Rhea Parekh is the daughter of the Primrose franchise owners and a proud owner herself! Her journey in early education began during college when she ran a preschool program over the summer while visiting home. Rhea earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Drake University, all while staying connected to her love of working with children as a preschool assistant at a local program near campus.

In her free time, Rhea combines her passion for early education and motherhood by partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and spending quality time with her own “little.” She’s also a certified Pilates instructor, focusing on providing a safe and supportive space for women recovering after childbirth. And on occasion, you might spot her sweet puppy, Moose, making special visits to the programs!

Ms. Gabrielle serves as our Assistant Director, bringing her extensive background in early childhood education and years of field experience to our school community. In this role, she supports families, teachers, and children while helping oversee the day-to-day operations of the school.

Her passion for fostering a love of learning, combined with her strong leadership and organizational skills, has made a lasting impact on our team. Gabrielle’s creativity, adaptability, and dedication to excellence help ensure that our classrooms remain supportive, engaging, and focused on providing the highest quality experience for every child.

A valued member of our leadership team, Ms. Gabrielle works closely with staff and families to build strong relationships, support professional growth, and maintain the exceptional standards that make our school community thrive.

Ms. Promise serves as our Education Coach and is passionate about supporting both children and teachers in creating meaningful learning experiences. With years of experience in early childhood education, she works closely with our teaching teams to ensure classrooms are engaging, nurturing, and aligned with our educational standards.

Promise has a natural talent for mentoring educators, fostering professional growth, and helping teachers build confidence in their classrooms. Her dedication to high-quality education and child development makes her an invaluable resource for both staff and families.

Outside of school, she enjoys spending weekends with her younger family members, where she fosters fun, play, and bonding moments that continue to inspire her passion for working with children.

Ms. Julie serves as our Closing Manager and brings nearly 30 years of experience in the education and childcare field. With a degree in Elementary Education, she has worked with children of all ages, from infants through elementary school, giving her a well-rounded understanding of child development and classroom operations.

In her role, Julie helps oversee end-of-day operations, supports classroom teams, and ensures our school maintains high standards for safety, organization, and quality care. Her wealth of experience, strong leadership, and dedication to creating a positive environment make her an invaluable member of our leadership team.

Outside of school, Julie enjoys fishing, kayaking, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is the proud mother of three daughters and loves supporting them in their academic and extracurricular activities.

Mrs. Oumaima, a proud toddler and new infant mom, has a deep passion for teaching infants and creating nurturing, engaging learning experiences. She loves implementing the curriculum and finds it incredibly rewarding when her students begin to respond with sign language cues.

Ms. Kiara is a mother of two and has over five years of experience working in childcare. She is a huge animal lover and shares her home with four dogs! In her free time, she enjoys exploring new trails and hiking with her children. Ms. Kiara brings a wealth of experience, a love for the outdoors, and a passion for working with children, and we are excited to have her join our school family!

Mrs. Mayerly, sister of Ms. Ana in Early Preschool, brings over five years of experience in early childhood education! With her own child now in elementary school, she loves continuing her passion for working with young learners here at Primrose. In a previous life, Mrs. Mayerly even owned and operated her own ice cream store!

Mrs. Angelica brings over 10 years of experience in early childhood education! She primarily works with Spanish-speaking students, using her dual-language skills to help implement Mucho Mundo in the Young Toddler classroom. In her free time, Mrs. Angelica enjoys spending quality time with her family.

Meet Ms. Katie, the newest addition to our Early Preschool Team!

Ms. Katie brings over 10 years of experience in the childcare field and is thrilled to be returning to a role she’s so passionate about. She is a proud mom of three children, ages 5 to 15, and is excitedly expecting another little one this fall—making this an especially joyful season for her family!

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Katie loves spending quality time with her kids and embracing the outdoors whenever she can. She enjoys trips to the park, especially with her sweet husky, Nala, who is always ready for an adventure.

We are so excited to have Ms. Katie join our team and can’t wait for the warmth, experience, and energy she will bring to our Early Preschool classrooms!n66fcv

Ms. Marissa is one of our Toddler Teachers and brings nearly four years of experience working with children of all ages. As a mother of two boys, she understands the importance of creating a nurturing, supportive environment where children feel safe, loved, and encouraged to explore the world around them.

Marissa is passionate about early childhood education and finds great joy in helping toddlers build independence, confidence, and foundational skills during this exciting stage of development. She loves celebrating each child’s milestones and partnering with families to support their growth and success.

Outside of the classroom, Marissa enjoys spending time with her family and taking walks with their dog. Her warm personality, patience, and dedication to young learners make her a valued member of our teaching team.

Mrs. Sam brings over five years of experience in the childcare field, along with a genuine passion for supporting young learners as they grow and thrive. As a proud mom to her three-year-old, she understands the importance of creating a nurturing and engaging environment for every child.

For the next month, Mrs. Sam will be supporting the school as a temporary floater, helping across classrooms and ensuring a smooth, positive experience for both students and staff.

In her free time, Mrs. Sam enjoys participating in art marts, where she expresses her creativity by painting a variety of unique pieces. She also shares a special connection with our team as the sister-in-law of Ms. Rhea, making her a wonderful addition to our school community.

Ms. CheyAnne brings over 10 years of experience working with children, including time spent in an elementary school setting. She views her classroom as a second home and strives to create a warm, nurturing environment each day. Outside of the classroom, she loves spending quality time with her daughter, often filled with singing, dancing, and joyful moments together

Ms. Mercedes has been a dedicated part of the Primrose family for nearly four years, beginning her journey in early education during the COVID-19 pandemic. She spent her first three years in the toddler room at the Urbandale location and is now thrilled to lead the Pathways classroom, where she finds joy in watching her students learn and grow each day. In her free time, Ms. Mercedes loves traveling and spending time with friends in nature.

Ms. Kenosha has been in the early childhood education field for 10 years and previously taught Preschool at our Urbandale location. She loved the opportunity to grow into the Pre-Kindergarten classroom, where she focuses on preparing her students for Kindergarten Readiness. Ms. Kenosha takes great pride in her literacy instruction, with her students consistently performing exceptionally well on our national literacy assessments.