In order to refresh the content of summer newsletters, I have decided to periodically "introduce" the new 2012-2013 staff members to you. Of course, we grieve the loss of Lynn McCool, who has served so admirably as a Secondary English Teacher for over a decade; she has understandably chosen to teach at Iowa State University while she completes her Ph.D. I think you'll be pleased by the performance of the teacher who is waterboarding in her wake! Meghann Lightfoot is a preacher's kid! She graduated from Ohio Valley University in West Virginia. She has taught upper-level English classes at a charter school in Colorado, and she has served as a valued long-term Substitute Teacher in several schools, including Waukee. Her application materials and interview contributions were exemplary. One reference told me, "She is very conscientious. She sets high standards for herself. She is what you see. She's real. She's very understanding. She will be an asset to any school program. She works well with older students. She's awesome. That's enough in a word." Another reference remarked, "She's a very spiritual person. This last summer, she was teaching a class of ladies much older than she in her Daddy's church. She was involved with Focus on the Family; she had an internship working with one of the magazines for young people. She's an excellent writer. She's an all-around excellent student. She does everything well. She's very thorough and well-prepared for class activities. She likes to do new things to get students involved. She uses literary circles; not everyone would attempt that. You will be blessed to have her. Another one of her references told me, "I think very highly of Meghann. She was a student of mine for 12 years. I can't say enough good things about her. She's high-quality, super-positive, a great woman of integrity. She has good teacher sense. She knows what to do." Those words should be a blessing to all of us! Sounds like Meghann will be a blessing to all of us! Welcome, Meghann Lightfoot!

I am very pleased to report that Des Moines Christian's ACSI accreditation was once again approved without condition after the Association of Christian Schools' Mid-America Accreditation Commission reviewed the report during their meetings on June 4-5, 2012!  Praise God!  A site team visits DMC every five years, but we are also expected to submit annual written reports about the progress of cited recommendations, so I am once again pleased by everyones' efforts to address key issues at the school.  Accreditation is an extremely important element of school improvement; we need to be accountable for performing and constantly improving in the ways we say we are performing and improving.  We invite our Association members' continuing involvement in the school improvement process; if you have suggestions for improvement, do not hesitate to speak to any DMC staff member, and we'll get your input to the proper person/s.