Jill Bryson Chosen to Lead Oak Park Elementary School
Jill Bryson will join DMPS on July 1, 2016, as the new principal at Oak Park Elementary School.
Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce that Jill Bryson will be joining the school district as Principal at Oak Park Elementary School. She replaces Chris Fee, who has accepted a position as superintendent of the Andrew and Easton Valley school districts in eastern Iowa.
Bryson comes from Council Bluffs, where she has focused on science, social studies and math, while also supervising talented and gifted and English language learner programs as an assistant principal. Bryson has a bachelor’s degree from Coe College, a master’s degree from Georgia State University and most recently, a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Iowa.
“I bring to DMPS an expertise in communicating with stakeholders among various cultures, subcultures and socioeconomic groups,” Bryson said. “I look forward to getting to know Oak Park families, and members of the Oak Park and Highland Park communities, and sharing with them my vision for schoolwide success.”
Bryson started her teaching career part-time at Georgia State University before taking a position as a middle school math and science teacher in Lawrenceville, GA. From there, she moved to Snellville, GA to teach high school college prep and honors biology. She moved to Iowa in 2007, working as a high school science teacher for the Woodward-Granger school district, then as an alternative education teacher at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs. For the past three years, she has served as a middle school assistant principal in Council Bluffs.
“Jill Bryson has experience and success with instructional leadership, program development and data analysis, resulting in increased student achievement and engagement,” said DMPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Ahart. “Her skills are essential to continuing the good work happening at Oak Park Elementary School.”
Jill Bryson begins work at Oak Park Elementary School on July 1, 2016.
