About Mrs. Rinehart

Hello!

My name is Tess Rinehart, and I am the school counselor and a coach at Mt. Ayr Community Schools. School Year 2025-26 will be my seventh year as the school counselor at Mt. Ayr Community Schools. Since I will be spending a lot of time working with the Mt. Ayr students, I thought that I would provide you with some information about me.

Background

I was born in Des Moines, IA, and raised in Mt. Ayr, IA. I graduated Mt. Ayr High School in 2009. While attending Mt. Ayr Community Schools, I participated in a plethora of activities, clubs, and athletics, including volleyball, basketball, track, softball, drill team, FCCLA, FTA, Spanish Club, and FCA. I am honored to say that I am a Mt. Ayr School alumni because I truly believe that Mt. Ayr Schools offers a one-of-a-kind experience for their students.

In August of 2014, I got married to Tanner Rinehart. In October 2016, we expanded our family and had our son, Clyde. Again, we expanded our family and welcomed Ike to the world in January of 2019. Our kids keep us very busy, and we would not choose to have it any other way. Tanner works for Southwest Iowa REC out of Mt. Ayr, while operating a mowing business: TNT Lawn Care. 

My parents Hugh and Jackie Whitson live in Ellston, IA. My mom, Jackie, works at Greater Regional Medical Center as the nursing director of the surgery department. My father, Hugh, operates his farm in Ellston with the help of my brother, Tyler.

Besides my brother Tyler, I have a sister, Bailey, who works as a travel nurse, has her RN license. My oldest brother, Chris, lives in California. He serves our country in the Marines, and his wife, Laura, works as a veterinarian. They have three beautiful children Letty, Pierce, and Breckin.

My father-in-law, Lynn Rinehart, is a retired business owner. My mother-in-law, Kathy, is a retired teacher and retired EveryStep grief counselor, and my sister-in-law, Korbie, works at the Ringgold County Courthouse. Korbie lives with two of my favorite people, also known as my nephew and niece, Sully and Keely.

Education

After graduating high school in 2009, I went Simpson College in the fall of 2009. In the spring of 2013, I received my Bachelor's of Arts in English with a minor in Secondary Education. I also received educational endorsements in 5-12 Language Arts, 5-12 Journalism, and 5-12 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate.

I enrolled in Morningside College during the summer of 2013. Four years later, I received my Master's of Arts in Teaching Special Education and received educational endorsements in K-8 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate, K-12 Instructional Strategist II: ID, K-12 Instructional Strategist II: BD/LD, and Special Education Consultant.

After graduating with my Master's of Arts in Teaching Special Education from Morningside College, I enrolled in the Master's of School Counseling program at Buena Vista University in Stormlake, IA, in January 2018.  

Work Experience

Before taking on the school counseling position for the 2019-20 school year, I taught at Mt. Ayr for one year. I taught middle school special education. At Mt. Ayr, I have had the opportunity to coach middle school softball and middle school basketball.

Prior to teaching in at Mt. Ayr, I taught at Lenox Community Schools for five years. At Lenox Schools, I taught junior high and high school reading and resource classes. While teaching at Lenox, I also was the assistant track coach for two years.

I have also had the pleasure of teaching several classes at Mt. Ayr Schools Sites for Learning program as the teacher, substitute teacher, and classroom paraprofessional.

Mrs. Rinehart has a variety of other hobbies including, but not limited to, reading for pleasure, participating in CrossFit, spending time with family and friends, traveling to beautiful places, playing recreational sports, and watching the Chiefs on game days.