Staff

STAFF

Cheryl Geurts, Director
Cheryl Geurts is starting her seventh year teaching at Indianola Preschool. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in psychology, MAE in educational psychology, and EdS in school psychology. She worked for seven years as a school psychologist in the Indianola schools. She has been on the board of Emerson PTO for seven years and has served as a parent volunteer in several classrooms. Cheryl and her husband Martin live in Indianola with their 3 children.

Lauren Cunningham
Lauren Cunningham is excited to be starting her second year teaching at Indianola Preschool. Lauren has extensive experience running an in home daycare for several years. Lauren is also a photographer in her spare time. Lauren and her husband Jason live in Indianola with their three children.

Liz Mattson
Liz Mattson is starting her third year at IPS! Liz has her BA degree in Communication from Central College in Pella, Iowa. She has been a substitute Associate in the Indianola Community School District for eight years. She is also very active in her church. She plays the piano for services, participates in the contemporary band, and accompanies the adult choir. She also has past experience playing for the youth and middle school choirs. Liz and her husband Gary live in Indianola with their two children.

Kerry Stecker
Kerry Stecker is very happy to be starting her third year at IPS! She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in elementary education and a reading education endorsement. She has been a substitute teacher in the Indianola Community School District and a volunteer in her children's classrooms She is very passionate about education and making learning a fun experience. Kerry and her husband, Lin live in Indianola with their two sons Casey and Spencer.

Becky Mays
Becky Mays will be starting her tenth year with IPS. Prior to joining IPS, Becky was a substitute teacher and worked in a country school in Nebraska. She has also been a volunteer at Whittier for four years. Becky and her husband, Justin, live in Indianola, with their three children

Amy Faith
Amy is very excited to be starting her second year at Indianola Preschool. Amy moved to Indianola with her husband and son
2 years ago. Her husband retired from the Army after
27 years and her son goes to Wilder and will be going into
the 2nd grade. Amy is also employed with Indianola
Child Care.

Hailey Fehl
Hailey was a sub for IPS last year and is working in the aftercare program for her second year. She has worked as an Associate for the North Scott School district in the Quad Cities and a Para Educator in the Norwalk School District. Hailey has served as a PTA President, Headroom Parent and Volunteer in numerous classrooms over the past nine years. Hailey lives in Indianola with her husband Nate and their two children.

Jess King
Jess is excited to be starting her second year of teaching at Indianola Preschool. She and her husband, Lucas, live in Indianola with their four children. Before having the privilege of staying home with her children in their younger years, Jess worked with children as a Lead Teacher at Child Cares Services in Kansas City. Along with being an artist herself, Jess owns Weathered Joy Studios and offers art classes to local kids.

Emily Bates
Emily is thrilled to join the IPS team this year! Being an IPS alumni herself, Emily has a strong connection with the preschool. She is a graduate of UNI with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Emily has stayed at home with her children for the past 7 years and has been a substitute teacher the past year. She has also been on the IPS board for two years. Emily and her husband Jeff live in Indianola with their three children, Jase 8, Tyce 6, and Hayden 4.

Katie Graham
Katie lives in Indianola and is starting her first year in our after care program. Katie also works as an associate at Emerson Elementary and is part of the Welcome Center staff at the YMCA. Katie graduated from Simpson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Katie served as a board member for IPS for 3 years and also has 4 children who all attended IPS! Hanna-13, Emma-12, Jakob-9, Lukas-6.

Typhanie Mahlstadt
Typhanie has joined our team this year in the After Care Program. She is very excited to be involved at our school, including having her two youngest daughters attending in the Red and Orange classes. Typhanie home-schooled her children for seven years. Three of those years allowed her the opportunity to teach in the Preschool/Pre-K class at the homeschool co-op her children attended. Together, Typh and her husband, Nick, have co-founded and operate a non-profit, where they focus their efforts in Ghana, Africa, to include a primary school. Three of their seven children were adopted from Ghana. Typhanie also works for the Indianola YMCA as a group exercise instructor.