Closure Doesn’t Stop Selection of New Middle School Leaders

Two New Principals: Christopher Schmit at Harding, Jason Snow at McCombs

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Christopher Schmit will be the new principal at Harding Middle School.

While the Coronavirus may keep us working from our homes, it doesn’t stop the Des Moines Public Schools Human Resources team from continuing to hire employees to fill open positions throughout the district.

The most recent additions to our staff are new principals at Harding and McCombs middle schools.

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Jason Snow is the new principal at McCombs Middle School.

Harding Middle School welcomes Christopher Schmit as the school’s new leader. He replaces Joy Linquist, who recently accepted a position as a hiring manager with DMPS Human Resources. Schmit holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in Principalship K-12 from the University of Northern Iowa. He has also earned an educational specialist degree from the University of South Dakota. Schmit started as a classroom teacher in Waterloo, and then became a vice principal in LeMars before coming to work for DMPS in 2012 as associate principal at Hiatt Middle School. He began his current position of associate principal at Harding in the fall of 2018.

McCombs Middle School welcomes new principal Jason Snow. Snow replaces Nancy Croy, who retired earlier in the school year. Snow holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s degree in teaching from Drake University and an endorsement in educational administration from Iowa State University. Snow started his teaching career with DMPS at Harding Middle School where he also became a school improvement leader and basketball coach. He most recently served as vice principal at Harding before taking his current position as associate principal at Weeks Middle School.

These aren’t the only two positions DMPS is filling during the COVID-19 closure. The entire month of April, DMPS is hosting a Virtual Job Fair, allowing applicants to apply and interview from their homes. The district will be looking for Special Education Associates, Bus Drivers, Substitute Teachers and Associates, and Sign Language Interpreters. Details will be available soon at jobs.dmschools.org.