Meet Our Teachers

Karen Beck, Director and Teacher - 24 years with UHP

I truly have the very best job ever. When I go to work each day, I get to read a story to a scientist, architect, and attorney. I help a Supreme Court Justice learn the alphabet. I teach an engineer and entomologist to write their name. I show a doctor and nurse how to zip up their coat. I introduce an explorer to the wonders of the natural world. But most importantly, I help children develop social-emotional skills so they can manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and show empathy and understanding. Through play, I gently guide the children to learn social skills by role-playing, problem solving, cooperating and communicating.

I use our time, space, friendships and tools/toys to build a sound framework. On this foundation, I help the children explore, create, question and connect. I setup a dynamic yet gentle learning community and classroom that encourage self-discovery, hands-on manipulation of materials, and activities that are meaningful and appropriate for young children that promote development of skills in all areas. This environment is conducive to building a strong self-concept and positive introduction to lifelong learning.

Our children here today are the most important people I know. They are our future. I look forward to helping them grow!

More about me: I love gardening, insects, and exploring the great outdoors. I am a backyard beekeeper and have Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in the classroom. I enjoy sharing my passion for insects, nature, science, math, and building with the kids! Plus, I love singing, dancing, cooking and doing process art and science as well as hands on projects with the children.

Also, I have been sea kayak camping in the Apostle Islands, WI and tent camping in the Porcupine Mountains, MI for decades!

Jennie Leunig - 2024-25 Morning and Afternoon Teacher and Summer Camp Teacher- Third year with UHP

Hello! I’m Jennie and I’m so excited to be at UHP! I love working with kids, especially at camp or anywhere I can spend a good bit of time outdoors. My favorite summer camp, which I went to for nine summers as a camper and worked at for two summers, is the Concordia Language Villages’ German village, Waldsee.

I majored in Italian and International Studies at UW-Madison and I love learning new languages. This passion has taken me to study abroad years in Germany and Italy, and I am currently in the pursuit of learning French and Spanish. My love for languages coupled with my desire to work with children in a school setting steered me towards speech-language pathology and back to UW, where I am finished up the Communication Sciences & Disorders Capstone Program. When I’m not at preschool or in class, you can find me reading, baking, doing yoga, skiing (if there’s enough snow at Cascade Mountain), singing, or going for a walk by Lake Monona.

UHP is the perfect place to see smiling faces. Thanks for the warm welcome!

Michael Shimoura - 2024 & 2025 June and July Summer Camp Teacher - Second year with UHP

Hi there, my name is Michael. Before moving to Madison and joining UHP, I taught in one of Maryland’s public schools for ten years, working with PK, K, 1st, and 3rd grade bilingual students. I originally received my teaching certification in PK-6th, specializing in Early Childhood Education, from Eastern Michigan University. Since then, I earned my master’s in education from Loyola University Maryland which led to working on my doctoral research at UW-Madison in Curriculum Studies and Global Studies.

I was born in the metro Detroit area and grew up there most of my life. I love to visit during holiday breaks since my two younger siblings and parents still live there. When I am not studying or reading for class, I like to spend time with my two cats (Margot and Miya), shooting and developing film photography, spending time outdoors, or watching hockey, among other things.

It’s been a little less than a year since I moved to Madison, but I am loving every minute of it so far! It reminds me of home and the Midwest in general. Thanks for making me feel so welcome!

Renee Deschard - On Unpaid Sabbatical - Former Board President and Substitute Teacher - 3 years with UHP

Renee has two children who attend UHP and also was the President of the UHP Board. Renee was a public school librarian for 8 years in Wisconsin and is looking forward to working with children again (and reading fun stories!). Her favorite past times are dancing, listening to music, singing and playing tennis. Her favorite children's book author is Mo Willems.

24-25 Dream Team continues! Dreaming up more ideas for growing strong, healthy families. We love teaching and it shows through our relationships with our kids and families!

Dream Team = Ms. Karen and Ms. Jennie for the 23-24 Academic Year! We are grateful to have such wonderful kids and families!

Ms. Karen and Ms. Jennie's first and last day of Preschool for the 22-23 Academic Year! It was a great year!

First day of Summer Camp! Looking forward to rolling the kids around in the mud!

Our teachers are the heart of UHP. The work we do together as a team betters the lives of the children and families we serve. If you love children, play-based, nature, and kindness curriculum as well as being outside, you might be a good fit. Please apply by emailing a letter of interest and resume to kmbeck@uhpparentcooperative.org. Here are the job descriptions:

UHP Preschool Teacher 24-25 Academic Year -

Part time (Build your own schedule):

8:15am – 1pm, 1 - 5 days, (4-20 hrs/week)
11:30am – 1pm, 1 - 5 days/week, MTWRF (1.5-7.5 hours/week) Lunch Bunch

Pay range is $14 – 18 per hour depending on experience. Teachers receive a monthly Child Care Counts pay bonus through June 2025.

Pyramid Model Poster.pdf

Growing healthy families by promoting the social and emotional development of toddlers and young children with our Program Wide Pyramid Model Implementation!

Photo taken: 5/24/2023

We Can Be Problem Solvers! Read by Ms. Karen We are starting Program Wide Pyramid Model Implementation. I hope you will enjoy this book with your child! Watch for additional resources coming soon!

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