My name is Saudia Cowman and I have taught for over 20 years with DMPS!  I spent my first 10 years teaching preschool at Capitol View Elementary, I taught second grade at Willard Elementary, and currently I teach first grade at Windsor. 

I am married and we have two boys.  We spend our time traveling, reading, hiking, and getting together with grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles. I grew up in the Des Moines area and my sisters and I attended DMPS.  

I love working with young children.  My favorite part of my job is building positive relationships with my students. Seeing my students get excited about learning or happy to be in school invigorates and excites me!  I look forward to building a team relationship with parents as well.  Positive connections with parents help encourage and motivate me as a teacher and are supportive to student success.  
I look forward to working with you and your child this year.  Together we can achieve many great things!

Hello, my name is Alyssa Eisler and I am an ELL teacher at Windsor. I started teaching in DMPS in 2012 and have worked with Multilingual Learners at Central Campus, Hoyt Middle School, and Weeks Middle School. I have been at Windsor since 2022. I completed my undergrad at Drake University with endorsements in ESL and German, and I returned to Drake for my master’s in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction with a focus on reading. Beyond the classrooms of Des Moines, I have connected with students and teachers in Germany, China, and Ghana. I am looking forward to another great school year!

This is my 2nd year at Windsor as the Community School Coordinator! My role is vast and means a lot to a lot of people,  but the main thing to take away is that I’m here for students and families to ensure everyone has equitable access to successful outcomes.
I serve as an agent for positive change through collaborative leadership and inclusive culture & belonging at school; assist students and families in accessing food, clothing, and other basic needs; engage students and families in activities and events; and provide opportunities for the community to be involved at our school.

When I’m not at school you will find me in the community with my husband and kids! We love exploring parks, going to community events, attending library story times, and, our favorite, eating at all the amazing restaurants Des Moines has to offer! I love cooking, reading, creating, DIYing, and having fun with whatever I’m doing.

Hello! My name is Crystal Heddinger. I have been at Windsor since 2016. I graduated with my BA from the University of Northern Iowa and my Masters at Drake University. I have a degree in early childhood and elementary education with an emphasis in special education and a K-8 Reading endorsement. I have my masters in Culturally Responsive Leadership & Instruction. This year I am starting classes through the Purple Pathway with UNI and DMPS to further my leadership career and gain my advanced studies certificate in principalship. I have worked as a resource teacher with multiple grade levels each year. I absolutely love my job, the staff, and students here at Windsor! Go Wildcats!

This year is my 31st year as an educator; my first as principal.  I have taught all grades Kindergarten through 3rd before adding roles of instructional coach, educational consultant, and Associate Principal.  I am excited to serve the Windsor Community!  In my free time I enjoy biking, running, reading, and spending time with my pets, friends, and family.  My goal as an educator is to welcome, affirm, and empower all staff and students to learn, grow, and succeed, and to embrace families and community as essential partners in this.  We’re all in this together!

I have been with the Des Moines Public Schools since 1994, I have taught pre-k through 3rd grade. I came to Windsor in 2000. I am proud to say I spent 12 years as a student in Des Moines Public Schools and am a Roosevelt alum!  Go Riders!  I graduated from Grand View University with a degree in elementary education and later earned my early childhood endorsement. In my free time I like spending time with family and friends, reading, knitting and watching the Chiefs play. I love that I get the opportunity every day to watch our students learn and grow. I love our Windsor community!

Hello, Wildcats!

My name is Jordan Leckband. I have been teaching general music at Windsor since 2020. Before my time here in DMPS, I taught 6-12 Vocal Music at Nodaway Valley and K-12 Vocal and General Music at Guthrie Center in western Iowa. In ten years I’ve taught concert choirs, jazz choirs, show choirs, Solo/Ensemble contests, chamber ensembles, and three musicals. I’ve also been a guest conductor for the South Central Iowa Honor Choir and for the DMPS All-City Honor Choir.

At Windsor, we focus heavily on giving students opportunities to learn different styles of music from different parts of the world using different instruments. You can expect from me:

Kindergarten and 1^st Grade: beginning instruments such as rhythm sticks and egg shakers

2^nd Grade: Unpitched percussion and glockenspiels

3^rd Grade: Pitched percussion and tubanos (classroom drums)

4^th Grade: Recorders

5^th Grade: Guitars, music composition and Honor Choir opportunities (Opus, All City, etc)

In addition, we have an after school choir at Windsor called Castle Singers. This is a non-auditioned group open to all students in grades 3-5. We sing at Fine Arts Night in the Spring and have performed the National Anthem at various sporting events in Des Moines. We would love to have your child join us!

