11 teachers join Creston classrooms

Schools in Creston will welcome 11 new teachers to their classrooms this year, each individual bringing new personalities and interests to children in the community. Take a look at the educators that will be gracing Creston’s classrooms this year.

Madison Gravlin

The only new teacher at Mayflower Heritage Christian School this year, Madison Gravlin is excited to teach third and fourth grade. Gravlin previously taught second grade at CCSD and preschool and fourth grade in Illinois.

Now at a Christian school, Gravlin said she’s delighted to bring the Bible into her teaching.

“This school year I look forward to incorporating the word and love of God into our learning each day while encouraging relationships with Jesus,” Gravlin said.

Outside of school, Gravlin enjoys watching her children grow, being outdoors, reading, hosting loved ones and organizing.

Jessica Carter

St. Malachy Catholic School is bringing three new teachers into their fold this year. Jessica Carter has spent nine years teaching first and second grade in various Iowa school districts. After three years staying at home with her kids, she’s ready to get back into the classroom.

“I’m excited to create a classroom community that feels safe, welcoming and joyful,” Carter said. “Watching first graders grow in confidence and skills throughout the year is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching and I can’t wait to see what this group will accomplish.”

The best teaching advice Carter has received focuses on the relationships with students. “Connections before content,” Carter said. This way, a student can feel seen and supported and is able to thrive.

Courtney Kile

Courtney Kile will be teaching all-day preschool for four year olds at St. Malachy this year. Previously, she taught at Panther Pride Preschool and Clarke Community Preschool.

The best teaching advice Kile has been given relates to what she’s looking forward to in the year - focusing on relationships.

“Meeting new families and joining the STM community” is what Kile is most excited for. In her free time, Kile enjoys camping, helping on the farm and spending time with family and friends.

Casie Klejch

Also a preschool teacher, Casie Klejch will be teaching half-day 3- and 4-year-old preschool. Klejch was previously the director of assessment and student success at Southwestern Community College. This year, she’s excited to build new relationships with her coworkers, students and their families.

Klejch said the best teaching advice she’s ever been given was to “emphasize processes and routines, and follow through on expectations.”

Outside of school, Klejch enjoys spending time with her family, shopping and supporting her children’s extracurricular activities.

Braelyn Baker

Creston Community Schools is bringing seven new educators to their halls this year. The first is Creston native and recent CHS grad Braelyn Baker. Now teaching second grade, Baker left CCSD in 2021.

Baker said the best teaching advice she’s received was to be herself and not compare herself to other teachers. In the upcoming year, Baker is most excited to “getting to know my first group of students and helping them grow into kinder versions of themselves.”

Outside of school, Baker likes to play with her dog and cat, enjoy the lake, ride horses with her family or do something active with her friends.

Arianna Gomez

This year, Arianna Gomez will be teaching seventh and eighth grade language arts at CCSD. Gomez had previously taught as an English language learner at Clarke High School.

Gomez said she is most looking forward to learning, since as a newer teacher, “there is nothing but opporutnity to learn.” This connects to her favorite teaching advice as well.

“Some of the best teaching advice I have been given is, ‘You will constantly be learning so don’t be afraid of making a mistake. If you are afraid, your students may feel that and they need to be confident even if they make mistakes so they can learn,’” Gomez said.

Outside of school, she enjoys reading or spending time outside.

Amber Kearney

Having worked as a kindergarten para and daycare director previously, Amber Kearney will now be teaching junior kindergarten for the CCSD. It’s student relationships Kearney is most excited for.

“I am looking forward to getting to know each of my students and families and having the best first year with them,” Kearney said. “When strong relationships are made, student success follows.”

Outside of school, Kearney enjoys spending time with family and keeping busy with sports.

Sara King

Joining the CCSD art world is Sara King, a new kindergarten through fourth grade, seventh and eighth grade art teacher in the district. Previously, King taught Title I reading at Winterset Middle School and ran her own stained glass business.

King said she’s excited to share her love of art with the school this year. “Getting to know my students and their families and sharing my love of art with them [will be fun]. Also, learning more about ceramics and kiln firing, with the help of Mrs. Fry, the high school art teacher.”

Outside of school and art, King enjoys going to the gym, running, traveling, live music and reading.

Zoe Meyer

Zoe Meyer will be working as the new fifth through eighth grade band teacher. This will be Meyer’s first year teaching and she is originally from Cedar Falls.

The best teaching advice Meyer has ever received was to not “forget to have fun.” She said she’s looking forward to her first year of teaching and to be working with students and staff.

Along with teaching and music, Meyer enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Isabelle Myers

Originally from Corning, Isabelle Myers will be joining the CCSD for her first teaching job out of college, teaching third grade math, social studies and science.

This year, Myers is most excited to get to know the Creston community both in and out of school. Her best teaching advice was “find your marigolds and surround yourself with them.”

Outside of school, Myers enjoys driving around checking cows with her family.

Palmer Scott

Joining the elementary special education team is Palmer Scott, who has previously taught sped at Orient-Macksburg and Creston High School. Scott said the best teaching advice he’s received refers to the bonds he makes in his career.

“Learning starts and ends with building strong relationships,” Scott said. Because of this, he is most looking forward to building relationships with students, parents, staff and the community this year.

In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time with family, playing video games and building Legos.