Education Student Success Stories

Grand View’s accredited teacher education program empowers teachers, through vibrant learning communities and self-reflection, to be innovative, culturally responsive, and resourceful leaders who are empowered to respond to the dynamic needs of learners for a global society.

Grand View's education students are doing innovative work! This page showcases award-winning projects by our students and is updated regularly.

	Madeline Sheldahl \| Elementary Education Major Madeline Sheldahl graduated with a degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in ESL, English Language Arts and reading. While at Grand View, Madeline was an outstanding student. She was also in the honors program and on the dance team. She was involved in leadership through the Viking Council, Presidential Ambassadors, Student Ministries Team, Team GV, peer ministers and Viking Brigade. She is thankful for the opportunities the Education Department brought her through the endorsements she pursued. The wide range of opportunities allowed her to explore her passion and diversify her experience. Madeline student taught in the third grade in Johnston and in ESL at Meredith Middle School in the Des Moines Public Schools. She has been teaching at Pathfinder Elementary in Kansas City, Missouri, since August 2019. Her experiences at Grand View inspired her to find her purpose and serve as an educator.

	Ella Moss \| Education Major Before Ella was even admitted to the education program at Grand View, she had already been working in the Adel-DeSoto-Minburn district to support students and teachers. She also works for Respite Connection when she is not helping her family on their farm. Ella is passionate about working with students receiving special education services. She sees the potential in every child and seeks out information in each of her classes and practicum placements that will assist her to best meet their needs.

Liliana Saravia and Lesllie Perez | Education Majors
Liliana and Lesllie worked together to develop the first Bilingual Education Student Organization in the state of Iowa! This group is affiliated with NABE (National Association for Bilingual Education). The students travel annually to present at this conference and learn from others. They also visit high schools as aspirant peers, sharing their stories about getting to college. Lili and Lesllie dream of being teachers in dual language programs, which is a big shortage area!.

	Nicole Aunscpach \| Elementary Education Major Nicole Aunspach is an elementary education major with an endorsement in reading. She is from Ankeny, IA, where she now coaches for Ankeny's high school dance team. She also is on the Grand View Dance Team. For Dr. Grow’s Teaching Literacy 3-8, she was able to work with a fifth grader at a local elementary school who was struggling with reading. The blog she created documents all of the lessons she has taught, as well as she and the student's growth, accomplishments, and challenges during their time together.

	Cami Schwartz \| Elementary Education Major Cami Schwartz is an elementary education major pursuing endorsements in reading and language arts. Her website was created for her Instructional Technologies class to help her become more familiar with technology as it applies to teaching. This project allowed her to better understand the value of technology in the classroom for all students, but specifically for students working through language barriers and disabilities. Cami is a presidential ambassador for Grand View, is part of the Logos Honors program, and works for the YMCA's after school program at Findley Elementary.

	Lindsay Helm \| Elementary Education Major Lindsay Helm is an elementary education major with endorsements in reading and English/language arts. For Dr. Grow’s teaching literacy course, she was given the opportunity to tutor a struggling reader at a local elementary school. To reflect on the student’s progress and her own progress as an educator, Lindsay created this blog where she kept track of all of the lessons, obstacles, and achievements that she and her student encountered during their time together. Lindsay has lived in Des Moines for nearly her entire life. When she is not in class at Grand View, she is either coaching the dance team at East High School or teaching dance in Ankeny. She dedicates all of her time to kids but when she has a few spare minutes, she loves to read and watch Netflix.

	Jayde Murray \| Elementary Education Major Jayde Murray is an elementary education major with an instructional strategist I endorsement. She enjoys working with kids, working at her family car lot (Murray Motors), being active and outside, and volunteering at her church. Jayde had to create a blog for her tutoring sessions with a student for Teaching Literacy 3-8 taught by Dr. Grow. She created a blog to explain the instructional needs of her students and what she did to help him grow as a reader.

	Lindsay Albert \| Elementary Education Major Lindsay Albert is an elementary education major with endorsement in reading and English/language arts. Lindsay designed this presentation for Dr. Grow’s Teaching Literacy Grades 3-8 course to teach her classmates about how to use inferring and drawing conclusions in the classroom. Her presentation includes various anchor charts and graphic organizers educators can use in the classroom.

	Addison Masters \| Secondary Education Major Addison Masters is a secondary education major pursuing an endorsement in all social sciences. He is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. Addison constructed this website while enrolled in EDUC 245 Instructional Technologies. He chose digital citizenship as his topic because it encompasses various aspects of what it means to exist in a digital world. When Addison is not at school or at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three-year-old son. He also enjoys bicycling and screen printing in his free time.

	Nicole Aunscpach \| Elementary Education Major Nicole Aunspach is an elementary education major with an endorsement in reading. She is from Ankeny, IA, where she now coaches for Ankeny's high school dance team. She also is on the Grand View Dance Team. For Dr. Grow’s Teaching Literacy 3-8, she was able to work with a fifth grader at a local elementary school who was struggling with reading. The blog she created documents all of the lessons she has taught, as well as she and the student's growth, accomplishments, and challenges during their time together.

	Cami Schwartz \| Elementary Education Major Cami Schwartz is an elementary education major pursuing endorsements in reading and language arts. Her website was created for her Instructional Technologies class to help her become more familiar with technology as it applies to teaching. This project allowed her to better understand the value of technology in the classroom for all students, but specifically for students working through language barriers and disabilities. Cami is a presidential ambassador for Grand View, is part of the Logos Honors program, and works for the YMCA's after school program at Findley Elementary.

	Lindsay Helm \| Elementary Education Major Lindsay Helm is an elementary education major with endorsements in reading and English/language arts. For Dr. Grow’s teaching literacy course, she was given the opportunity to tutor a struggling reader at a local elementary school. To reflect on the student’s progress and her own progress as an educator, Lindsay created this blog where she kept track of all of the lessons, obstacles, and achievements that she and her student encountered during their time together. Lindsay has lived in Des Moines for nearly her entire life. When she is not in class at Grand View, she is either coaching the dance team at East High School or teaching dance in Ankeny. She dedicates all of her time to kids but when she has a few spare minutes, she loves to read and watch Netflix.

	Jayde Murray \| Elementary Education Major Jayde Murray is an elementary education major with an instructional strategist I endorsement. She enjoys working with kids, working at her family car lot (Murray Motors), being active and outside, and volunteering at her church. Jayde had to create a blog for her tutoring sessions with a student for Teaching Literacy 3-8 taught by Dr. Grow. She created a blog to explain the instructional needs of her students and what she did to help him grow as a reader.

	Lindsay Albert \| Elementary Education Major Lindsay Albert is an elementary education major with endorsement in reading and English/language arts. Lindsay designed this presentation for Dr. Grow’s Teaching Literacy Grades 3-8 course to teach her classmates about how to use inferring and drawing conclusions in the classroom. Her presentation includes various anchor charts and graphic organizers educators can use in the classroom.

	Addison Masters \| Secondary Education Major Addison Masters is a secondary education major pursuing an endorsement in all social sciences. He is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. Addison constructed this website while enrolled in EDUC 245 Instructional Technologies. He chose digital citizenship as his topic because it encompasses various aspects of what it means to exist in a digital world. When Addison is not at school or at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three-year-old son. He also enjoys bicycling and screen printing in his free time.