Our Team
Our teachers are masters of their own craft.
Our science teacher is a scientist, and our art teacher is an artist.
Amber Jones
Owner & Director
Amber is inspired by every aspect of this community, from the students, to the teachers, to the philosophies of education she assists in implementing every day at Lighthouse. She has worked in education since before she graduated highschool. From tutoring, to teaching preschool, to working in both private and public school settings, she has found her home in our unconventional enrichment program.
Amber knows, believes, and sees through her experience that children can and will flourish in less traditional, confined learning environments. She values self-expression, connection, growth, nature, hands-on involvement, movement, and of course arts, maths, sciences, and literature being implemented in an educational setting. Her passion for leadership, community, education, communication, and all things detail-oriented make her the perfect fit to manage The Lighthouse School.
Katie Parrulli
Assistant Director & JHS/HS Lead Teacher
Six years ago, Katie created a process art based program for preschool aged children which she still currently teaches. She runs numerous art based spring break and summer camps for preschool through middle school aged students. She recently entered the world of homeschooling where she teaches art and theatre based programs.
Katie works as Oakland Nature Preserve’s “Artist in Residence” as well as a freelance mural artist around Orlando. She has lived in Central Florida for 13 years with her husband and two children.
Karen McGowan
Marketing Director/Community Outreach Coordinator
& UE Lead Teacher
Karen McGowan is an art teacher and professional artist from southern Louisiana. As the owner of Creative U, she has had a very successful span of over seven years of opening the eyes of our youth to the amazing world of art. Her background includes creating for collectors, festival artwork, pet portraits, Boy Scouts of America patch designer (2 times!), murals in many establishments throughout the south, book illustration, and logo design. Any opportunity to create, she does! Schooled in Art Education, with a minor in Italian Renaissance Art, Karen has learned countless ways to bring art into the world and how to teach it. Her favorite art medium is textured acrylic, though she can teach it all! She’s always looking for new and improved ways to create.
Meghann Rutherford
HR Director & ELE Lead Teacher
Meghann Rutherford is a wife and mom of two girls and two puppies! She graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in criminology and University of North Carolina in Paralegal Studies. Her background spans from teaching preschool, being a social worker, and as a Guardian ad Litem. If she is not cheering for Buffalo, you can usually find her out on her boat! She has always wanted to dive into the homeschool world of teaching and is so excited to be given the opportunity to teach your young ones!
Our Teachers
When designing course work for The Lighthouse School enrichment program, the first priority for our teachers is to teach something that lights them up. When they do this, their joy and dedication spill out into what they teach and in turn lights the kids up.
Our teachers employ interactive discussions and problem-solving exercises to offer a more engaging learning experience for students. They seek to provide students with opportunities to work both independently and with their peers and instructor to reinforce learning.
What Our Teachers Say
Looking to join our team?
We are building a community of learners that will become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.
