Meet the Board

Kate Parks, President
P: 563/663-9170
kparks@dbqschools.org

Kate Parks began her career teaching sociology to undergraduate students at Loras College in 2007. She grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa where her parents and some family members still live. She first fell in love with the city of Dubuque as a student at Loras, where she graduated with a BA in sociology, history, and German in 1998. Following graduation, Kate had the opportunity to live in Austria as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant. Upon her return, she then moved around the country living, studying, and working in Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, and New Mexico before returning to Dubuque. She graduated with her MA (’03) and PhD (’07) in Sociology at Texas A&M University. Her teaching and research interests have focused on issues of inequality and inequity in education. Kate has been actively involved in the community, most recently as a member of the Human Rights Commission and a member of the Prescott PCO, among others. Kate and her husband, Todd, have a daughter and son, both of whom attend or will attend Dubuque Public Schools.

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Lisa Wittman, Vice President
P: 563/583-0386
lwittman@dbqschools.org

Lisa Wittman grew up just south of Dubuque in Key West, attending public and parochial schools through eighth grade. She then attended Dubuque Senior High School, graduating in 1978. Lisa has worked in banking since high school and is currently a Vice President Mortgage & Consumer Loan Officer at Fidelity Bank & Trust in Dubuque. Lisa’s husband Gary is a teacher and coach in the Dubuque Community Schools. The Wittmans raised five children (Tammy, Ted, Tonya, Ty and Timothy), all graduating from Dubuque public schools. Outside of work, Lisa is director of the Dubuque Grey Ribbon Crusade 5K fundraiser. Her love for athletics and being involved keeps her busy volunteering her time.

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Nancy Bradley
P: 563/556-0705
nabradley@dbqschools.org

Nancy Bradley served the children, families, and community of Dubuque as a Dubuque Community School District employee for 47 years. Prior to retiring from the District on June 30, 2017, Nancy (a native Dubuquer) served as a teacher, reading specialist, elementary principal, Director of Professional Learning and School Improvement, and Director of Elementary Education. Nancy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Elementary Music from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville; a Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction; and an additional 45 credits in Educational Leadership. She has devoted her career in Dubuque to providing leadership aimed at assuring that each and every child is afforded the highest quality of education possible. Her commitment to children and quality education continues to be her focus as a member of the DCSD Board of Education. Nancy is pleased to continue to serve the students and families of Dubuque.

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Dirk Hamel
P: 563/542-4424
dhamel@dbqschools.org

Dirk Hamel was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa. Dirk graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1986. He then returned to Dubuque to practice with Gilloon, Wright & Hamel, P.C. for the next 37 years until his retirement in the summer of 2023. Dirk regularly provided free legal services for people in need throughout his career and in 2004 his contributions were recognized with state wide awards from Iowa Legal Aid and the Iowa State Bar Association. Dirk is married to Lorilee Boxleiter Hamel who also retired in 2023. Lorilee had a 37 year career as an educator. Lorilee’s last 26 years were with the Dubuque Community School District where she served in multiple roles including teacher, curriculum director and instructional coach.

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Sarah Jacobitz-Kizzier
P: 563/334-0305
sjacobitzkizzier@dbqschools.org

Dr. Sarah Jacobitz-Kizzier is a local Family Medicine physician and adjunct faculty for the Carver College of Medicine. She grew up in Papillion, Nebraska and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BS in Biology and minors in Biochemistry and Women’s Studies. After marrying Dubuquer Casey Kizzier in 2003, they moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he taught kindergarten and she started graduate school. After finishing with a MS in Medical Microbiology and starting her family, she returned to Omaha for her medical schooling at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After three years in Iowa City, she is now happy to call Dubuque home. She can be found cheering at school athletic events, sewing costumes for the theater department, performing in the Tri-State Wind Symphony, and hiking the scenic trails of Dubuque County with her three children (Sophia, Linden, and Henry).

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Katie Jones
P: 608/732-3842
kjones@dbqschools.org

Born in Southwest Wisconsin, Katie attended public school and joined the healthcare workforce as a nursing aid following college. During her studies, Katie fell in love with aiding patients and growing community awareness about healthful living. In 2011, Katie moved back to Dubuque as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital where she currently works in the radiation oncology department (now MercyOne Dubuque Cancer Center). Katie has been active in the community working as a nurse at Albrecht Acres, volunteering at the Convivium Urban Farmstead, distributing community resources, and serving on the Dubuque County Board of Health. She is a mother of two children who are both enrolled in the Dubuque Community School District.

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Anderson Sainci
P: 863/430-8802
asainci@dbqschools.org

Anderson Sainci was born and raised in Florida and moved to Dubuque in 2006. He is the director of the City of Dubuque Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support. Anderson is a graduate of the University of Dubuque where he received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, as well as his Master of Arts Degree in Communication. He serves on the board of directors for Every Child / Every Promise, Dubuque Black Men Coalition, Dubuque Dream Center, St. Mark Youth Enrichment, Radius Church and Steeple Square. Anderson and his wife, Kiesha, have four children.

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Amy Hawkins
P: 563/552-3012
ahawkins@dbqschools.org

As superintendent of schools, Amy serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Education. Prior to being named superintendent, she served on the district’s executive leadership team as chief human resources officer. She has also previously served as the district’s director of activities and athletics, as district-level teacher on special assignment, and as a wellness teacher and department chair at Dubuque Senior High School. Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree from Winona State University and a master of arts degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) with Pre-K through 12 principal and Pre-K through 12 special education supervisor certification. She also holds an advanced studies certificate in superintendency from UNI.