DMPS Selects New Brody Middle, Hubbell Elementary Principals

Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce the selection of Thomas Hoffman as the new principal of Brody Middle School and Carrie Belt as the new principal of Hubbell Elementary School. Hoffman is currently principal of Ames Middle School, part of Chicago Public Schools, and Belt is the dean of students at Park Avenue Elementary School in Des Moines.

Hoffman replaces Randy Gordon, who is retiring after the 2011-12 school year. Belt is replacing Tim Schott, who became Executive Director of Secondary Schools for Des Moines Public Schools in January. Both will begin on July 1.

“Tom and Carrie bring a wealth of experience and a record of achievement to their new positions,” said Superintendent Nancy Sebring. “We’re pleased to welcome them both to their new leadership positions in Des Moines, and to working with our students, teachers and families to keep our schools on the path to success.”

Brody Middle School, located at 2501 Park Avenue in Des Moines, is home to 680 students in grades 6-8. Hubbell, the state’s first International Baccalaureate School, is located at 800 42^nd Street and home to 435 K-5 students.

“Iowa’s reputation for educational excellence is well known throughout the nation, and I am honored to join a school district that is a leader in adding to that legacy,” added Hoffman. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with everyone in the Brody community to support the work to provide our children with the best possible education.”

“Having spent the past three years at one of our district’s IB schools, I am looking forward to working with the students and staff at Iowa’s first IB school,” said Belt. “Hubbell School has great support from its community, and I’m looking forward to building upon the positive momentum it has enjoyed over the years.”

Hoffman joined Chicago Public Schools in 2008, serving as the resident principal at Kenwood Academy High School, a grade 7-12 school of 1,700 students. He became principal of Chicago’s Ames Middle School, a 590 student, 7-8 grade school in 2009.

Hoffman was also an educator for several years in Arizona. For six years he was at Pueblo del Sol Middle School in Phoenix, serving as an ELL, language arts, and history teacher as well as a literacy specialist. From 2006-08, he was the assistant principal at Salt River High School in Scottsdale, a 7-12 grade school of 390 students.

Hoffman earned a BA in English literature from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is completing his Ed.D from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. He also holds a M.Div from Concordia Seminary, a MA in history from St. John’s University, a MA in Urban Educational Leadership from Arizona State University, and a M.Ed in Educational Leadership from National-Lewis University in Chicago.

Belt first joined Des Moines Public Schools in 1996, serving for five years as a 1^st grade teacher at Edmunds Academy of Fine Arts. She was with the Council Bluffs school district from 2001 to 2008 as a 1^st and 3^rd grade teacher at Bloomer Elementary School. After a year as a 3^rd grade teacher at Karen Acres Elementary School in Urbandale, Belt returned to Des Moines Public Schools as the dean of students at Park Avenue Elementary School.

Belt received a BA in elementary education from Simpson College and earned her MS in Education (Elementary Leadership) from Drake University.