Des Moines Public Schools enforces and upholds Title IX, the civil rights law passed in 1972. This federal law prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal funds.
Title IX also is meant to prevent and report sexual discrimination or harassment. The law applies to all DMPS schools, programs, and activities involving students, staff and volunteers.
Sexual harassment means unwelcome behavior or conduct (physical, verbal, written, electronic) that is directed at someone because of that person’s sex or gender, and that meets any of the following definitions:
“Quid Pro Quo” Harassment. A District employee explicitly or implicitly conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the District on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
Hostile Educational/Work Environment. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the District’s education program or activity.
Sexual assault. An offense that meets the definition any one of the following offenses:
- Rape: the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without consent of the victim;
- Fondling: the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without consent of the victim;
- Incest: sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law; or
- Statutory rape: sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.
- Purposefully engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person (“target”) that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family;
- when the person (“stalker”) knows or should know that the target will be placed in reasonable fear of bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family by the course of conduct; and
- the stalker’s course of conduct induces fear in the target of bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family.
Dating Violence: violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of:
- The length of the relationship.
- The type of relationship.
- The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
Domestic Violence: any felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:
- By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
- By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
- By a person who is cohabiting with, or has cohabited with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;
- By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the State of Iowa; or
- By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the State of Iowa.
If you, or someone you know, at DMPS wishes to report a case of sex-based discrimination or sexual harassment/misconduct by a student, staff or volunteer, please click here to submit a complaint form online for further investigation. Individuals may also report instances of sexual misconduct or discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator.
Carol Wynn-Green
Title IX Coordinator
Carol.WynnGreen@dmschools.org
515-242-7732
Meet the Team
Carol Wynn-Green
Equity and Inclusion Program Manager
Carol.WynnGreen@dmschools.org | 515-242-7732
Carol assists in the development and execution of programs, initiatives, and training that promote and support diversity at DMPS. Carol will monitor and ensure equal access to educational, employment and promotional opportunities.
Tiffany Strim
Title IX and Equal Opportunity Specialist
Tiffany.Strim@dmschools.org | 515-242-7661
Tiffany assists in the development, execution, and implementation of Title IX related programs and initiatives for the Des Moines Public School District. She investigates Title IX concerns and conducts full investigations where warranted. She also investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment under the District’s policies.
Denise Johnson
Executive Assistant
Denise.Johnson@dmschools.org | 515-242-7709
Denise serves as a liaison between district leadership or supervisors and employees to ensure accurate and timely communication of complaint or investigation information.