I received my Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa, my Master’s in Music Education from the University of South Dakota, and I will finish my Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Drake University in December. I live in Waveland Park with my wife Meghan, my son Aidan, and our two cats and two dogs.

I am very excited to begin my 22^nd year as an educator in the role of Associate Principal at Windsor Elementary! My teaching career began in Los Angeles before moving to Des Moines where I’ve worked the past 17 years. I have taught 1^st through 4^th grades as a classroom teacher, worked as a reading and math interventionist, and most recently served as an instructional coach prior to coming to Windsor. I am passionate about working with students and adults to cultivate a sense of belonging and love of learning in this beautiful school of ours. I have four children who also attend Des Moines Public Schools, and I also love to travel, read, and watch baseball (Go Dodgers!).  I am thrilled to join Windsor and know you will feel the commitment to our students the minute you walk in our doors.  Please reach out with any questions/needs you may have.  I’m happy to help!

I have been teaching in Des Moines for 20 years. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1999 and earned my master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in 2013. This will be my ninth year at Windsor Elementary. Before teaching at Windsor, I taught special education and 2nd grade at Capitol View Elementary, and 3rd grade at Edmunds Elementary.
My husband and I live in Clive with our 3 children Adison, Grace, and Brady, and our dog Dash.

Mrs. Rodriguez graduated from Iowa State University with a teaching degree. After college she joined the Peace Corps in Costa Rica.  In Costa Rica, Mrs. Rodriguez taught environmental education and English in public elementary schools. She has been a teacher in Des Moines since 1999 and at Windsor since 2007.  In Des Moines she has taught Spanish, 4th grade, and 5th grade.  Mrs. Rodriguez also earned her Master’s degree in Education from Viterbo University in 2010.

I have been teaching at Windsor since 2012. I grew up in Hudson, IA and later received my BA in Elementary Education with endorsements in special education, reading, and coaching from Drake University, where I also played volleyball. I love spending time with family and friends and being active.

Welcome to kindergarten! My name is Juli Smith, and I have been teaching with Des Moines Public Schools since 2005. I graduated from The University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education. I have a reading endorsement, as well as, early childhood education and early childhood special education endorsements. Before coming to Windsor, I taught a wide range of grade levels including preschool, kindergarten, first, second, fourth, and fifth grade students.

Hi! My name is Kim Veigulis.  I began my career at DMPS in 2013 teaching 3^rd grade at Capitol View Elementary.  The past seven years I have spent my time at CV as a 1^st grade teacher and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  I am so excited to begin another chapter of my career as one of the instructional coaches at Windsor Elementary.  I am looking forward to working with all the talented teachers and staff members to maximize student success and celebrate learning and growth.  I went to Iowa State University (much to my husband’s dismay who is a huge Hawkeye fan) for undergrad and got my master’s from Drake University through the DMPS Blue Contract program.  My favorite things are my family, friends, walking, biking, traveling, and reading.  I am looking forward to a wonderful school year at Windsor!

I started teaching art for DMPS in 1996. After six years of teaching, I decided to stay at home with my three children and watch them grow.  Teaching has always been in my heart, as my children got older, I went back to the classroom to teach preschool. 2014 I was hired once again by DMPS to be the Library Associate at Windsor, such a wonderful job, but not quite messy enough.  2018 DMPS hired me one more time, and it was back to the Art Room for me, I could not be happier.  I have been a part of the Windsor family since 2005, starting as a parent and PTA co-president, all three of my children attended Windsor.   Here at Windsor, I run a Choice Based art program, where the child is the artist. We make messes, solve problems, collaborate, make discoveries, and enjoy creating.

This is my 1^st year as a school nurse, and I could not be more excited! I spent the last year and a half in post anesthesia care, waking up infants to elderly from surgery. I subbed in DMPS as a nurse last year and found that school nursing may be my niche. I am excited to serve the Windsor Community. In my free time, I can be found playing pickleball, doing yoga, spending time with my cat and husband, and advocating for the local food system. My goal as a school nurse is to promote health and well-being, serve as an advocate, and be a resource of health education for the Windsor community.  

Hello! This will be my 6^th year of teaching at Windsor. I absolutely love teaching and building relationships with students, and I’m so excited for another school year. I taught 5^th grade for two years, and this will be my fourth year teaching 3^rd grade. I graduated from Iowa State University in December of 2017, and I received my master’s degree from Drake University in December of 2022. I’m originally from Harlan, IA where I grew up on my family’s dairy farm alongside my twin sister, Emily, and my younger brother, Josh. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing guitar and piano, being active, and spending time with my friends and family.