Phone: (563) 652-4956 ext. 3207
Email Rachel Truelsen

Greetings!

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself and to be the leader of the middle school.  This is a great privilege to me and I look forward to getting to know everyone in the upcoming days and weeks.

A little bit about me and my world outside of school.  My husband and I have been married for 17 years and are blessed by 3 children, Katlin, Bryce, and Brandt.  We have the opportunity to farm with our family which includes corn and cattle.  I have been in education for 16 years and my roles have consisted of being a student success coach,  teaching 6th grade for 5 years and 7th grade for the 10 years before that.  I also enjoy gardening, watching the Cubs and Hawkeyes and walking my dog, Buster.  Since you will have a small glimpse into my world I look forward to the chance to hear about you and what you enjoy doing outside of the school day when we meet individually.

I chose Maquoketa because learning is something that I believe takes place at all levels.  I also believe that when you are in an environment that not only promotes learning but also models it, it creates an opportunity for everyone to benefit.  Maquoketa has a reputation for this and I am excited to help continue that tradition.  I will be the learning leader of the middle school, but please understand I do not know everything and look forward to learning from and with you. I plan to accomplish this by being visible in your classroom and in the hallway.

I also am looking forward to becoming a part of this amazing group that fully supports the education system in multiple ways.  As with many things there will be a learning curve and I will be working daily to learn how things work and then evaluate what things are working well and what things we can improve upon.  I am so excited to be a part of such a welcoming dedicated staff. Maquoketa is a school district and community that supports their students and I am so very excited to be one small part of that awesome group. 

Sincerely,

Rachel Truelsen
Principal
Maquoketa Middle School
(563)652-4956

Phone: (563) 652-4984 ext. 3244
Email Austin Daniels

Hello Maquoketa Community Members! 

My name is Austin Daniels and I have been hired as the new Middle School Dean of Students for the upcoming school year! I am excited to become a part of such a tight knit community and honored to have the opportunity to serve the students of Maquoketa Middle School. 

I am originally from this area having graduated from Preston High School in 2012. Following high school, I attended UW-Platteville where I majored in Broadfield Social Studies Education and played four years of college baseball. My first teaching position was in Perry, IA where I taught 7th grade social studies and was the head 7th grade football and varsity baseball coach. Most recently I taught 6th grade social studies and served as an assistant 8th grade football coach and assistant high school baseball coach at North Polk Community Schools. In December I graduated from Viterbo University with my Masters Degree in Principal/PK-12 Supervisor of Special Education. I enjoy any and all outdoor activities, traveling, and reading. Additionally, I am an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Green Bay Packers. My wife Stefanie and I have been living in Ankeny, IA for the past six years with our dog, Ozzy. 

The opportunity to move to Maquoketa was intriguing to me personally as well as my family for a couple of reasons. Not only is this position a wonderful opportunity for me to grow professionally, but the opportunity for my wife and I to move back closer to our families and the communities we grew up in was a helping factor in our decision making process. We hope to re-establish roots in the Maquoketa community, and I personally hope to apply my diverse educational experiences and knowledge for good with the students and families of Maquoketa Schools. 

If you see me, please feel free to stop, introduce yourself, and have a conversation with me. I consider myself to be a "social butterfly” of sorts, so meeting or reconnecting with you just might be the highlight of my day! I look forward to beginning the school year. Go Cardinals! 

Sincerely,

Austin Daniels