Graduated from LHS class of ’99 – GO RAILS!

Undergraduate work at the University of Iowa

Masters degree from Drake University

Phil Chia is in his 10th year as the Activities Director at Lincoln and in his 20th overall at the school. Prior to taking over the position of AD he was a coach and a business teacher for 10 years with the Rails. Phil grew up on the south side of Des Moines, and like several of the staff at Lincoln, he is a Railsplitter alumni. Phil attended the University of Northern Iowa receiving his degree in Business Education and later received his Masters degree at Drake in Education Administration. Phil is married with four children.

This year is my 14th year as an educator. I am an alumni of DMACC, University of Northern Iowa, and Drake University. Throughout my career I have taught social studies and special education. I am an avid Hawkeye, Panther, and KC Chiefs fan. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and going to movies.

I am the Vice Principal who is responsible for the day to day operation at RAILS Academy. I graduated with my BSA from ISU in 1990. I received my Masters in Educational Administration in 1998. I have been with the district for 26 years: 9 as a teacher, 5 as a Dean of students and the last 12 as Vice Principal at Lincoln High School. 23 of those years were served at the High School Level and 3 at the Middle School. I have spent time in every High School in the district in some role. I am married and have four children. I have a boy who is 17 and a daughter who is 23. My wife’s daughter is 23 and her son is a special needs child of the age of 19. I love too many hobbies, but the favorites are to be outdoors whether it is kayaking, camping, hunting or photography.

My name is Qynne Kelly and I am an assistant principal at Lincoln Main. After graduating from Preston High School in 2005, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in German Education with a minor in TESOL. While attending UW-P, I had the opportunity to live and study in Berlin, Germany. Following my graduation, I moved to the Bronx, New York where I taught English Language Learners at Manhattan College through Language Studies International. When I returned to Iowa, I taught German and ELL for Waterloo Community School District while simultaneously completing my Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Northern Iowa. In 2015, I moved to Des Moines after having heard that Des Moines Public Schools was making a commitment to equity work. I was an ELL instructional coach for the district and was also finishing a Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University. This is my first year as a school administrator and I could not be more excited to be at Lincoln! #SouthsidePride

I began my career in education back in 1997 as a high school instrumental music teacher after graduating from the University of Tulsa. After nine years of teaching in Tulsa, OK and Colorado Springs, CO, I entered the administration side of the profession after completing my Masters degree from Grand Canyon University. In 2011 I had the honor of becoming the Principal of Abraham Lincoln High School after serving four years as an Assistant Principal in Colorado Springs. My son Luke graduated from LHS in 2013; my wife and I have five children with the two youngest being 11 & 16 along with three wonderful grandchildren.