Former Des Moines Register journalist is now a middle school teacher

Former Des Moines Register columnist Dan Finney has been hired to teach sixth grade at Goodrell Middle School.

Catch up fast: Finney has been public about his struggles with mental health and living with obesity.

• Hundreds of people last year donated money to help him pay out-of-pocket medical and living expenses while he went back to school to get his teaching degree.
• "I am humbled and gratified beyond words," Finney told Axios last week.

💬 Jason's thought bubble: Finney is one of my former college classmates and Register colleagues. I'm rooting for him.

• His experiences can be an asset to the classroom — especially important for students with disabilities.