DMPS Names New Principals at McKinley, Morris and Moulton Schools

Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of three new educational leaders as school principals in Iowa’s largest district: Lois Brass at McKinley Elementary School, Sherry Amos at Morris Elementary School, and Cheri Dixon at Moulton Extended Learning Center.

“Lois, Sherry and Cheri bring a record of experience and success in being educational leaders at schools,” said Superintendent Tom Ahart. “I know they share the goals of our teachers and families in helping every student succeed.”

All three principals will officially begin their new roles on July 1. Additional information on each new principal and school is as follows:

MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
McKinley Elementary, located 1610 SE 6th Street, is home to more than 300 students in grades K-5. Lois Brass replaces Sherry Amos, who is becoming the principal of Morris Elementary School. Brass is currently the K-12 Counseling and Destination Graduation Coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools. Prior to that she was principal of Findley Elementary School from 2007-11, after serving as assistant principal at the school, and was also dean of students at River Woods Elementary School. In addition to having worked as an elementary school teacher and counselor earlier in her career, she spent nearly nine years as the Student Services Coordinator at the Drake University School of Education. Brass has a BS in secondary education, a MS in elementary school counseling, and an Ed.S in educational leadership, all from Drake University.

MORRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Morris Elementary, located 1401 Geil Avenue, is home to 610 students in grades K-5. Sherry Amos replaces Todd Martin, who has accepted a position in another school district. Amos has spent much of her education career in Houston, TX, as a teacher and assistant principal. She joined Des Moines Public Schools 5 years ago, and has been the principal at McKinley Elementary for the past 3 years. Amos has BA degrees in elementary education and early childhood education, both from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Masters in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston.

MOULTON EXTENDED LEARNING CENTER
Moulton Extended Learning Center, located at 1541 8th Street, is home to more than 420 students in grades K-5 and 8th grade. Cheri Dixon is replacing Craig Saddler, who has accepted a position in another school district. Dixon has spent much of her career as a teacher and administrator in Texas. Since 2006, she has been principal of Green Valley Elementary School in the Galena Park (TX) school district, a school with 750 pupils and a student body that is 95% minority, 90%+ free/reduced meals, and 40% ELL. She was a 2011 finalist for Texas School Administrator of the Year. Dixon is a graduate of Mason City (IA) High School and has an AA in physical education from NIACC, a BA in elementary education from Buena Vista University, and a M.Ed in administration and supervision from the University of Houston.