Rachael and Emily

We are delighted to announce that Rachael Dierickx, with her extensive experience in educational leadership, has been chosen as the Associate Principal. Additionally, Emily Henneman, with her passion for education and supporting students, will be joining us as the Dean of Students. Both will be effective beginning July 2024 at Bettendorf Middle School, subject to board approval. 

“We are excited to have Rachael and Emily accept these positions,” said Dr. Michelle Morse, Superintendent. “They are both known for their exceptional work in the district.  Their ability to connect with students, staff, and parents is impressive. They are authentic and passionate about supporting students both behaviorally and academically. We look forward to Rachael and Emily taking this next step in their careers.”

Rachael Dierickx has been with the district since 2007 and is currently the district MTSS Facilitator, an administrative role that supports curriculum and professional development, district teams, and elementary administration. Before this position, she was an instructional coach at Bettendorf Middle School for four years. She also spent 12 years teaching language arts and honors language arts, supporting many of the school’s programs. Rachael has a Master of Education in Educational Administration and principal endorsements from Iowa’s Northwestern College.

Emily Henneman is the summer school administrative intern for the district’s extended school year program. She taught Spanish at Bettendorf High School for the past four years and Maquoketa High School before that. Emily received the 2022 Jaycees of the Quad Cities Young Educator Award. She has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with principal licensure from the University of Iowa.