A little about ourselves
Jennifer Rathe - Director
Jen and her husband have grown to love the North Scott Community over the last 16 years and have three children, two in elementary and one starting high school. The family also includes two cuddly pups – Hadley, a Shorty Jack Russel Terrier, and a German Shephard Border Collie Mix named Duchess. All three of her kids graduated from Share and Care and had a wonderful experience.
Jen loves being part of the Share and Care family and joining in on the singing and dancing of silly songs that preschooler’s love. She is excited to tackle the work as director for her first year and get to know all the families that will grace our preschool doors. Jen and her family attend Park View Lutheran Church, where she very much enjoys helping to organize Vacation Bible School. She also enjoys working with the North Scott Clover Kids (4-H for grades K-3rd). Some of her hobbies include writing, crafting, and watching her kids partake in their various school and other extracurricular activities which include dance, gymnastics, baseball, cross country, band, and 4-H.
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 16 years and have three children, two in elementary and one starting high school. The family also includes two cuddly pups – Hadley, a Shorty Jack Russel Terrier, and a German Shephard Border Collie Mix named Duchess. All three of her kids graduated from Share and Care and had a wonderful experience.
Jen loves being part of the Share and Care family and joining in on the singing and dancing of silly songs that preschooler’s love. She is excited to tackle the work as director for her first year and get to know all the families that will grace our preschool doors. Jen and her family attend Park View Lutheran Church, where she very much enjoys helping to organize Vacation Bible School. She also enjoys working with the North Scott Clover Kids (4-H for grades K-3rd). Some of her hobbies include writing, crafting, and watching her kids partake in their various school and other extracurricular activities which include dance, gymnastics, baseball, cross country, band, and 4-H.
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.
Rhonda Upmeyer - Lead Teacher
Rhonda 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 senior attending Iowa State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Nick is a graduate of Iowa State in Mechanical Engineering and is working and living here locally with his new wife. Rhonda enjoys being an indoor plant "mom", watercolor painting, making jewelry and resin crafts, baking, and racing autocross in her Mustang. She 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 include anything purple, dark chocolate, salty snacks, coffee shops and shopping at Wallace's, Hobby Lobby, Bath and Body Works, and Amazon.
Rhonda 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 senior attending Iowa State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Nick is a graduate of Iowa State in Mechanical Engineering and is working and living here locally with his new wife. Rhonda enjoys being an indoor plant "mom", watercolor painting, making jewelry and resin crafts, baking, and racing autocross in her Mustang. She 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 include anything purple, dark chocolate, salty snacks, coffee shops and shopping at Wallace's, Hobby Lobby, Bath and Body Works, and Amazon.
Molly Woomer - Teacher's Aide
Molly grew up in Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University. She and her husband Ben relocated to Eldridge in 2006. They have two children who both loved their experience at Share and Care. Atle is 14 years old. He will be in 8th grade at Morning Star Academy. Ben and Molly adopted him from South Africa when he was 2 years old. Julia is 8 years old. She will be starting 3rd grade at Ed White Elementary. She has a vivid imagination and loves being outside. As a family, they enjoy traveling, often visiting 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 a passion for working with young children and is looking forward to another school year. Some of Molly's favorite things include the color fuchsia, puzzles, chocolate with caramel, and shopping at Target, Amazon, and ice cream from Whitey's.
Shauna Strom - 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 (18), Cadence (17), Camdyn (13) and Canon (12). Their oldest son will be attending University of Iowa as a freshman this year. 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, cooking and tending to her vegetable gardens.
Some of Shauna's favorite things: the color blue; Hawkeyes, Cubs and Lancers; Cheez-Its, popcorn and nuts; Disney, Bath & Body Works, Cody Road, Chili's 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 (18), Cadence (17), Camdyn (13) and Canon (12). Their oldest son will be attending University of Iowa as a freshman this year. 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, cooking and tending to her vegetable gardens.
Some of Shauna's favorite things: the color blue; Hawkeyes, Cubs and Lancers; Cheez-Its, popcorn and nuts; Disney, Bath & Body Works, Cody Road, Chili's and Domino's.
Denise Weiss - Substitute Aide/ Volunteer
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. 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 then came back as director until Jennifer was 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. 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.
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. 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 then came back as director until Jennifer was 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. 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.
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.