Megan Pearson
Kindergarten
Megan Pearson is a graduate of Springville High School. She dual enrolled at Kirkwood while in high school, and then transferred to University of Northern Iowa for her bachelors in education. She lives in Springville, where a lot of her direct family also resides.
This is Pearson’s first full year teaching. She had two great student teaching experiences in fall 2024, and substitute taught in various Cedar Rapids Schools in 2025.
Outside of the classroom, Pearson has found her love of reading once more, spending time at the local library. She loves baking and cooking, having learned to make homemade bread and chicken noodle soup within the last year.
What do you love most about teaching? “I love the synergy between myself and my students. I love to see collaboration between myself and the students where we are all growing together. I look at everyday as an opportunity for myself to grow alongside my students.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “I actually don’t have a normal story about landing in the teaching profession. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school where I put aside the idea of being a pharmacist to look into education. I was very active in sports in school, so I had many opportunities to assist in youth camps, which actually sparked my interest in teaching. Now, looking back, there are so many of my teachers that stand out to me. I could go on and on about specifics, but I think what it comes down to is the memories made outside of the actual curriculum. I remember the teachers that always went out of their way to approach me with a smile and offer a hug/support. So, for me, I learned how important it is to create lasting memories with my students and truly always being there for them. At the end of the day, we are learning together, and that is my ‘why’ of teaching.”
Hillary Greenwell
Elementary music
Hillary Greenwell is a graduate of AGWSR High School and the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to teaching at Lisbon, she has worked as a music teacher at SCC (teaching fourth through eighth music), Charter Oak Ute Community School District (as a K-12 vocal instructor) and Pleasantville Community School District (as a fifth through 12th band/vocal instructor). Greenwell lives in Tiffin with her boyfriend, Patrick Wiltgen, and three children – Kaylee, Gabe and Charlie.
Outside of the classroom, Greenwell loves cooking, baking, exercise, movies and playing games.
What do you love most about teaching? “Seeing students’ successes.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “My middle school band teacher, Mrs. Miller. She taught me that with hard work you can become a great musician.”
James Carillo
Junior high math (seventh/eighth grade)
James Carillo studied anthropology at New College of Florida in 2015 and earned his teaching license in Nashville, Tenn., in 2017. Carillo previously taught at Antioch, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville for five years. He also was an elementary crisis management and intervention specialist for two years in Lafayette, Ind., and was also an eighth grade math teacher at South View Middle School in Edina, Minn. Carillo and his partner of five years, Kris, moved to Mount Vernon last year when Kris was hired at Cornell College.
Outside of the classroom, Carillo loves to bake, cook, cycle, play board games, craft, garden, watch the WNBA, and learn new skills. He also loves playing and noodling around with many musical instruments.
What do you love most about teaching? “I love to build relationships with others. I love when my students grow, as well as the sense of community that develops in a classroom. Overall, being a positive part of a person’s mathematical journey gives me a lot of joy.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “Mr. Nagel, my sixth and eighth grade social studies teacher gave me a strong love of learning – he was the first teacher to really see who I was. He took time to understand me and get to know me as well as pass on wisdom from his own life.”
Dayne Zinkula
High school business education
Dayne Zinkula graduated from Grundy Center High School and then the University of Northern Iowa. This will be his first year teaching. Zinkula starts teaching for Lisbon in the second semester of the school year, and is currently looking for housing closer to the area.
Outside of the classroom, Zinkula likes anything outdoors, including sports, hunting and fishing.
What do you love most about teaching? “Being able to work with multiple different personalities each day.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “Todd Zinkula (my dad). I learned how to be very kid focused and build great relationships with both the students and their parents.”
