O.N.S. Faculty
Jayne Lock - Director
Jayne has been part of the Okemos Nursery School community since 2011 and joined the teaching team here in 2017. She holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and Ph.D. and enjoyed a career in research and extension in the UK before moving to the USA with her husband, a Professor at Michigan State University. Here she has pursued her lifelong ambition of raising her children and becoming an early childhood educator. Jayne has been integral to many creative projects with ONS over the years while extending her studies in early childhood development and education. Informed by the Reggio Emilia Approach, and intertwining a forest school approach to learning, she believes wholeheartedly in what has become known by many as “the magic of ONS”. Jayne is the proud mother of two ONS graduates!
Kate Heller-Cesario - Lead Teacher
Kate holds a degree in psychology from Loyola University Chicago and is an AMI certified Montessori elementary teacher. She has more than 20 years of experience in both public and private schools, teaching in Chicago and New York City before moving to the Mid-Michigan area with her family. Kate comes to us from the Okemos Public Montessori (Radmoor and Central), where she has worked in a teaching and support capacity for over a decade. With personal interests in nature and the Fine Arts, Kate is the mother of four children, all who attend Okemos schools.
Jessica Bograkos - Assistant Teacher
Jessica is our assistant teacher at Okemos Nursery School. She holds a B.S. in Psychology (emphasis in Child Development) from Michigan State University. After a 10-year coaching career at MSU, Jessica is following her true passion for early childhood development and education. She continues to further her learning of the Reggio Approach, forest schools and holistic “whole child” education. She is the mother of one ONS graduate and also has a child currently enrolled in the program.
Renae Slaton - Director Emeritus and Substitute Teacher
Renae has been the Owner/Director of Okemos Nursery School since 1976 and we greatly value her steadfast guidance and involvement as our program continues to evolve. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Psychology (area of interest, Child Psychology) from Michigan State University. During the past several years she has had the fortunate opportunity to study the philosophy and pedagogy of the Reggio Approach to early childhood education in Reggio Emilia, Italy and throughout the United States at various colleges, universities and Reggio inspired centers. Renae has over 45 years of experience working with preschool children and is herself the proud mom of four ONS Graduates!
Judy Hirn - Substitute Teacher
Judy was the Lead Teacher at Okemos Nursery School for almost as long as Renae was director. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education (with minors in Social Studies and Fine Arts) from Michigan State University. She has over 40 years of experience working with preschool children and has been Lead Teacher at Okemos Nursery School since she graduated college - with all three of her own children graduating from ONS! We are thrilled Judy has agreed to be our substitute teacher when the occasional need arises.
Wanda Degen - Music Specialist
Wanda is our “Musician in Residence” at Okemos Nursery School. She is well known as a member of the trio, “Lady of the Lake”, and as a teacher of dulcimer and auto harp at Elderly Instruments in Lansing. She has also been Coordinator of the Children’s Concerts for the City of East Lansing, and past Performance Coordinator for the East Lansing Arts Festival. Wanda has over 35 years of experience working with preschool children. Wanda's two daughters are graduates of ONS!
Mary Jane Heppner-Gamble - Creative Movement Specialist
Mary Jane is our Creative Movement instructor. She began her dance career in 1972 as a full-time student at the Cleveland Ballet and has taught creative dance for over 30 years. She teaches many classes in Creative Movement for children through the East Lansing Recreation Department and the MAC. In the course of her classes, she uses music, props and stories and weaves them into dances.
Corey Quintus – Studio Art Instructor
Corey is a sculptor and fiber artist. She attended The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City and has a Masters degree in Education from Goddard College. She has over ten years of experience teaching Studio Art to students of all ages and is excited to work in a Reggio-inspired environment. She enjoys teaching students how to look and create with the eyes of an artist and offers many process-based activities for students to express themselves. Corey has two daughters both of whom are ONS Graduates!
Jim McGrath – Nature Discovery
“Mr. Jim” is the founder of Nature Discovery, a private nature center that provides Michigan-specific wildlife education for all ages at a range of venues across the state. He has a degree in Wildlife Biology from Michigan State University and over 34 years of experience as an interpretive naturalist. He is also a weekly specialist Michigan nature/wildlife teacher at Montessori Children's House in Lansing and Stepping Stones Montessori in East Lansing. Jim's obvious love of nature is infectious to students of all ages, from preschool through adult!
Carol McGrath – Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carol McGrath has a degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Illinois. After working as a chemist in the private sector, she has worked at Nature Discovery with her husband Jim for the past 24 years, and supplements this with multidisciplinary science education, including hands-on biology, physics, physical science and chemistry lessons for children. She is a specialist science teacher at Montessori Children's House in Lansing and Stepping Stones Montessori in East Lansing and also teaches youth-oriented classes through Lansing Community College.
We feel extremely fortunate to have all the resources these exceptional people bring to our program!
