000. I have had a diverse career of teaching band, choir and orchestra at levels ranging from fourth through twelfth grade.
Laura Bullis
Special Education Consultant
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.
Nathan Efkamp
Intern Associate Principal
I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2013 with a BA in Elementary Education and a math minor. I began my teaching career in DMPS at Garton Elementary in 2014 and taught there for 6 years. In 2021 I earned my Masters degree from Drake University. I was also hired as the Behavior Interventionist and Intern AP at McKinley in 2021!
I just recently moved to West Des Moines with my wife Emily and son Louie. We love to spend time with family, friends, and our dog Lucy. I enjoy playing golf, traveling, board games, and being outside.
Crystal Holsapple
Interventionist
I graduated from Valley High School in 2009 and went to the University of Northern Iowa to gain my early childhood and elementary degree. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in 2013, I started teaching in DMPS and earned my masters in Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction in the winter of 2020. I have my reading endorsement and have loved working at McKinley since 2015!
I live with my husband, Greg, and two children, Delaney and Jaxson. We love going to the park and the library, reading is our favorite past time. Our favorite place to be is the family farm in Southern Iowa. We love cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs!!
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.
Lindsay Lanphier
Interventionist
I graduated high school in Sioux City, Iowa then attended University of Iowa (Go Hawks!) for my undergrad and graduated winter of 2013. I was a substitute teacher in Iowa City for a semester before moving to Des Moines in 2014. I was hired at McKinley Elementary and have been teaching here ever since! I received my masters at Drake University in 2019. I love being a McKinley Eagle!
I live in Des Moines and love it. I love to travel, hike, swim, read and go to concerts in my free time. I enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews, boyfriends, and friends. I like exploring new events going on in Des Moines and trying new food.
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.
Mr. Parker is the 5th grade band director for McKinley Elementary and has been with DMPS since 2012. He was the Band/Orchestra director for Hoyt Middle School for nine years. This year will be his second year as the 5th grade band director. Mr. Parker has taught music for Keota, Woodward-Granger, and Des Moines Christian Schools. In that time, many of his bands have been successful in the areas of concert, jazz and marching band. His highest accomplishments are winning a state jazz title and having his concert band perform as the class 2A representative at the Iowa Bandmasters Association convention.
Mr. Parker was born and raised in Ottumwa. He has traveled across the country and parts of Europe including Russia with a Christian based group, The Continental Brass and Singers. He resides in Waukee with his wife, Amanda and their two boys, Carson and Caleb who are 18 and 14. Mr. Parker also enjoys coaching baseball and time with his family
Courtney Reyna
Special Education
I grew up and graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa. From there, I attended Simpson College. I obtained an Elementary Education degree with endorsements in Special Education, Early Childhood, Reading, and English-Language Arts.
While I am not at the school teaching, I like to spend my time with my friends, family, and my dog. I enjoy reading and being outdoors.
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.