David De Jong, Pella, IA – Page 1 of 9

Dr. David A. De Jong

4007 W. 77th St.

Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Education Doctor’s of Education Degree: Educational Leadership

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Dissertation: Intensive Mentoring: Stimulators of and Barriers to Coaching, Spiritual Guiding and Discipling Relationships

Completion date: December 2012

Superintendent’s License: Educational Leadership

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Certificates: New Evaluator Training

Completion date: December 2010

Master’s Degree: Educational Leadership

Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

Certificates: Evaluator Training

Completion date: August 2007

Bachelor’s Degree: Elementary Education and Middle Level Education

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Minor: Mathematics

Endorsements: Secondary Mathematics

Completion date: May 2004

Assistant University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota

Professor July2015– Present

Teaching

  • Master’s Program
  • Taught EDAD 701, “Introduction to Educational Administration”
  • Specialist’s Program
  • Taught EDAD 712, “School District Administration”
  • Taught EDAD 740, “School Community Relations”
  • Ed. D. Program
  • Taught EDAD 801, “Theories of Educational Administration”
  • Taught EDAD 820, “Human Resources Management”

Professional Learning

  • University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Conference entitled, “Re-Imagining the Frontiers of Education: Leadership With/In Transnational & Transcultural Spaces” –2015
  • School Administrators of South Dakota (SASD) Conference –2015
  • Project based learning at New Technology High School –2015
  • Mass customized learning at Harrisburg High School –2015
  • Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Leadership Summit of South Dakota – 2016

Service

  • Advising
  • Fall 2015
  • Advised 88 graduate students in the Ed. S. and Ed. D. programs
  • Member of Area II Superintendents' Meeting consisting of 40+ South Dakota Superintendents
  • Spring 2016
  • Advised 67 graduate students in the Ed. S. and Ed. D. programs
  • Dissertation Committees
  • Completed in Fall of 2015
  • Dr. Erin Lehmann – “Student-Centered Math Achievement: Standards-Based vs. Traditional Assessment”
  • Dr. Marilyn Eastman – “Does Twitter Fly or Fail in a Marketing Classroom? The Effect of Twitter on Student Learning Outcomes, Attitudes and Instructor Effectiveness Ratings”
  • Dr. Pandi Pittman – “Teacher Retention in Sparsely Populated Rural South Dakota School Districts”
  • Completed in the Spring of 2016
  • Dr. Shawn Yates – “Factors Influencing Rural Superintendent Tenure in South Dakota”
  • University of South Dakota School of Education
  • Vice-chairperson of Curricular Affairs Committee for School of Education
  • Diversity Committee
  • USD representative and secretary for Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Leadership Summit of South Dakota
  • USD Representative for Yearlong Residency Leadership Team for partner K-12 school districts
  • Chaired the Educational Leadership Search Committee for two tenure-track faculty
  • Statewide Service
  • Assisted with Superintendent Searches for Sioux Valley Community School and for Spearfish Community School - 2016
  • Taught Junior Achievement at Harrisburg Middle School - 2016

Principal/ Pella Christian Grade School, Pella, Iowa

Superintendent June 2007– June 2015

  • Three School-8th grade school with enrollment of 540+ students
  • Reportedto 12 board members
  • Led 102 staff members each year
  • Helped raise over $3,500,000 in private donationsfrom 2008 –2014 for general fund and capital campaign expenditures
  • Managed a Creation Station Preschool that is rated as a 5 (highest level) on the Quality Rating Scale
  • Facilitated more than $500,000 in facility improvements
  • Led through student suspensions/expulsions and staff dismissals
  • Significantly increased enrollment by 15%
  • Stabilized an annualbudget of more than $2,300,000 during an economic recession
  • Served as a Dordt College, Northwestern College and William PennUniversity student teaching supervisor for seven student teachers
  • Supervised the evaluation and implementation of a Spanish Immersion program that began in 2012 in which students are taught utilizing PCGS’s current curriculum in Spanish
  • Implemented a one-to-one iPad initiative in PCGS’s middle school of 130 students
  • Initiated aCentral College Teaching Academy program where pre-service teachers at Central College will be mentored by PCGS teachers for multiple years
  • Partnered with Pella Corporation enabling engineers to teach lessons to PCGS students of all ages through their PEERS program
  • Began a middle school STEM curriculum through a Project Lead the Way grant
  • Led a $4,000,000 capital campaign to build a new middle school that was approved by 87% of the PCGS society

