Our Staff
DIRECTOR & FOUNDER - LYNNE SHEEHAN
Lynne Sheehan is a lifelong resident of Medway. She has four children: One college graduate, one at Medway High School, two in College. Lynne owned a local preschool for over 15 years and worked in the public schools before starting St. Joseph Academy in 2008. Lynne has over 25 years of experience working with young children. She enjoys telling stories, using puppets and dancing with the children.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - ANGELA SIMONDS
Angela Simonds is the mother of three sons, twins who are 11 years old and a 9 year old (who is a Saint Joseph Academy graduate). She manages the administration for St. Joseph Academy. Angela lives in Uxbridge with her husband, children, and her dog, Lucky. She grew up in Medway. Angela has worked at SJA since 2013. She possesses a degree in Early Childhood Education and is certified through the state in preschool administration, as well as a BA in Business Administration/Management. She also has 8 years of preschool teaching experience. Angela enjoys boating, beaches, and watching her boys play baseball, basketball, and soccer.
TEACHING STAFF:
Amy Blenkhorn
Amy has over 20 years of experience working with preschoolers. She teaches because she is passionate about fostering independence and a love of learning in young children. Amy grew up in Medway and continues to live in town with her family. Her three children and their activities leave little time for hobbies, but she enjoys Bible study, playing games, reading and crafts.
Elaine Avellino
Elaine has been a resident of Medway for over 35 years where she and her husband have raised three children. Elaine has been working with children for over 35 years. On the weekends Elaine works with elderly Alzheimer's patients.
Cheryl Hamilton
A longtime Medway resident and parent to two college students. Cheryl has been a teacher at St. Joseph Academy for six years. Young at heart, it's easy to tell Cheryl loves working with children! Cheryl volunteered as a religious education teacher for many years and fosters dogs from the Medfield Animal Shelter in her home. Cheryl loves to travel, cook and read in her free time.
Michelle Hoben
Michelle lives in Medway with her husband and 2 daughters. She has recently completed her degree in Early Childhood Education and we are thrilled to have her teaching at Saint Joseph Academy for her second year. Prior to teaching in our three-day program, Michelle worked at Saint Joe's as our librarian. Her enthusiasm for the early childhood profession is one of her many great qualities.
Donna Schmitt
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Donna later lived in the Mountain West. Donna has taught in public preschool programs which served children with and without special needs. Donna has been a teacher at St. Joseph Academy for two years and LOVES swimming, which she also taught for 20 years, as well as crafts, home decorating and reading.
Lauren DiCicco
Lauren has been working with children for many years. She was an educator before she had children. She stayed home with her two kids for 10 years before re-joining the education field at Saint Joseph Academy. Lauren lives in Medway with
her husband and two children ages 12 & 9. She enjoys travelling, cooking, and running.
Lisa Swan
Lisa has been working at SJA for 4 years as our permanent substitute, and now has a teacher position in our 5 day class. Lisa is a resident of Medway and she and her husband have raised two sons here. Her oldest is a graduate of Westfield State College and is getting married next year, and her younger son is a Senior at Westfield.
- Nancy "Grandma" Hamilton
Nancy has over 40 years working in the early childhood field. She has 4 grown boys and has 7 grandchildren (two of them are Saint Joseph Academy Alumni). Nancy brings a wealth of knowledge to our program and helps in all of our programs. One of her favorite things to do is to cook with the children in all of the classes! She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, her house in Cape Cod, and Knitting.
Emma Ceurvels
Emma is the mother of four boys! Her oldest boy is an alumni of SJA and her 2nd and 3rd are currently students at SJA. Emma has experience teaching music in the public schools as well as at a local church. She helps with all of our shows, as well as plays the music for our Christmas pageant each year!
Tara DiMinico
Tara is SJA's permanent substitute. She spends the first couple of months helping in all of the classrooms and getting to know all of the children. She is here a lot throughout the year filling in for teachers, helping during assessments, and whenever we need an extra set of hands. Tara has three children in the Medway Public Schools and her youngest is an SJA graduate! We are very glad to have Tara on board this year. She has a background in Education and enjoys working with preschool age children.
