Hello! My name is Tabitha Klinefeldt. This is my second year at Samuelson and I love the students and parents in this community!

I graduated from Lincoln within the DMPS. I’ve done many different career paths in life, including the dental field, the hairstylist world and most recently the solar industry. Each of those taught me many things but I believe working with kids and their education is what is going to be most rewarding! When I am not at work I like to spend time with my husband and my 2 children ( a 17 year old daughter and a 13 year old son). We like to go to concerts and travel to new places as much as we can. Being a competitive dance mom and a competitive basketball mom keeps me busy!

I try to stay on top of keeping parents informed as much as I can, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions!

Hello!  My name is Benjamin LaConner and I am the principal of Samuelson Elementary.  I love being part of the Samuelson community due to our student-centered practices, dedicated families, and committed staff.  We are proud to teach a diverse group of students and we believe that this diversity makes our community stronger and improves the learning that happens in our building.  I enjoy working with our partner schools in the Hoover-Meredith feeder-pattern and throughout DMPS to meet the ambitious goals that we have for our students.

I hold Master’s degrees from The City University of Seattle and Northwestern College.  I’m passionate about providing holistic supports and making school systems meet student needs.  It’s important to me to create meaningful connections with students, families, staff, and community members.  I love that Samuelson is a neighborhood school and I want to continue to build on this strength.

Personally, I live in the Drake neighborhood with my wife, Kristina.  We like to bike, read, and spend time with our extended family.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can support you in any way.  Welcome to Samuelson!

Hello! My name is Carrie Weers and I am the professional school counselor at Samuelson Elementary. I am very excited about working with all the students at Samuelson and would welcome the opportunity to visit with you also. I will be in your student’s classroom for a 30-minute classroom guidance lesson every other week. I also will be working with small groups and individuals. Reach out if you need any community resources as well. My job is to ensure that your student has everything they need to be successful at school. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at (515) 242-8441 or email me at: carrie.weers@dmschools.org.

My name is Brooke Wehrman. I have been the school nurse at Samuelson Elementary since 2017. Prior to becoming a school nurse I worked at ChildServe for 11 years. I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand View University in 2008. I am also a Certified Pediatric Nurse. I love being a pediatric nurse and helping children. I am married and have wonderful and courageous twin daughters who keep me on my toes.

Hello! My name is Amy Wiegmann and I am the Associate Principal at Samuelson. This will be my 7^th year at Samuelson and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of the students and families over the years! I have been with Des Moines Public Schools for 31 years. A little bit about myself: I have a husband named Jake, three sons and four grandchildren. I have a dog named Duke. I love to work in my flower gardens and watch my koi fish in the pond. If you ever need anything, just reach out. I am here for you!