Adjunct Buena Vista University, Des Moines, Iowa

Professor August 2014 – October 2014

  • Taught a three-hour Master’s Degree course entitled, “Introduction to Graduate Studies and Research”
  • Taught 16 practicing teachers from rural, suburban and urban districts

Teacher 4th Grade, Pella Community School District, Pella, Iowa

July 2006 – June 2007 – School Superintendent: Mr. Mark Wittmer

  • Looped with same students from 3rd grade to 4th grade
  • Served on the School Improvement Committee
  • Represented faculty on the Board Advisory Committee

3rd Grade, Jefferson Elementary School, Pella, Iowa

July 2004 – June 2006 – School Principal: Mr. Brian Miller

  • Worked with administration to develop and facilitate After School Math Factory for second, third, fourth, and fifth graders to improve mathematical computation

Leadership Pella Christian Grade School, Pella, Iowa

ExperiencesJune 2007 – Present

  • Nominated and elected as a statewide board member of Iowa Association of Christian Schools fromNovember 2011 –July 2015
  • Nominated and elected as a statewide board member of Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education from January 2014 –July 2015
  • Nominated and elected president twice and secretary once by seven administrators of the District V Principals’ Club
  • Co-chaired monthly school board meetings with 12 school board members
  • Co-chaired monthly Education Committee meetings in which we hired teachers and staff members, approved curriculum, etc.
  • Co-chaired Long Range Planning Committee in which we developed a comprehensive five-year long range plan based on a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis
  • Co-chaired Finance Committee in which we developed and managed a yearly budget of more than $2,000,000.00
  • Served on Pella Community School’s Superintendency Search Committee in 2011 and presented to each candidate
  • Served on Pella Community School’s Wisdom Advisory Group to make decisions for the school’s 10-year facility plan in November 2012