Lynne Sheehan is a lifelong resident of Medway. She has four children: One college graduate, one at Medway High School, two in College. Lynne owned a local preschool for over 15 years and worked in the public schools before starting St. Joseph Academy in 2008. Lynne has over 25 years of experience working with young children. She enjoys telling stories, using puppets and dancing with the children.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - ANGELA SIMONDS
Angela Simonds is the mother of three sons, twins who are 11 years old and a 9 year old (who is a Saint Joseph Academy graduate). She manages the administration for St. Joseph Academy. Angela lives in Uxbridge with her husband, children, and her dog, Lucky. She grew up in Medway. Angela has worked at SJA since 2013. She possesses a degree in Early Childhood Education and is certified through the state in preschool administration, as well as a BA in Business Administration/Management. She also has 8 years of preschool teaching experience. Angela enjoys boating, beaches, and watching her boys play baseball, basketball, and soccer.
TEACHING STAFF:
Amy Blenkhorn
Amy has over 20 years of experience working with preschoolers. She teaches because she is passionate about fostering independence and a love of learning in young children. Amy grew up in Medway and continues to live in town with her family. Her three children and their activities leave little time for hobbies, but she enjoys Bible study, playing games, reading and crafts.
Elaine Avellino
Elaine has been a resident of Medway for over 35 years where she and her husband have raised three children. Elaine has been working with children for over 35 years. On the weekends Elaine works with elderly Alzheimer's patients.
Cheryl Hamilton
A longtime Medway resident and parent to two college students. Cheryl has been a teacher at St. Joseph Academy for six years. Young at heart, it's easy to tell Cheryl loves working with children! Cheryl volunteered as a religious education teacher for many years and fosters dogs from the Medfield Animal Shelter in her home. Cheryl loves to travel, cook and read in her free time.
Michelle Hoben
Michelle lives in Medway with her husband and 2 daughters. She has recently completed her degree in Early Childhood Education and we are thrilled to have her teaching at Saint Joseph Academy for her second year. Prior to teaching in our three-day program, Michelle worked at Saint Joe's as our librarian. Her enthusiasm for the early childhood profession is one of her many great qualities.
Donna Schmitt
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Donna later lived in the Mountain West. Donna has taught in public preschool programs which served children with and without special needs. Donna has been a teacher at St. Joseph Academy for two years and LOVES swimming, which she also taught for 20 years, as well as crafts, home decorating and reading.
Lauren DiCicco
Lauren has been working with children for many years. She was an educator before she had children. She stayed home with her two kids for 10 years before re-joining the education field at Saint Joseph Academy. Lauren lives in Medway with
her husband and two children ages 12 & 9. She enjoys travelling, cooking, and running.
Lisa Swan
Lisa has been working at SJA for 4 years as our permanent substitute, and now has a teacher position in our 5 day class. Lisa is a resident of Medway and she and her husband have raised two sons here. Her oldest is a graduate of Westfield State College and is getting married next year, and her younger son is a Senior at Westfield.
- Nancy "Grandma" Hamilton
Nancy has over 40 years working in the early childhood field. She has 4 grown boys and has 7 grandchildren (two of them are Saint Joseph Academy Alumni). Nancy brings a wealth of knowledge to our program and helps in all of our programs. One of her favorite things to do is to cook with the children in all of the classes! She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, her house in Cape Cod, and Knitting.
Emma Ceurvels
Emma is the mother of four boys! Her oldest boy is an alumni of SJA and her 2nd and 3rd are currently students at SJA. Emma has experience teaching music in the public schools as well as at a local church. She helps with all of our shows, as well as plays the music for our Christmas pageant each year!
Tara DiMinico
Tara is SJA's permanent substitute. She spends the first couple of months helping in all of the classrooms and getting to know all of the children. She is here a lot throughout the year filling in for teachers, helping during assessments, and whenever we need an extra set of hands. Tara has three children in the Medway Public Schools and her youngest is an SJA graduate! We are very glad to have Tara on board this year. She has a background in Education and enjoys working with preschool age children.