My name is Maria Chiovaro and I will be the Head Start associate in your child’s class this year. I have an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Development and lots of experience with children. At home I have a husband and four wonderful daughters, a dog, and a cat. In my free time I enjoy reading, especially non-fiction books, and memoirs. I also enjoy baking and crafts/decorating. I am very excited to start the school year and look forward to meeting you and your child!

Hello, my name is Shawna Cooper and I am the ECSE associate in the Down By The Bay Classroom. I have worked in Early Childhood since March of 1995 and have been with Des Moines Public Schools since August of 2012. I graduated from Marshalltown Community College in December of 2011 with my Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood Ed. I have a huge passion for teaching children and watching them explore and learn new things. When I am not working with children at school, I am spending time with my husband Chad, and my two daughters Libby and Jazmine. I also live on a farm with goats, turkeys, and pigs and serve at my church, and am the music booster secretary for my daughter’s school.

Hi! My family and I are new to the Des Moines area, but so very happy to be here! We moved from South Dakota this summer where I was an early childhood intervention teacher on the West side of the state.  I grew up in New York, but have also lived and worked in North Carolina and Texas. I love to travel and see new places, paint, kayak, hike, and explore. I am looking forward to a fun year and I am really excited about getting to know all of the children and families!

I am very proud to be a teacher in the Des Moines Public School District. I love working with preschool age children and seeing them mature and grow. The classroom is an engaging, hands-on learning environment filled with fun and love. My Early Education degree is from Upper Iowa University. I have worked in a private preschool, as an Associate in a special education classroom, and also have a business degree from the University of Northern Iowa. My husband and I have two boys, a cat, and a dog. Our lives are very busy with school activities.