Presentations School Level, Community Level andHigher EducationLevel

June 2007 – Present

  • “Consolidation of Five Sister K-8 Schools.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, June 1, 2015.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, May 28, 2015.
  • “Becoming a Professor at the University of South Dakota.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, May 14, 2015.
  • “School Professionalism.” Presentation to 25 Central College pre-service teachers. April 28, 2015.
  • “Consolidation Efforts for Five Area Schools.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, April 24, 2015.
  • “February School Board Update.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, February 25, 2015.
  • “Building Project Fundraising – Building God’s Way.” Presentation to the Vermeer Charitable Foundation. February 4, 2015.
  • “January School Board Update.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, January 12, 2015.
  • “Long Range Plans of Pella Christian Grade School.” Presentation to the Vermeer Charitable Foundation, School Board, and Building Project Committee. October 9, 2014.
  • “September School Board Update.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, September 19, 2014.
  • “Long Range Plan for Spanish Immersion.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, August 27, 2014.
  • “Back to School Report.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, August 14, 2014.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Building Project.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, July 23, 2014.
  • “Recycling and Prairie Efforts at Pella Christian Grade School.” Presentation to America in Bloom, which is a non-profit 501 organization promoting unique beautification programs on a national basis, July 15, 2014.
  • “Building Project Interview.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, June 18, 2014.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Town Hall Meeting Regarding Building Project.” Presentation to 100+ Pella Christian Constituents, June 10, 2014.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Annual Meeting.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, May 30, 2014.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, May 29, 2014.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Building Project.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, May 22, 2014.
  • “Mentoring for New and Experienced Teachers.” Led K-12 professional development breakout session, Pella Christian High School, March 7, 2014.
  • “Building Project Interview.” Radio interview with KNIA/KRLS, March 4, 2014.
  • “Spanish Immersion at PCGS.” Meeting with Executive Committee of Vermeer Corporation, February 24, 2014.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Town Hall Meeting Regarding Possible 7th/8th Grade Building Project.” Presentation to 100+ Pella Christian Constituents, February 11, 2014.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, May 30, 2013.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Town Hall Meeting Regarding Possible 7th/8th Grade Building Project.” Presentation to 100+ Pella Christian Constituents, May 14, 2013.
  • “Sully Christian Community Meeting Regarding Possible 7th/8th Grade Building Project.” Presentation to 150+ Sully Christian Constituents, April 18, 2013.
  • “Oskaloosa Christian School Board Meeting Regarding Possible 7th/8th Grade Building Project.” Presentation to 10 Oskaloosa Christian Board Members, April 16, 2013.
  • “Pella Christian Grade School Town Hall Meeting Regarding Possible 7th/8th Grade Building Project.” Presentation to 100+ Pella Christian Constituents, March 5, 2013.
  • “Intensive Mentoring: Stimulators of and Barriers to Coaching, Spiritual Guiding and Discipling Relationships.” Presentation to University of Northern Iowa faculty members, February 7, 2013.
  • “Qualitative Methodology.” Presentation to the 20+ Drake University faculty members, December 17, 2012.
  • “Intensive Mentoring: Stimulators of and Barriers to Coaching, Spiritual Guiding and Discipling Relationships.” Presentation to 15+ Dordt College faculty members, December 5, 2012.
  • “Dissertation Defense.” Presentation to President of the University of Northern Iowa and Dissertation Committee, September 6, 2012.
  • “Keynote Address – 100 Years.” Presentation to 1,000+ People at Pella Christian Grade School, July 7, 2012.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, May 31, 2012.
  • “Exciting Things Your Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren are doing at Pella Christian Grade School.” Presentation to residents at Fair Haven East, May 15, 2012.
  • “Spanish Immersion at Pella Christian Grade School.” Presentation tothe Pella Chamber of Commerce, April 12,2012.
  • “What’s New at Pella Christian Grade School?” Presentation to the Pella Kiwanis Organization, March 21, 2012.
  • “Never Use PowerPoint Again…Prezi.” Presentation to 100+ teachers in K-12, March 2, 2012.
  • “How Pella Christian Grade School is Reaching Out to the World.” Presentation to the Pella Rotary Club, January 31, 2012.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, June 1, 2011.
  • “Jewish Culture.” Presentation to high school students at Pella Community Schools, April 1, 2011.
  • “Israel – En Gedi and Mount Arbel.” Presentation to Community Members, March 20, 2011.
  • “What I Learned in Israel.” Presentation to the residents at Jefferson Place, August 10, 2010.
  • “Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle School Students.” Presentation to Central College Students, October 29, 2010.
  • “Pella Christian Students go Global.” Presentation to the Pella Kiwanis Organization, October 27, 2010.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, June 3, 2010.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, June 2, 2009.
  • “State of the School at PCGS.” Presentation to the Pella Christian Grade School’s Society, May 30, 2008.
  • “Celebrating Newton Christian’s 50 Years.” Presentation to the Newton Christian Community, July 6, 2007.

Writing Dissertation Topic = Intensive Mentoring: Stimulators of and Barriers to
Experiences Coaching, Spiritual Guiding and Discipling Relationships

Chapter 1

  • Autoethnography of how mentors have impacted my life

Chapter 2

  • Literature review that includes 217 citations and 44 different sources

Chapter 3

  • Qualitative methodology of nine research participants

Chapter 4

  • Findings and interpretations of nine qualitative interviews

Chapter 5

  • Answered four research questions, six reflections and five recommendations for future studies

De Jong, D. & Grundmeyer, T. (2006). No teacher left behind: leading others the way you want to be led. BookSurge, LLC.

De Jong, David A. "Who Are the Spiritual Mentors in the Lives of My Students?"Christian School Educators.17.3 (2014): 32-33. <

De Jong, David A. "Mentoring Relationships: Nurturing Disciplers."Christian Home and School.Spring (2014): 28-32. <

Professional Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Community Schools, Pella, Iowa

Learning June 2004–July 2015

  • Coordinated keynote speaker/author Dr. Sylvia Freud’s visit to Pella to speak about “Digital Wellness” with students, parents and teachers
  • Instructional leader forprofessional development with 40 staff members on differentiation, STEM, Iowa Core, technology integration, etc.
  • Led monthly professional development grade level meetings as a teacher
  • Facilitated bi-weekly district-wide grade level math meetings as a teacher
  • Led district-wide grade level data driven leadership team as a teacher
  • National Principal Conventions in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012
  • Heartland Convention at Dordt College in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014
  • Iowa Technology and Education Connection Conference in 2013

