Rhonda Presler

Rhonda Presler became involved in the mission of Friends United when she hosted 2 teachers in her home when the group from Honduras visited Independence in 2023. She enjoyed visiting with them and learning about them and their families, students and schools. Elena Perez even taught her how to make pupusas!! After that visit, she made her first trip to Honduras and then became a member of the Friends United Board.

Rhonda is a Special Education teacher, with a Bachelor’s degree in Mild to Moderate Disabilities, Elementary Education, and Emotional Disturbance and Behavior Disorders (ED/BD). Her Master’s degree is in Severe and Profound Disabilities. She later added High School English and Physical Education to her list of Teaching Certifications. Rhonda has teaching experience in both early childhood and high school. She currently is teaching after retirement in the Parkville School District in Parkville, Missouri.

Rhonda has taught swimming lessons for over 40 years, coached Special Olympics athletes for over 30 years, and has also coached and played volleyball for many years. She and herhusband, Rex, are very involved in their church, and spend much of their time following their 5 children and 4 grandchildren around to all their various activities. Her hobbies include reading, embroidery, quilting, and gardening. She works daily on becoming better at speaking and understanding Spanish.