Americorps begins tenure at Perkins

Starting this school year, Americorps’ Des Moines sector will be providing Perkins with two members who will be tutoring students in math and literacy proficiency. Jan Suceska, 22, and Brandon Jenkins, 19, will be at Perkins on a daily basis working with small groups of students, or one-on-one, depending on the specific necessities of certain children.

Mr. Suceska is a recent graduate of The University of Iowa, finishing with B.A.’s in journalism and anthropology. Originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Suceska came to the United States when he was three years old, and has lived in the Beaverdale area since then. He aspires to one day become a teacher, but has not had much experience working with students at an academic level.

Previously, Mr. Suceska worked with Metro Kids care for over four years and is very passionate about working with children. He hopes that working at Perkins will only strengthen his desire to shape young minds. Some of Mr. Suceska’s hobbies including riding his bicycle (weather permitting), playing sports (specifically soccer and basketball), playing guitar and spending time with family and friends.

Mr. Jenkins is a second year student at Drake University. He is currently studying to earn a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with endorsements in Reading, Math, and Coaching. This is his first year working at Perkins, but spent last spring helping out in a Kindergarten classroom at Hanawalt Elementary.

This is Mr. Jenkins’ second year in Des Moines, originally coming from Overland Park, KS. He loves the area and is excited to be getting involved in the schools here. In his free time, Mr. Jenkins likes to be outdoors (loves disc golf), watch movies, or spend time with family and friends.