100 Iowa Teachers Endorse Kamala Harris, In Sign of Growing Iowa Strength
Harris to Launch “Iowa Teachers for Kamala” in Waukee on Wednesday
Today, 100 Iowa teachers are announcing their support of Senator Kamala Harris. Harris herself will join teachers from across Iowa for the launch of “Iowa Teachers for Kamala” at an event in Waukee on Wednesday, November 27. Harris has long received broad support from Iowa’s teachers after releasing the first policy of her campaign to give Iowa teachers a $12,200 raise. Harris has highlighted the important role that educators play in raising our children at events in Iowa throughout her campaign.
“I am honored to have the support of teachers from across Iowa and grateful every day for the work they do to help raise our children,” Harris said. “Conversations with Iowa’s teachers helped inform my first policy of this campaign - the largest federal investment in teachers in our nation’s history. Educators here in Iowa and across the country have made me a better candidate and I’m grateful to have them on my team.
These educators are from across Iowa, and teach everything from kids in pre-school to students in college. They include math teachers, special education teachers, choir teachers, teacher librarians, professors, and more. However, this diverse group of educators are united in their enthusiastic support of Harris and her plans to fight for education justice. All 100 have been invited to join Harris in person for the launch in Waukee.
“Senator Harris has centered the importance of public schools and teachers in her campaign like no other candidate,” said Amy Johnson, a second grade teacher in the Keokuk Community School District. “Her plan to pay teachers what they deserve isn’t just about giving teachers like me a raise, it’s about so much more. It’s about recognizing the value that teachers and educators have in our communities, and it’s about recognizing those of us who work second, and even third or fourth jobs to make the ends meet, who pay out of pocket so our students have school supplies, or who took on student debt in order to work in a classroom, doing what we love. Kamala sees the challenges we face and I absolutely trust her to fight for us and to have our backs when she is president.”
“The thing that impresses me most about Senator Harris is that she is really and truly for the people,” said Tina Martinez, a first grade teacher in the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District. “I’ve spent my whole life in public education. I know what it’s like to work for over 30 years but still struggle to make ends meet, or to be able to afford health care. Nevertheless, I love my job – and I know that Kamala will always fight for the middle class and for teachers like me because she truly means what she is saying. Every time I’ve seen her, I can tell that she is there for the people. We need someone with integrity who will fight for the American people. That person is Senator Kamala Harris.”
Complete list of teachers below:
• Beth Ann Evans Knipper, High School English Teacher, Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School District
• Ellyn Grimm, 8th Grade English Teacher, Ames Community School District
• Caleista Meyne, Early Childhood Teacher, Ankeny Community School District
• Kyrstin Delagardelle, Teacher Librarian, Ankeny Community School District
• Amy Tagliareni, Ankeny School Board Member, Former Special Education Associate, Ankeny Community School District
• Julie Henkle, Former Preschool Teacher, Ankeny Community School District
• Kelly Postma, 8th and 9th Grade Physical and Health Education Teacher, Ankeny Community School District
• Nolan Henkle, High School Choir Teacher, Ankeny Community School District
• Stephen Ratzlaff, Retired School Administrator and Current Substitute Teacher, Ankeny Community School District
• Betsy Wolf, High School Industrial Technology Teacher, Burlington Community School District
• Nicholas Schroeder, High School Special Education Teacher, Carlisle Community School District
• Patrick Eldridge, Substitute Teacher, Cedar Falls and Waterloo Community School Districts
• Brianna Young, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Melissa Trumpold, Middle School Special Education Teacher, Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Clark Beyer, Substitute Teacher, Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Hannah Gorsh, Middle School Extended Learning Teacher, Clear Creek Amana Community School District
• Ray Dewaele, High School Special Education Teacher, Council Bluffs Community School District
• Amy Yochem, Former Elementary School Teacher and Current Substitute Teacher, Council Bluffs Community School District
• Connie Capper, 4th Grade Teacher, Davenport Community School District
• Sarah Qualls, 1st through 5th Grade Teacher, Davenport Community School District
• Kathy Learn, Retired High School and Middle School Teacher and School Administrator, Davenport Community School District
• Eileen Peterson, Special Education teacher, Denison Community School District
• Larry Peterson, High School History Teacher, College Professional, Denison Community School District
• Abby Fliehler, Art Teacher, Denver Community School District
• Melanie Schroeder, Kindergarten and 1st Grade Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Valerie Madison, Preschool Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Emma Bade, Special Education Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Nabil Majeed, Math and Science Substitute Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Rachel White, Elementary Special Education Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Anne Middleton, Former Teacher, Des Moines Public Schools
