Meet+the+Team

The OMS Technology Vertical Team is made up of individuals who are interested in finding more and better ways to bring their classrooms into the 21st Century by incorporating technology into the curriculum. Please allow us to introduce ourselves.

Deb DeJong (facilitator)
I have been teaching at Oskaloosa Middle School for the past 25 years. For the first 18 years of my career at OMS, I taught 7th and/or 8th grade Language Arts. During those years, I developed a strong interest in technology and would often find ways to bring technology into the classroom. Being the type of person who, upon encountering a problem, endeavors to find a viable solution, I quickly became the "go-to" person when colleagues encountered a technology question. At the end of my 18th year of teaching Language Arts, I was asked to abandon everything I was comfortable teaching and step way out of my comfort zone. It became my task to develop curriculum for new technology classes at OMS. It was a challenge, but it was one that proved rewarding. For the past 6 years I have been teaching computer classes to 7th & 8th grade students, and I love it. I am forever looking at new tools, new projects, new technologies to incorporate into my already rigorous curriculum. Like technology, my classes are ever changing.

= Betsy Luck = I attended Fairfield High School and graduated from Wartburg College in 2000. While attending Wartburg, I received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Physical Education and Health, I also ran Cross Country and Track during my four years. I achieved my Masters in Education at Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in the summer of 2009. I started teaching at Oskaloosa Middle School in the Fall of 2000. I coach Varsity Girls Track & Field. I am also a member of the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. I am also on the Lacey Advisory Board which is in charge of overseeing the use and improvement of the city’s Little League fields and the city’s new community stadium (football, track and soccer) along with other youth initiatives at the Lacey Recreation facility in Oskaloosa. My husband also teaches at OMS. Mr. Luck teaches 6th grade Social Studies, he is also coaches Middle School football. We have a boy and a girl who keep us busy along with our two dogs. We are avid Chicago Cubs fans along with cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. I enjoy being outside, exercising (love to run... I’ve ran 4 marathons), and building furniture along with other home improvement projects. I love teaching middle school Physical Education. Helping kids find activities they have fun doing and staying healthy through activity is my main goal as a physical educator.

JOE BELL
I attended Reading High School near Cincinnati, Ohio and Graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. This is my 4th year of teaching at OMS. I taught two years of 8th grade language arts and this is my second year at 7th grade social studies. Prior to teaching at OMS, I taught two years of language arts near Lexington, Kentucky. I am also the Boys Soccer coach at Oskaloosa High School.

My wife, Candace, works at Des Moines Performing Arts (The Civic Center), and we have new son named Bennett.

Brent Knoot
I have been teaching Art at OMS since 1995. I have a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art and Design (emphasis in drawing, painting and printmaking) from Iowa State University, and a Master of Art in Art Education from Iowa State University.

Kyle Braundmeier Mr. Braundmeier grew up in Illinois just outside of St. Louis. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman) and teaching certification at Southern Illinois University. He completed his Master’s degree at Southwest Baptist University in 2003 and his Specialist degree at Drake University in 2011. Prior to moving to Oskaloosa, Mr. Braundmeier taught 5-12 Band and 6-12 Choir in Missouri. Mr. Braundmeier teaches elementary and middle school vocal music and serves as the Middle School Athletic Director. He is married and has 3 children, all attending Oskaloosa Schools.

Michelle Dickinson I am the fifth and sixth grade band director for Oskaloosa Community Schools. I am grew up in Greenfield, IA, and am a Central College graduate. I came to Oskaloosa in 2011 after teaching for a year in Elk Horn, IA.

Bruce McLellan Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, I received my BMuEd from Evangel University in Springfield. After beginning my teaching career in Waverly, Iowa in 1981, I completed a Master of Music in violin performance at the University of Northern Iowa in 1989. I have taught strings to students in grades 4-12 in the Oskaloosa Community School District since 1990. My wife, Denise, also teaches elementary general music and strings in the Oskaloosa schools. We have three sons that graduated from Oskaloosa High School.

Josh Bandstra Greetings. I grew up here in Oskaloosa. I have been teaching Gateway to Technology at OMS since 2009. I am very proud to be a member of the OMS team.

Tom Hogenson I am one of two counselors at OMS.