Staff Biographies

Our enthusiastic and nurturing classroom staff are committed to providing a safe, stimulating, and carefully prepared environment to foster your child's development and growth.

Jessica Gerhardt Sackett received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in 1984. Ms. Sackett attended the Early Childhood Program at Columbus Montessori Education Center in 2003-2004 with the completion of her Early Childhood Credential in September, 2005. From May 1999 to November 2000, Jessica was an employee in the Children’s Department of the Lakewood Public Library. In addition to working with the public, she was responsible for creating and conducting weekend and after school story programs.

In November, 2000, Ms. Sackett was employed by Montessori Children’s School, formerly known as Bay Village Montessori School, as a classroom assistant and substitute. In 2003, while studying at Columbus Montessori Education Center, Ms. Sackett became the Directress of a Pre-primary - morning and afternoon classroom. In July, 2007 Ms. Sackett began teaching at Avon Montessori School, Avon, Ohio. Jessica is our Director of Education and our lead preprimary teacher. She has played an integral role in the founding of Avon Montessori School.

Jessica has been married to Peter Sackett for twenty-four years and is raising two, young men – Lee and Wilson.

Jennifer Lukacs graduated from Ohio State University with a Masters in Elementary Education in 1997.  She taught for two years in the Columbus City School District and for four years in the Cleveland Municipal School System.  Her favorite teaching experiences were in kindergarten and in Reading Recovery.  She received Reading Recovery training during the 1998-1999 school year and also received beginning reading instruction training through The American Federation of Teachers Educational Research and Dissemination Program in 2000-2002.  Jennifer is very interested in pursuing her Montessori Primary (Elementary) Education Certification. Jennifer has played an integral part in developing our kindergarten curriculum, and will be continuing to evaluate our students’ early reading levels and skills. She will also be assisting in the indoor and outdoor classrooms. Jennifer and her husband Edward are the proud parents of their daughter Zoe.

Alana Spitzer - Alana Spitzer earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Jacksonville University in 2007. As a firm believer in learning through experience as a way of life, Alana loves to travel and to try any opportunity presented to her. While continuing to create her artwork, Alana returned to Lorain County Community College to pursue her teaching certification, and graduated in 2011, receiving the Outstanding Student of the Year in academic excellence and leadership for the department of Early Childhood Education.

Alana’s passion in teaching is deeply rooted in Montessori philosophy. She studied Montessori Education and completed Montessori preprimary and toddler training simultaneously. She volunteered at the Firelands Montessori Academy regularly and began substituting with them in 2009. She spent the 2010-2011 academic year student teaching at FMA.

In addition to teaching in the classroom, Alana worked with the all of the preprimary classes to create works of art for the fall art auction. In the spring she helped to design and create a peace pole with the entire school. She is very excited to be joining her fellow Montessorians at AMS.

Karen Stewart graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1987 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, and over the years was employed as an Accountant and Human Resource Administrator. In 2004, Karen became the Administration Director of Governance Automation Services Inc. a firm specializing in governmental compliance documentation and risk management related services. Simultaneously, Karen became involved in Montessori Education through the enrollment of her two children. Based on her administrative credentials and motivated by personal experiences, her enthusiasm for Montessori and the Avon Community, Karen and husband Arthur Stewart founded Avon Montessori School in June 2007. Karen is our School Administrator. Karen will be completing her CDA Early Childhood Credential this fall, and will be pursuing her Masters of Education and Preprimary Montessori Certification beginning in the fall of 2011. Karen and Arthur are proud parents of two children – Brenna (1st grader) and Daniel who will be continuing his second preprimary year at AMS in the 2009 – 2010 school year.

Board of Directors

The Avon Montessori School board of directors provides an effective balance of experience, effective business administration, local, state and federal governmental compliance, and current Educational expertise.

The Avon Montessori School Board of Directors sole purpose is to provide strategic planning and the long-term stewardship of the School. The board as a whole and each of its members individually, provide the credentials and experience required to operate the school effectively with a strong belief in and commitment to Montessori education and the families it serves.

William Gallagher

Arthur W. Stewart Jr.

Karen E. Stewart

Heather Petruccelli

Julie Felder