A little about ourselves
Denise Weiss - Director
Denise and Rod have two children, Jeremy and Emily. Denise’s first knowledge of
Share and Care was when her daughter Emily attended and they became members of Park
View Lutheran. Emily is now married to Brad Peters; they live in Kalona, Ia and have a
daughter, Caitlynn born in 2008. It is had to believe that Caitlynn is now a sophomore in
high school. Jeremy lives in Davenport and works for Von Maur as a System Administrator.
Emily is a RN, MSN and IS A nurse educator,simulation coordinator for the Veteran's
hospital in Iowa City.
Denise joined the Share and Care faculty in August of 1986. She started out
working as a teacher for 20 hours a week under the direction of Pat Schrage. When Pat
retired, Betty Lockhart became Director. Denise then was Lead Teacher, On-Site
Supervisor over the past 26 years. In 2012, she took over as Director of Share and Care
after Betty’s retirement. Denise retired in June of 2020 and now is back as director until a
new one can be hired. She thoroughly loves being with the children and coming up with
new ideas to share with them. Each fall she looks forward to meeting the new families and
their children.
When Denise is not at preschool, in her free time you can find her making cards,
watercolor painting, quilting, sewing or reading. Both Denise and Rod enjoy doing these
activities together. She also enjoys being outside enjoying the beautiful flowers and roses
Rod lovingly grows.
She is looking forward to being back at Share and Care and being with the children
and their families again. This is something she has missed even with being retired. What
she has not missed is all the paperwork that also goes with the job.
Some of Denise's favorite things: St. Louis Cardinals, ISU Cyclones; blue, red and fall colors; Chex Mix, pretzels, anything with peanut butter, and Diet Coke; JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Michael's; Cabos, Subway, Maloney's and Gyro 600.
Denise and Rod have two children, Jeremy and Emily. Denise’s first knowledge of
Share and Care was when her daughter Emily attended and they became members of Park
View Lutheran. Emily is now married to Brad Peters; they live in Kalona, Ia and have a
daughter, Caitlynn born in 2008. It is had to believe that Caitlynn is now a sophomore in
high school. Jeremy lives in Davenport and works for Von Maur as a System Administrator.
Emily is a RN, MSN and IS A nurse educator,simulation coordinator for the Veteran's
hospital in Iowa City.
Denise joined the Share and Care faculty in August of 1986. She started out
working as a teacher for 20 hours a week under the direction of Pat Schrage. When Pat
retired, Betty Lockhart became Director. Denise then was Lead Teacher, On-Site
Supervisor over the past 26 years. In 2012, she took over as Director of Share and Care
after Betty’s retirement. Denise retired in June of 2020 and now is back as director until a
new one can be hired. She thoroughly loves being with the children and coming up with
new ideas to share with them. Each fall she looks forward to meeting the new families and
their children.
When Denise is not at preschool, in her free time you can find her making cards,
watercolor painting, quilting, sewing or reading. Both Denise and Rod enjoy doing these
activities together. She also enjoys being outside enjoying the beautiful flowers and roses
Rod lovingly grows.
She is looking forward to being back at Share and Care and being with the children
and their families again. This is something she has missed even with being retired. What
she has not missed is all the paperwork that also goes with the job.
Some of Denise's favorite things: St. Louis Cardinals, ISU Cyclones; blue, red and fall colors; Chex Mix, pretzels, anything with peanut butter, and Diet Coke; JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Michael's; Cabos, Subway, Maloney's and Gyro 600.
Rhonda Upmeyer - Lead Teacher
Rhonda Upmeyer began as Lead Teacher at Share and Care Preschool in 2014. Previous to that position, she was first a preschool mom when her boys attended here and then our Teacher's Aide since 2008. She has also been a substitute Teacher's Aide for the North Scott Schools and a classroom volunteer for Kindergarten through 6th grade at Alan Shepard Elementary. Her love for children, warm hugs and smiles make her well known by parents and children in the community. Rhonda and her husband, Carl, are now empty-nesters and have two sons. Alex is a junior attending Iowa State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Nick recently graduated from Iowa State in Mechanical Engineering, is working and living here locally, and will be getting married in September 2023. Rhonda and Carl enjoy traveling on weekend trips, attending car shows, playing with their "grandpups", and visiting with family from Texas.
Some of Rhonda's favorite things: The Cyclones, Hawkeyes and Packers; the color Purple; Cheez-Its and dark chocolate; coffee shops, Hobby Lobby, Wallace's, Amazon and Old Chicago
Rhonda Upmeyer began as Lead Teacher at Share and Care Preschool in 2014. Previous to that position, she was first a preschool mom when her boys attended here and then our Teacher's Aide since 2008. She has also been a substitute Teacher's Aide for the North Scott Schools and a classroom volunteer for Kindergarten through 6th grade at Alan Shepard Elementary. Her love for children, warm hugs and smiles make her well known by parents and children in the community. Rhonda and her husband, Carl, are now empty-nesters and have two sons. Alex is a junior attending Iowa State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Nick recently graduated from Iowa State in Mechanical Engineering, is working and living here locally, and will be getting married in September 2023. Rhonda and Carl enjoy traveling on weekend trips, attending car shows, playing with their "grandpups", and visiting with family from Texas.
