|
Sarah Boesch
Dean of Students & Instruction
Siouxland Christian School
Sarah Boesch is in her 15th year in education. She began her work at the community college level in the ESL department before spending ten years in the Hinton school district as a reading teacher, ESL teacher and instructional coach. Sarah currently serves as the Dean of Students & Instruction at Siouxland Christian School. In this position she is responsible for all student academics, behaviors, instructional coaching, mentoring, and policy creation. She earned a BA in English and Secondary Education and an MA in Professional Education from Morningside University. Additionally, she earned an Ed.D. in Literacy Education from Liberty University. Sarah and her husband Chris are parents to four children; Faith, Lincoln, Lucy, and Finnley.
|
|
Chris Bork
Principal
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School
Chris Bork is in his 28th year of service to Bishop Heelan Catholic High School and the Diocese of Sioux City. He has served as a Classroom Teacher, Activities Administrator, a State Champion Coach, the Dean of Students, and for the past 18 years the Principal. Chris has been married to his lovely wife Amy for 27 years and is the father of Kennedy, a speech pathologist, with Lincoln Public Schools and Kannon a pre physical therapy student at the University of Sioux Falls.
|
|
Wendy Bryce
Education Teacher
Sioux City Career Academy
Wendy Bryce has been teaching in the Sioux City Community School district for 18 years. She currently teaches education classes at the Sioux City Career Academy where she enjoys helping students explore the teaching profession. Collaborating with students, facilitating meaningful discussions, fostering creativity, building positive relationships, and inspiring the next generation of teachers is what she enjoys most about the education pathway.
|
|
Meredith Davies-Vogt
Special Education Teacher
East High School
Meredith Davies-Vogt is a dedicated educator currently serving as an Access teacher at East Middle School in Sioux City, Iowa, where she provides specialized reading and math instruction in a pull-out setting for students receiving special education services. With a strong commitment to meeting diverse learning needs, Meredith focuses on creating individualized, supportive environments that empower students to build both academic skills and confidence.
She earned her Associate’s degree from Northeast Community College and her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Wayne State College. After beginning her career in general education, Meredith pursued a Master’s degree in Special Education from Concordia University, Nebraska, where she discovered her passion for supporting students with unique learning needs. Her professional experience spans self-contained special education as well as co-teaching in both English Language Arts and Math.
In addition to her work in education, Meredith is actively involved in community service through her leadership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. She is a strong advocate for addressing students’ basic needs as a foundation for academic success, embracing the philosophy of “Maslow before Bloom” in both her classroom and community work.
|
Ashley Elsten
Special Education Teacher
Irving Elementary School
|
|
Tony Fravel
Academic Tech Manager
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School
Tony Fravel is a graduate of the Briar Cliff University 2008 class and is currently the Academic Tech Manager at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City Iowa. He has taught 7th and 8th grade Social Studies at Holy Cross- Blessed Sacrament for two year, 5th through 8th grade Academic Resource for Holy Cross- Blessed Sacrament for four years. He moved to Bishop Heelan High School as the Academic Resource, English as a Second Language teacher, and Co-teacher in English principles classes and Math classes. As a member of the Iowa Army National Guard he has been deployed twice during his teaching career going to Afghanistan in 2010-2011 and Kosovo in 2020-2021. He is married to Christy Fravel (Huls) 2006 Briar Cliff graduate. They both live in Sioux City with their three children.
|
|
Ben Hunnel
English Teacher
West High School
Ben Waitt Hunnel began his education career in the English Language Arts at West High School in 2019 and he is a member of the Building Leadership Team and Social Committee. He earned a BA in English and Secondary Education at Briar Cliff University, and he continues to model himself and his teaching within the Franciscan values of service, community, harmony, and preservation.
