Main Street School Staff

Tanya Apana - Founder, Director, High School & Middle School Teacher

I received my BS in Biology and science teaching certification, and my Master's in Education for Transformative School Leadership, from Iowa State University. I started my teaching career as a high school science teacher, but finally found my niche creating an independent learning community. I have been leading and teaching at Main Street School since its inception in 2006. Apart from a passion for teaching, I enjoy spending time with my 3 kids and 2 dogs, traveling, digging in the dirt, and playing in nature.

Kelly Donnelly - Lead Primary Teacher

My name is Mrs. Kelly Donnelly (Ms. Kelly), and I have the honor of being your child's teacher this 2025-26 school year. I am originally a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native, and have a great passion for teaching and learning. I currently hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (English and History Minor) and recently attained my Master's Degree in Effective Teaching (Endorsement in Gifted and Talented K-12) from Drake University. I have had the opportunity to teach in a variety of amazing places over the past 30 years as an educator in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Iowa & Dublin, Ireland. Over the last 18 years, I have called Iowa home and have been very active in early childhood advocacy and education. I also enjoy spending time with my beautiful family, traveling, meeting new people, and learning about other cultures. My husband, Jason Donnelly, is a commercial photographer, and we have been blessed with four children and our fur baby Teddy.

Isaac Anderson - Early Elementary Teacher

My name is Isaac Anderson (Mr. Isaac), and I am so excited to welcome new and returning students to the Main Street School family. I was born and raised here in Norwalk, Iowa, and have been teaching at Main Street since 2021. I found my passion for teaching in high school while volunteering as a tutor for refugees in the Des Moines area. I graduated from Iowa State University in 2020, and I am currently working on my Master's of Elementary Education at Western Governors University. As a Main Street alumn, I know the value of project-based learning and being in a smaller school environment. In addition to my passion for helping students grow, I love spending time in nature, surrounded by plants and animals, traveling, and seeing as much of the world as I can.

Susan Chronister - Upper Elementary Teacher

Hello! I’m Susan Chronister (Mrs. C.), and I’m thrilled to be at Main Street. I grew up in Unionville, Missouri, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Truman University, and earned my Multicategorical Special Education Certificate from Iowa State University. Throughout my teaching career, I taught students in grades 3-5 in both regular and special ed classrooms. I have an Artful Learning background from my years of teaching at Wright Elementary on the Southside of Des Moines, which brings creativity, inquiry, and joy into the classroom and fits well with the Main Street philosophy. After retiring from teaching after 33 years in 2024, I dabbled in a few “fun” retirement jobs that weren’t very fun for me, and I realized I missed kids terribly! My husband and I live near Easter Lake with our pup and two kitties. We love connecting with our son and daughter-in-law, riding our bikes, tent camping in the fall, and taking day trips to explore hidden gems around us. I love being at Main Street!

Renée Potts - Middle School Teacher

Hi, my name is Renée Potts. I began my teaching career 27 years ago as a teacher’s aide in Texas. Over the years, I worked hard to complete my certification in early childhood education while also raising my two boys. During this time, I continued working in Texas as a paraprofessional in elementary and middle school. I eventually transitioned into a Behavioral Specialist Role in a Special Education tier 3 classroom. After moving to Iowa in 2006, I worked as an in-home Behavioral Specialist. In 2007, I returned to the classroom as a pre-kindergarten teacher. I've always had a passion to teach and absolutely love being in the classroom. In my spare time, I love to hang out with our two dogs, camp, hike, write, paint, and play music with my wife in our band. You just might see us performing somewhere around town in the near future.

Sheri Florez - Secondary Teacher

I am Ms. Sheri, and I have taught at Main Street School for 9 years which happens to be longer than anywhere else in my 45-year teaching career. I have taught in a variety of schools, in a range of levels, in many different classrooms. I started my teaching career in the 1970s in Peace Corps/Zaire (Democratic Rep. of the Congo now) and went on to teach in Seattle, WA; Houston, TX: Knoxville and Indianola, IA as well as in private international schools in Turkey and Kuwait.

Suffice it to say, I like to change climates from time to time. I love new experiences and learning about new places, cultures and people. That’s one of the things that brought me to Main Street. I have loved the freedom to teach a curriculum that speaks to the interests of our kids while holding them to high standards. Teaching is said to be a career, but for me it has been my passion. When I am not teaching, you will find me enjoying my other passion: reading history and political science books on my porch with a glass of iced tea or coffee.

Sarah Jorgenson - Music Education

I have been teaching both privately and in the collegiate setting for nearly 20 years. I began my musical journey by graduating with a classical voice performance degree and extensive master’s pedagogy classes from the University of NE- Lincoln. After an exciting career as a professional in musical theater, I met my husband and planted roots in Des Moines where I’ve taken on my favorite role of being a mama to four amazing kiddos. I am also the founding director of Rising Stars Show Choir 4 Kids, a non-audition fully inclusive choir for children of all ages and abilities and a teaching artist with City Voices Des Moines.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement

Main Street School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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