Some of Rhonda's favorite things: The Cyclones, Hawkeyes and Packers; the color Purple; Cheez-Its and dark chocolate; coffee shops, Hobby Lobby, Wallace's, Amazon and Old Chicago
Molly Woomer -M-F Green Room Teacher's Aide
Molly grew up in Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University. She and her husband Ben moved to Eldridge in 2006. They have two children who both loved their experience at Share and Care. Atle is 13 years old. He will be in 8th grade at NSJH. Ben and Molly adopted him from South Africa when he was 2 years old. Julia is 7 years old. She will be starting 2nd grade at Ed White Elementary. She has a great imagination and loves swimming. As a family they like to travel. They often visit relatives in Ohio and North Carolina. If they aren’t playing board games in their living room you can likely find them riding bikes or walking their little dog around Eldridge. Molly enjoys cooking and baking and always has a helper in the kitchen.
She has always enjoyed working with young children and is looking forward to starting another school year!
Some of Molly's favorite things: the colors fuchsia or berry; Ohio State and North Scott; chocolate and caramel; Target, Amazon and Whitey's.
Shauna Strom - MWF Blue Room Teacher's Aide
Shauna has four children that all attended Share and Care Christian Preschool. During her youngest son's last year of preschool, she started helping as a substitute and then didn't want to leave! Shauna loves having a job that allows her to teach young children in the mornings, while also being available to her own family later in the day and during school breaks! On her off days from Share and Care, Shauna works as a substitute teacher and aide for the North Scott School District at Alan Shepard Elementary.
Shauna lives in Eldridge with her husband, Steve, and their kids; Caleb (17), Cadence (16), Camdyn (12) and Canon (11). Her kids are heavily involved in music, dance, theatre, baseball and basketball. Their family also includes two dogs named Mickey and Eeyore. In her spare time, Shauna enjoys mowing and tending to her vegetable gardens and she is an avid Disney World fan.
Some of Shauna's favorite things: the color blue; Hawkeyes, Cubs and Lancers; Cheez-Its, popcorn and nuts; Bath & Body Works, Cody Road, Chili's, Culvers, and Domino's.
Shauna has four children that all attended Share and Care Christian Preschool. During her youngest son's last year of preschool, she started helping as a substitute and then didn't want to leave! Shauna loves having a job that allows her to teach young children in the mornings, while also being available to her own family later in the day and during school breaks! On her off days from Share and Care, Shauna works as a substitute teacher and aide for the North Scott School District at Alan Shepard Elementary.
Shauna lives in Eldridge with her husband, Steve, and their kids; Caleb (17), Cadence (16), Camdyn (12) and Canon (11). Her kids are heavily involved in music, dance, theatre, baseball and basketball. Their family also includes two dogs named Mickey and Eeyore. In her spare time, Shauna enjoys mowing and tending to her vegetable gardens and she is an avid Disney World fan.
Some of Shauna's favorite things: the color blue; Hawkeyes, Cubs and Lancers; Cheez-Its, popcorn and nuts; Bath & Body Works, Cody Road, Chili's, Culvers, and Domino's.
Jennifer Rathe - T-TH Blue Room Teacher's Aide
Jen and her husband have grown to love the North Scott Community over the last 15 years and have three children in elementary and junior high, plus a stubborn, (and lucky for her) adorable dog named Hadley. All three kids graduated from Share and Care and had a wonderful experience. Jen loves being part of the Share and Care staff and joining in on the singing and dancing of silly songs that preschooler’s love! She also enjoys volunteering at the local elementary, preparing for Vacation Bible School at Park View Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, and working with kids in 4-H. She also enjoys writing, crafting and watching her kids partake in their various school and other extracurricular activities.
Some of Jen’s favorite things: sky blue or teal, fun family games, NS Lancers, the Dallas Cowboys, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and shopping or eating at local businesses/coffee shops/restaurants.
Jen and her husband have grown to love the North Scott Community over the last 15 years and have three children in elementary and junior high, plus a stubborn, (and lucky for her) adorable dog named Hadley. All three kids graduated from Share and Care and had a wonderful experience. Jen loves being part of the Share and Care staff and joining in on the singing and dancing of silly songs that preschooler’s love! She also enjoys volunteering at the local elementary, preparing for Vacation Bible School at Park View Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, and working with kids in 4-H. She also enjoys writing, crafting and watching her kids partake in their various school and other extracurricular activities.
Some of Jen’s favorite things: sky blue or teal, fun family games, NS Lancers, the Dallas Cowboys, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and shopping or eating at local businesses/coffee shops/restaurants.