Amanda the Panda

I have been a life-long resident of the Des Moines area and has lived the past 37 years in the city of Urbandale. My educational experience includes a BS in Education from the University of Northern Iowa, and MS / Specialist degrees from Iowa State University. The work experience includes five years of teaching junior high mathematics and coaching, and twenty-seven years as an elementary principal. Twenty-one years of that experience was with the Saydel School System and the final eleven years as principal of Clive Elementary School in the West Des Moines School District. I retired in 2005. I have been married to my wife, Beth, for the past 43 years. Beth retired from teaching in 2004 after 33 years of teaching first grade in the Urbandale School District. We have two sons, Jason (Lori) – a financial analyst with Principal Financial in Des Moines and Brad (Natalie) – a landscape architect in the Denver area. They have three grandsons, Carter that is 7 years old, and also Grant and Landon that are 2 years old. In addition, we have two granddaughters, Aven, that is 2 years old and Hadley that is 3 months old. My mother (Zola) presently resides at Bickford in Urbandale. My community involvement includes a active member of Lutheran Church of Hope, President of the Des Moines Business Group, President and Board member of Polk County Schools Employees Credit Union, Board member of Amanda the Panda, Urbandale Historical Society member, Urbandale Historical Society representative on the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, Past President and board member – The Reserve on Walnut Creek, and past president and board member of Urbandale Little League.