Teachers and Staff

I am so thankful to be part of the Early Childhood Education department and the DMACC Child Development Center. Early care and education have been my life’s work, I started my career in 1984 and have enjoyed my journey from caregiver, faculty member and finally, Coordinator of the CDC. Everyday I strive to provide quality, affordable child care for young children and their families. As part of my life work I strive to be an advocate for children, their families and the field of Early Care and Education. I embrace the opportunity to teach, mentor and coach Early Childhood Education students with their coursework in the center.

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking, gardening and reading.

I graduated from Grand View University with a degree in Elementary Education and an early childhood endorsement. Before coming to DMACC, I spent four years teaching multi-age preschool at the Iowa State University Child Development Lab School. One of my favorite parts of working with young children is seeing their excitement for learning new things. As an early childhood teacher, I have the opportunity to teach children foundational skills that they will take with them throughout the rest of their lives. It is a big task and a great honor to shape young minds.

​When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with friends and family and drinking way too much coffee.

I am an Iowa State University graduate of the Child, Adult and Family Services Program (Go Cyclones!) I am also a certified Baby-Led Sleep and Well-Being Specialist. I have worked with children and families for many years and have learned that it really isn’t me who is doing the teaching; it is the children. Children have so much to teach if you just stop to observe and listen. I am passionate about supporting all emotions, good, bad, or indifferent, and encouraging children to be their own person and celebrate their uniqueness. I love how each day is a new adventure with the children and the college students in my classroom.

My husband, Cole, and I have one son named Sam, who also attends the center. We have a Corgi named Ernie and two cats; White Cat and Gray Cat. We enjoy golfing, going on walks, watching Diners, Drive-In’s, and Dives, cooking together, and reading.

I graduated from DMACC with my Associate’s Degree in Child Development in 1995. I started working at the DMACC Child Development Center in the fall of 1993 (received a contract in 1994). Over the years, I love watching the children learn, discover and grow. I enjoy working with the families and mentoring students in the program. In 2019, I started a blended position where I work with the children and students for part of the day, and I preform administrative duties for part of the day. The administrative duties have added some new challenges (both good and not so good) that I continue to work at achieving. ​

Things I enjoy doing are reading, watching television, going for walks, bird watching and spending time with my family. I have 2 daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter. ​

Hello my name is Sharon Wiese. I live in Ellsworth with my husband Terry. We have 2 children Tyler who is 25 and works at Logan Construction. Emilee who will be 23 in December. Emilee Has just become a manager at Loves Travel Center in Ellsworth. Terry works on cylinders at Certified Power in DesMoines.​

I have an AS degree from DMACC and I’m starting my 31st year working at DMACC the Fall of 2021. I have enjoyed every year and each group of children is different. What makes my job so wonderful is that I touch so many lives and they each make an impression on my life. I have worked with many age groups and each one has there joys and challenges. I look forward to getting to know each group of children each semester. We learn many new things together.

Things I enjoying in life are spending time with my family, walking our dog Molly. I also enjoy trying my hand at sewing, making quilts, baby blankets or whatever comes to mind.

I am a graduate of University of Northern Iowa in the Early Childhood Education Program and hold my standard teaching license. I have been a Child Development Specialist at DMACC for four years. Prior to working here I was an Infant/Toddler teacher at Iowa State University's Child Development Laboratory School for four years. I am passionate about providing high quality care and implementing best practices in caring for children​.       

I am an alumni of DMACC receiving my AAS in Culinary Arts in 2011. I became a Certified Dietary Manager and Certified Food Protection Professional in 2016 (CDM, CFPP). Of all my years in food service the 2 most rewarding jobs I’ve had involved children. I truly enjoy coming to work every day.​

Prior to coming to DMACC I was the Culinary Services Director at Mill Pond Retirement Community here in Ankeny. My wife, Lauren and I have been married 10 years and we have 3 dogs: Autumn, Izzie and Noki. During our free time we enjoy anything that involves us being together and are highly active in our church.​

My favorite part of being here in the Child Development Center is seeing the children learn and discover new things. I also really enjoy when the children get convinced to try a new food they are sure they don’t like only to discover they do like it! Kids rock!​

Hi! My name is Sadie Gunther and I am a Child Development Specialist at the DMACC Child Development Center. I am a graduate of Iowa State University in the Early Childhood Education Program and hold my standard teaching license. Last fall I embarked on a new educational journey as I returned to ISU to complete my Master's Degree in Transformative School Leadership, I will be graduating May 2022. I have been a part of the DMACC family in one way or another since January 2012 . I started back as a full-time specialist Fall of 2017 after a 5 year hiatus of adjunct teaching in the DMACC ECE program and a year as a consultant for Child Care Resource and Referral. DMACC certainly has always felt like home to me whether it is teaching future students or children! My family consists of my husband, Theo, and our two children, Flint and Remi. We enjoy being active both outdoors and indoors. Some of our favorite activities are going on hikes while camping, attending sporting activities or events, spending time with family and friends, Friday night movies, creating, and playing with our two family pets, Kora and Linus.

I have a Child Development degree from Des Moines Area Community College and Early Childhood Education degree from Iowa State University. Before joining DMACC CDC, I worked as a toddler teacher, Education Coordinator, and Field Education Training Specialist supporting new employee orientation and supporting early childhood programs in environments, interactions, and trainings. Teaching young children is extremely rewarding with everyday something different. One thing that drew me to DMACC CDC is the combination of being directly with the children to positively impact their growth and development while also mentoring future teachers as they gain experience and education.

My non-work time consists of reading, traveling, and spending time with family.​