Joy Linquist Named Harding Middle School Principal

Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce that Joy Linquist will be joining the school district as principal of Warren G. Harding Middle School, one of the district’s newest Turnaround Arts schools.  She replaces Maureen Taylor, who will move to the central office as Human Resources Manager for Certified Staff.

Harding Middle School is located at 203 East Euclid Avenue and educates more than 760 students in grades 6-8.

Linquist comes to DMPS from Ankeny Community Schools where she is Associate Principal at Prairie Ridge Middle School, with 800 students and 80 staff members. Before that she was with DMPS as a Career & Technical Consultant at Central Campus and a School Improvement Leader at Lincoln High School. She was a teacher and coach with Clear Creek Amana Community Schools in Tiffin, Iowa, and a DMACC Political Science, Education, Sociology and Psychology Adjunct Instructor.

Linquist received her bachelor degree in History from the University of Iowa, and completed two master degrees, one in Social Studies and Education from Iowa and another in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University. She will be completing her doctorate at Iowa State later this year.

“As a former principal at Harding, the school holds a special place in my heart,” said Superintendent Tom Ahart. “Joy Linquist will be instrumental in taking the great things happening at Harding and expanding on them, leading students and staff into what will obviously be a bright future.”

Linquist begins working at Harding Middle School on July 1, 2015.