Hello! My name is Kate Badger. I’ve been employed as a 9-10 teacher at Downtown School since 2012, and my creative spirit couldn’t have found a better home.

I received my undergraduate degree (with an emphasis on Language Arts and a reading endorsement) from Iowa State University in 2003. I taught 5th and 6th grades in the Martensdale/St. Mary’s and West Des Moines school districts.

My passion is my family! My husband and I have two boys, Jacob and Ben (which means I have spent a lot of time rooting on sidelines!), and two well-loved, poorly-behaved dogs, Maisy and George. If you were to stop by my home on a random Sunday, you would most likely find me painting in my studio, reading a good book on my front porch swing (my happy place!), baking away in the kitchen, playing in my flower gardens, walking the pups, or strumming a clumsy tune on my ukulele.

I was born in Sparta, Wisconsin and lived in Wisconsin with my eight brothers and sisters until I was in eighth grade.  My family relocated to Sioux City where I graduated from high school.  I attended the University of Iowa and received a B.S. in Elementary Education.  I am certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade with an endorsement in mathematics.  I have been teaching at the Downtown School since 1995.

My husband, Don Severs, and I have two wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter.  My stepson, Quinn, is seventeen and is making decisions about his next phase in life…college! He attends Johnston High School where he is eleventh grade.

Our other two children are students here at the Downtown School!  Our son, Tate, is nine and a member of Mrs. Burg’s Learning Group. He keeps us very busy! His hilarious comments keep us laughing!  Macy is our budding artist. She loves to classes at the Des Moines Art Center.  She is seven years old and she calls Mrs. Buckner’s classroom home during the school day. Her bright blue eyes and big hugs melt our hearts!  We couldn’t imagine our lives without them!

Hello, my name is Barb Edwards and I’m so excited to be part of Downtown School! I’ve been an Iowan my whole life and even attended Des Moines Public Schools throughout my childhood.

I graduated from Upper Iowa University and received a BA in elementary education and a reading endorsement. Later, I graduated from Morningside College with my Master’s degree.

I’ve been with DMPS for over 20 years, and I’m thrilled to be at DTS this year.

My husband and I have two adult daughters and 4 wonderful grandchildren who we adore. We’ve also recently adopted a kitten named Snowball. Our family loves to camp, barbecue, and visit national and state parks. We all love the outdoors! I also have a passion for gardening. I grow lots of heirloom vegetables and flowers. You can always find me outside reading or gardening, it’s what I love!

Hello! My name is Jennifer Mann and I am a 9 and 10 year old teacher.  I graduated from Saint Mary’s University many moons ago with a degree in biology.  After volunteering for two years in the New Orleans school district, I returned to college to get my master’s degree in education.  The majority of my teaching career has been spent in the Des Moines Public Schools.  I left for a few years to teach in Rochester, Minnesota but missed friends and family so when the opportunity to return presented itself, we jumped at it.

My husband Brad and I have three great kids–two girls and a boy. Emily, Adam and Libby are all Downtown School alumni.  We also have a dog named Odie who keeps us busy with lots of playing and walks.

Hi there! I am Kayla Pippitt and I am thrilled to be part of the DTS 9/10 team. I am a proud Simpson College graduate, but I didn’t figure out my career path while I was there. After a year in the “real world,” I chose to return to school for my master’s in education inspired by many years of volunteering with kids. I started my teaching career in 2012 in Kansas City Public Schools and loved it, but my husband and I always wanted to return to Iowa. After we first moved, I spent three years at ISU as a program coordinator for a K-12 scholarship program before landing in Des Moines Public Schools.

In my free time I love to travel with my husband, Silas. We have a never-ending bucket list of places we want to visit. While we’re at home, we like exploring Des Moines. We enjoy the Civic Center, Farmer’s Market, Gray’s Lake, and Principal Park, just to name a few fun places.