|
|
Ron Koch
Principal
Leeds Elementary School
Ron Koch is in his 30th year of dedicated service to the Sioux City Community School District. Over the course of his career, he has served students and staff in a variety of roles, including as a classroom teacher in both general and special education across all grade levels. For the past 17 years, Mr. Koch has served as a school administrator, working as Assistant Principal at Irving Elementary and West High School, as well as Principal of Unity Elementary School, and he is currently in his 6th year as the Principal of Leeds Elementary School. Beyond his work in education, Ron and his wife, Jenni, are the founding force behind the Sioux City location of GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Awareness Center, reflecting their strong commitment to community and inclusion. Jenni, a dedicated educator of 25 years, is currently a first-grade teacher at Perry Creek Elementary School. Together, they are proud parents to three children—Karissa, Kaeden, and Kohen.
|
|
Elise Mangan
Language Arts Teacher
Holy Cross - Blessed Sacrament
Elise Mangan graduated from Briar Cliff in 2019 with a degree in Elementary Education, as well as a Middle School Endorsement in Social Studies and Language Arts. This is her 7th year teaching 6th-8th grade Language Arts at Holy Cross - Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City. A product of Kuemper Catholic in Carroll, Iowa, and a recipient of the Bishop's Scholarship to Briar Cliff, Elise enjoys incorporating faith into her lesson plans. As an avid reader, her favorite part of teaching is helping students find a new favorite book and develop a love for reading!
|
|
Sherrie McDonald
Special Education Teacher
West High School
Sherrie McDonald has been teaching in several areas of education for the past 33 years within the Sioux City Community School District. She currently is a special education teacher at West High School, co- teaching physical science and earth/space science. She taught in the elementary special education setting within a K-2 classroom, before transitioning into high school. She has an elementary education degree with a special education endorsement K-12 and a Master’s in Education with a focus on Leadership. She served on the building leadership team (BLT) for many years helping to set building and district goals. She also serves on the beginning educator mentoring & induction program which supports beginning teachers and helps facilitate learning projects to meet the Iowa teaching standards. She is married to Ray McDonal and raised their children in Sioux City. She is a lifelong Sioux City resident. Education is very important to her and our community to build character, gain knowledge, and become self-reliant.
|
Morgen Nash
|
|
Mayra Padilla
Preschool/Dual Language Teacher
Bishop Heelan Catholic School
Mayra Padilla is in her 8th year of teaching at the Cathedral Dual Language Academy. Mayra graduated from Briar Cliff in 2019 and majored in elementary education. During her first two years of teaching she taught the preschool class at Cathedral Dual Language Academy and has been teaching the 2nd grade class ever since. Dual Language has always been a passion to her and she loves seeing how the students grow and become bilingual as they progress through the years.
|
|
Kathy Rhodes
Principal
Hinton Elementary School
Kathy Rhodes is in her 35th year as an elementary principal. She earned her BA in elementary education at the University of Iowa, Her MA in administration at the University of South Dakota, and her CAS from Iowa State University. She has been principal at Hinton Elementary for 11 years. Prior to becoming a principal, Mrs. Rhodes taught grades ranging from 1st to 8th at Gehlen Catholic in Le Mars and Jane Long Elementary in Harlingen, Texas. She has been married to her husband, Dean, for 36 years. They have four children and five grandchildren.
|
|
Jennifer Weber
Administrative Program Coordinator
Western Iowa Tech
Jennifer Weber has worked at Western Iowa Tech Community College since 2010 and currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Education. In this position, she teaches, advises and mentors students and faculty, and collaborates with internal and external partners to provide a variety of opportunities for students at WITCC. Prior to working at WITCC, Jennifer was a teacher and then training coordinator at Early Head Start and Head Start programs. She has also supported the diverse needs of children from 0-18 at other community programs, such as the Boys and Girls Home and Hope Haven. Jennifer is married to her husband, Jim, and they have two daughters. She enjoys cooking, reading and watching her daughters in taekwondo and arts activities.
|
Britton McKenzie
Secondary Education Student
Briar Cliff University
|
Nora Kastning
Elementary Education Student
Briar Cliff University
|
Demetry Hoseth
K-12 Physical Education
Briar Cliff University
|