Volunteer Pella Vacation Bible School, Pella, Iowa, June 2014

  • Camp volunteer

Boyden-Hull High School, Hull, Iowa, March 2003 –March 2013

“Brent Marra: Shoot-For-A-Cure” Team Leader

  • Founded and facilitated school basketball alumni game
  • Raised a total of over $50,000 for cancer research

Tulip Time, Pella, Iowa, May 2005 – May 2015

  • Volunteer and participant in three parades a year
  • Volunteer cheese porter, cheese purchaser, and cheese seller

Fundraiser Volunteer, Pella, Iowa, September 2007 –July 2015

  • Played on the softball marathon team which plays softball for 24 straight hours to raise approximately $60,000 a year for PCGS
  • Rode a donkey and played donkey basketball with teachers to raise approximately $40,000

Coaching Pella High School, Pella, Iowa, November 2004 –March 2005

Experiences Head Junior Varsity/Assistant Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach

Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, Iowa, November 2002 – February 2003

Head Freshman Girls’ Basketball Coach

Umpiring Greater Des Moines Umpiring Association, May 2004–August 2007

Experiences Varsity crew chief for 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A baseball games

  • Umpired multiple district, district finals, and sub-state baseball games
  • Umpired 16 and under National AAU baseball games
  • Nominated for 3A Umpire of the Year
  • 2005-2006 Dave Harty Newcomer Umpire of the Year

Mentors Mentors whom have invested in me:

  • Dr. Dave Else, Director of Institute for Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Iowa
  • Brad Jungling, Director of Operations of Pella Windows
  • Bob Vermeer, Former CEO of Vermeer Corporation
  • Matthew Burch, Leadership Development at Life Leadership, LTD
  • Darryl De Ruiter, Principal of Pella Christian High School
  • Randy Reese, President of Vantage Point 3
  • Dr. Fred Aderhold, Former Assistant Superintendent of Sioux Falls Schools
  • Dr. Rick Melmer, Former South Dakota Secretary of Education

Mentees Mentees whom I have invested in:

  • Betty Phillips, Principal mentor through the University of Phoenix
  • Stephen Henderson, Principal mentor through the University of Northern Iowa
  • Ben Van Wyk, Principal mentor through Dordt College
  • Tyler Van Schepen, Principal mentor through Dordt College
  • Dan Van Kooten, Principal mentor through Dordt College
  • Nicole Van Wyk, Principal mentor through Dordt College
  • Nolan Wiersma, Borculo Christian Schools Principal/Superintendent
  • Alanna Staton, Sully Christian Principal/Superintendent
  • Seth Johnson, Third Grade - College
  • David Kacmaryinski, Middle School – High School
  • Ryan Howey, Middle School – High School
  • Sebastian Baugh, Middle School – High School
  • Brandt Van Roekel, College student at University of South Dakota

RelatedServed as one of two guests of President Benjamin Allen of the University

Experiencesof Northern Iowa to meet with Dr. David Long, former Secretary of Education of California

  • Invited and hosted former Iowa Director of Education Jason Glass at PCGS
  • Met with Iowa Director of Education Dr. Brad Buck representing Iowa Association of Christian Schools
  • Met with Mrs. Linda Fandel, special assistant for education to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad
  • Scheduled lunches with former Iowa State Senator Paul McKinley and former Iowa House Representative Jim Van Engelenhoven
  • Helped facilitate the “Ultimate Board Meeting” for aspiring superintendents at the University of Northern Iowa’s superintendency preparation program
  • Job shadowed Mr. Rick Wulkow, Mr. Roger Barr, and Mr. David Anderson of the Iowa High School Athletic Association
  • Assisted and helped Dr. Dave Else coordinate The National Center for School Foundations Conference in Des Moines
  • Fostered close relationships with leaders at Vermeer Manufacturing and Pella Windows
  • Traveled to Israel for 14 days with Ray Vander Laan
  • Traveled to Turkey for 14 days with Ray Vander Laan