T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY New Marshalltown High School (MHS) Associate Principals Jordyn Terry, left, and Desiree Hudson, right, pose for a photo outside of the high school on Tuesday morning. Terry will oversee Marshalltown Learning Academy (MLA), Marshalltown Virtual Academy (MVA) and the Therapeutic Classroom (TC) program.

As the 2025-2026 school year draws near, the Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) is welcoming a host of new faces into leadership roles, including Associate High School Principal Desiree Hudson and fellow new MHS Associate Principal Jordyn Terry, who will oversee Marshalltown Learning Academy (MLA), Marshalltown Virtual Academy (MVA) and the Therapeutic Classroom (TC) program.

Hudson and Terry are replacing Roy Frakes and Eric Goslinga, respectively, who retired from their positions at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Terry, who is taking on a large role between MLA, MVA and TC, has a background in special education and began her career as a teacher in Urbandale before working as an instructional coach in Ames and eventually becoming an administrator with Des Moines Public Schools for their district-wide program supporting students with various needs.

Terry felt that with her skillset and background, the Marshalltown position would help her to continue to learn, grow and share her passion for alternative learning.

“What attracted me to Marshalltown, also, is the community and its sense of pride and relationship and collaboration that the community and the school district both share,” she said. “And so that is somewhere that I want my family to be. I want my kids to be a part of a community that takes so much pride in the collaborative work that happens between the community and the district.”

Hudson also started her career as a special education teacher working with students in alternative settings. Last year, she served as a special education consultant with Des Moines Public Schools, and prior to that, she worked in Knoxville as an instructional coach and special education teacher. She will bring that expertise to her new role as one of three associate principals along with Melissa Brummel and Hector Campos.

What drew her to Marshalltown, Hudson said, was the opportunity to work on individualized learning plans for students and creating avenues to success even where obstacles exist. She will be working with MHS Principal Justin Boliver on implementing the new 3DE instructional model and finding her place with the team of relatively new associate principals, as both Brummel and Campos are entering their second year.

“What really drew me to Marshalltown was the strong sense of community and the pride people take in being part of it. The entire community is genuinely invested in helping students succeed. It is evident the district makes a lasting impact on students and families by the amount of alumni that have returned and now contribute to the success of future Bobcats,” she said. “There is a sense of camaraderie and teamwork with everyone focused on creating meaningful learning opportunities for students. Marshalltown is committed to putting students first and I’m excited to be part of that!”

Terry is excited to build relationships with students and teachers and learn more about the resources available to them through MLA, MVA and TC. The Iowa Department of Education defines a Therapeutic Classroom as “a classroom designed for the purpose of providing support for any student, with or without an Individualized Education Program (IEP), whose emotional, social, or behavioral needs interfere with the student’s ability to be successful in the current educational environment, with or without supports, until the student is able to successfully return to the student’s current education environment, with or without supports, including but not limited to the general education classroom.”

“I see the Therapeutic Classroom and the way in which the framework works around those therapeutic pieces being able to continue to provide to students who come and access those services at TC. Right now, it serves students K-8, and so, (we’ll be) looking to see at the variety of needs that could potentially go into the secondary level,” she said. “But (our goal will be) just continuing to provide that support to students and their families and really providing those personalized experiences.”

Although they are both currently commuting from the Des Moines area, both Hudson and Terry described the Marshalltown community and MCSD families as “extremely welcoming” and credited the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce with facilitating introductions and connections thus far. Hudson and her husband have been visiting on weekends to familiarize themselves with Marshalltown as well.

“One thing for me is the big thing that I’m starting to realize as I’m starting to learn about these programs (is) how well it is connected to the mission of Marshalltown Community Schools of providing that personalized learning. That is what I’m seeing. Each of these programs that I oversee now really does connect to and provide those experiences in different ways to meet their needs,” Terry said. “That is just one thing I’m really excited about to continue to grow and learn with my programs.”

——

Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.