Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools

09/04/2026

Each year, teachers and administrators from our schools gather for a unique tradition: Convocation. Discussions about curriculum, classroom decor, and how to use the printer can wait.

Before everything else, our faculty spend the day talking about their faith and their call from God to educate the children in their classrooms. It's an especially poignant fit with our diocesan school theme this year: "Go and Make Disciples of All Nations."

Convocation included a Mass presided by Bishop Joensen, who reinforced the importance of their holy mission.

There's a gathering for educators in the Des Moines metro, Perry, and Creston; and a second gathering for educators at Saint Albert Catholic in Council Bluffs and Shelby County Catholic School in Harlan. These scenes are from the gathering at Saint Albert.

How do your teachers kick off the school year?

08/17/2026

Inspiring the next generation in her hometown school ❤️

07/15/2026

We're looking for Title I teachers to work in three of our schools. Do you feel called to serve at risk students? Our Title I teachers work in small groups or provide one-on-one instruction.

Successful candidates will work at Holy Family, Holy Trinity, or St. Anthony Catholic Schools. Applicants will apply through Des Moines Public Schools and may express school preference during the interview. Contact your preferred school(s) for more information.

Apply on TeachIowa: https://ow.ly/XagZ50ZnY4T

07/10/2026

Are you prayerfully discerning the next step in your professional and spiritual journey? St. Anthony Catholic School in Des Moines is looking for passionate, faith-filled individuals to join their community for the 2026-2027 school year. The school is currently hiring for the following positions:

LICENSED TEACHERS (Iowa Teaching License Required):

- Elementary Spanish Immersion (no extra certifications – must only be bilingual/biliterate in Spanish/English)
- Kindergarten & 1st Grade
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Language Arts

SUPPORT STAFF

- Full-Time Classroom Associates (3 openings!)

HOW TO APPLY:
Contact school administrators Joe Nelson ([email protected]) and Taylor Reed ([email protected]) to apply.

If you feel called to shape the hearts and minds of the next generation in a supportive, faith-centered environment, we want to hear from you. PLEASE SHARE THIS POST with any educators who might be looking for their next calling.
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¿Estás discerniendo en oración cuál será el próximo paso en tu trayectoria profesional y espiritual? La Escuela Católica St. Anthony, en Des Moines, busca personas apasionadas y llenas de fe para unirse a su comunidad durante el año escolar 2026-2027.

MAESTROS CON LICENCIA (Se requiere licencia de enseñanza de Iowa):

- Inmersión en Español para Primaria (no se requieren certificaciones adicionales; solo es necesario ser bilingüe y tener competencia de lectoescritura en español e inglés)
- Kinder y 1.º grado
- Ciencias para escuela intermedia (Middle School)
- La Lengua y Literatura Inglesa para escuela intermedia (Middle School)

PERSONAL DE APOYO ESCOLAR

- Asistentes de aula a tiempo completo (¡3 vacantes!)

Si sientes el llamado de moldear los corazones y las mentes de la próxima generación, contacta a los administradores escolares Joe Nelson ([email protected]) y Taylor Reed ([email protected]) para postularte, o comparte esta oportunidad con aquellos educadores que puedan estar buscando su próxima vocación.

07/08/2026

Why is K-12 education singled out?

Public funds already go to private organizations in many ways, including education. ESAs are another way our state is helping children, for the benefit of all Iowans.

Addressing the “no public money for private schools” argument. https://www.iowaace.org/the-problem-with-no-public-money-for-private-schools/

06/24/2026

There's a misconception that ESAs only go to those who don't need it. But ask the people in our schools. For many families, it's a sacrifice. ESAs make the burden lighter and ensure students can stay in their schools.

06/23/2026

One more week to apply for an Education Savings Account (ESA).

Every student from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade is eligible to receive $8,148 to attend the accredited, nonpublic school of their choice. This includes all 16 of our Catholic schools!

Don't miss this opportunity to secure an academically rigorous, faith-focused education for your child. Apply by June 30: https://iowa-households.withodyssey.com/login/

06/22/2026

What happens when financial barriers are removed and families are given the true freedom to choose their child's school? Jeff Lynch, Administrator at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in West Des Moines, shares his unique perspective on how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are transforming his school community.

Rather than changing the fundamental mission of the school, ESAs are allowing St. Francis of Assisi to welcome families who always desired a Catholic education for their children but previously found it financially out of reach. Jeff discusses how school choice is creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and stable environment, ensuring that the school can continue providing excellent academics and faith formation for years to come.

Watch to hear how empowering parents with educational options ultimately strengthens the entire school community.

06/19/2026

We always talk about the value of school choice. But for many families, it's not simply a choice. It's something to fight for.

Betzy Sandoval, a graduate of St. Patrick Catholic School in Perry and Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, found stability in Catholic school. Her mother, who grew up in poverty in Guatemala, knew this was the right environment for her daughter.

It wasn't easy. At times, they struggled to pay for their basic needs. That's how important Catholic education was to this family.

Tuition assistance from the Catholic Tuition Organization (CTO) and Education Savings Accounts (ESA) don't just make private schools accessible to all -- they help families like Betzy's keep food on the table.

Betzy knows she and her siblings never would've received the same opportunities without her mother's constant sacrifice. Read her story in the Des Moines Register: https://ow.ly/6QYV50ZelcW

If you can't access the article, you can read a shorter version of Betzy's story here: https://ow.ly/rECI50ZelcV

No child should be kept from educational opportunity just because of a price tag, writes Betzy Sandoval.

06/18/2026

Holy Family Catholic School- Des Moines truly brings the world into one vibrant community, and that's never clearer than on their annual Culture Day celebration.

This year, Culture Day was bigger than ever. Instead of celebrating one culture, they celebrated all of them. It was a joyful occasion where students, staff, and families shared their rich heritages through traditional dress, music, food, and history. It is a powerful reminder of how our Catholic schools embrace diversity as a reflection of the universal Church, creating a space where every student's unique background is honored and celebrated.

Discover how Holy Family is fostering unity, mutual respect, and a global perspective right here in our diocese:

Culture Day at Holy Family Catholic School this year was bigger than ever.