• Brenda Beyer, School Counselor, St. Anthony Catholic School, Des Moines
• Pat Hennessey, 4th, 7th, and 8th Grade Teacher, Diocesan Schools of Des Moines
• Kim Mangers, School Administrator, Dubuque Community School District
• Brenda Kunau, Retired High School German Teacher, Easton Valley Community School District
• Rachel Wilke-Shapiro, Preschool Teacher, Grace United Methodist Church Preschool
• Suzanne Redenius, Retired 5th Grade Reading & Language Arts Teacher, Grinnell-Newburg Community School District
• Frank Williams, Former Middle School Teacher, Grundy Center Community School District
• Mike Holm, Special Education Teacher and Coach, Hampton-Dumont Community School District
• Abigail Lofte, High School Theology Teacher, Holy Family Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Dubuque
• Nancy Leonard, High School Spanish Teacher, Holy Family Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Dubuque
• Jenna Darsee, Elementary Art School Teacher, Indianola Community School District
• Sue Dvorsky, Former Special Education Teacher, Iowa City Community School District
• Anna Gibbs, Special Education Teacher, Iowa City Community School District
• Diane Thayer, 7th and 8th Grade Choir Teacher, Iowa City Community School District
• Amy Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher, Keokuk Community School District
• Frances Renfer, Middle and High School Teacher, Linn-Mar Community School District
• Jodi Stevens, Retired Teacher, Marshalltown Community School District
• Stephanie Scholl, Literacy Teacher, Mason City Community School District
• Rachel Foubert, Teacher, Mid-Prairie Community School District
• Randa Wall, 5th Grade Teacher, Nodaway Valley Community School District
• Brenda Thaden, 4th Teacher, Nodaway Valley Community School District
• Peggy Willson, Kindergarten Teacher's Aide, Northeast Hamilton Community School District
• Ramona Johnson, Elementary Special Education Teacher, Prairie City Monroe Community School District
• Liz Kantner, High School History Teacher, Rock Island-Milan School District 41
• Alena Rae Treat, Elementary Teacher, Saydel Community School District
• Lesa Banks, High School Art Teacher, Sioux City Community School District
• Celia Mulroy, Middle School Teacher and Coach, Sioux City Community School District
• Stacy Brasch, Teacher, Sioux City Community School District
• Bernadette Scolaro, Sioux City Education Association President and Counselor, Sioux City Community School District
• Kim Vermilyea, Teacher, Sioux City Community School District
• Jackie White, Early Childhood Coordinator, Southeast Polk Community School District
• Allison Graham, Substitute Teacher and Coach, South Tama County Community School District
• Julie Theulen, Special Education Teacher, Tri-Center Community School District
• Billie Jo Fielder, Early Childhood Special Education and Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade Reading Teacher, Urbandale Community School District
• Henry Jackson, Teacher, Urbandale Community School District
• Ruby Bodeker, Former Elementary Teacher, Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
• Tina Martinez, 1st Grade Teacher, Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
• Rena Philp, High School Counselor, Wapello Community School District
• Pat Harper, Former Math Teacher, Waterloo Community School District
• Jeanne Meuer, Retired Childcare Provider, Waterloo Community School District
• Wendy Lee, Kindergarten Teacher, Waterloo Community School District
• Sheena Grove, 11th Grade English Teacher, Waukee Community School District
• Ginny Davis, 8th and 9th Grade Math Teacher, Waukee Community School District
• Ryan Garcia, 10th through 12th Grade Special Education Associate, Waukee Community School District
• Natalie Elliott, Elementary School Teacher, Waukee Community School District
• Franny Frey, 7th and 8th Grade Teacher Librarian, West Des Moines Community School District
• Julie Norby, Retired Elementary English Teacher, Western Dubuque Community School District
• Ashley Scolaro, Psychology Professor, Central College
• Paul Tabor, Microbiology Professor, Clarke University & Loras College
• DeeAnn Grove, Teacher Educator, Cornell College
• Deborah Symonds, History Professor, Drake University
• Kittie Weston-Knauer, Adjunct Professor, Drake University
• Emily Dux Speltz, English Professor, Iowa State University
• Mary Lynn Damhorst, Retired Communications Professor, Iowa State University
• Bridget Malone, Spanish Professor, Kirkwood Community College
• Elisabeth Snipes, Professor, Southeastern Community College
• Keith Crew, Retired Professor of Criminology, University of Northern Iowa
• Penny Schempp, Retired Counselor, Western Iowa Tech Community College
• Paula Johnson, Retired Senior and Junior High Science Teacher, Bremer County
• Andrew Flockhart, Educator, Dallas County
• Eleanor Stevers, Retired Special Education Teacher, Des Moines County
• Jan Sauter, Retired Science Teacher, Linn County
• Marjorie Connors-Boe, Principal, Linn County
• Christine Miller, Educator, Polk County
• Dave Zuckerman, Special Education Teacher, Polk County
• Krystal Coffee, 2nd Grade Teacher, Polk County
• Marilyn Phelan, Educator, Polk County
• Sarah Zigtema, Special Education Teacher, Polk County
• Paula McNutt, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Scott County
• Mary Meador, Professor, Story County
