Meet the Principal

Benjamin LaConner, Principal

SAMUELSON ELEMENTARY
Benjamin LaConner is the principal at Samuelson Elementary School. LaConner previously served as the associate principal at Hillis Elementary School and as a Special Education consultant, summer school site coordinator, and an instructional strategist for DMPS. LaConner started his career in education as a second-grade teacher in Santa Barbara, Honduras. In 2015, he moved to Seattle, Washington where he was a financial secretary and board member with the Apex Belltown Cooperative and a Special Education teacher for Seattle Public Schools. He also worked as a Special Education and interventionist for Denver Public Schools and helped train teachers at the ADJ Bilingual School in Honduras before coming to Des Moines.  LaConner has a bachelor’s degree in socio-cultural studies from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN., and two master’s degrees, one in elementary education and special education from City University of Seattle in Seattle, WA., and one in educational administration from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA.