Faculty & Staff Biographies - Special Classes Faculty

Annette Lustenberger – Catechist
Before entering the field of education, Annette worked for eight years to develop and coordinate “Teens Encounter Christ,” a retreat program for adolescents in Winnipeg, Canada. She earned a Bachelor of Education in French from University of Winnipeg in 1983 and taught high school French and religion for seven years in Winnipeg. In 1992, she graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio with an M.A. in Theology and went on to teach in a Catholic boarding high school. In 2003, Annette completed Level I and II training in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and has worked as catechist in the the pre-primary and lower elementary atria at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori. She now serves as the middle school catechist.

Jana Widmeyer:  Catechist
Jana Widmeyer holds a BA and MA in history and a certificate in historic preservation from the University of Cincinnati.     She has taught history and religion to children and adults in a variety of church and school settings and has completed Level I and II training in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.    Her work over the years with elected officials on the local, state and federal levels has provided her with a broad range of experience in civic affairs and led to humanitarian trips to Haiti and Nicaragua and the opportunity to teach American political thought to women in Russia.  She has been involved with a number of charitable organizations, serving as a volunteer and board member, including a term on the GSCM board of trustees.   She is actively involved in her parish chairing the Welcoming Committee and the Parish Library and is treasurer of the Cincinnati Right to Life PAC and a board member of the Ohio Right to Life PAC.   Jana is also president of our school’s PTO and sings at the weekly school Mass.  She is married to Michael and has two children who attend GSCM.

Ximena Flores – Spanish Teacher
Ximena graduated from the College of Mt. St. Joseph with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Ceramic Sculpture in 1994.  She then went on to earn an M.F.A. at the University of Cincinnati. Ximena has been a teacher for over twelve  years, and taught Spanish at Summit Country Day School before coming to The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori in 2005.  Originally from Quito, Ecuador, has lived in Cincinnati for the past fifteen years, and recently became an American citizen. She is fluent in English and Spanish, her native language.  Ximena shares her life with her daughter who is now a college student.

Joyce Lewis:  Spanish Teachers, grades 6-8
Joyce Lewis earned a B.A. in Spanish from Central Washington University, and a Masters of Arts in Spanish Literature from the University of Cincinnati.  Mrs. Lewis has a wealth of experience teaching Spanish at the junior high, high school, and college level, and also with adults.  She brings with her 14 years of experience as a Spanish teacher at high schools and an elementary school in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Shannon Treier – Elementary Art Teacher
Shannon graduated from Morehead State University in 1989 with a degree in Art with concentrations in Painting and History.  She has exhibited her own works in Cincinnati and Columbus, including a solo show and the Krohn Conservatory re-opening.  Shannon began as an art teacher at GSCM in 2005.  She enjoys connecting the historical aspects of art and art techniques with the students.  She also has a passion for sharing the excitement and fun of self expression and the joy of creating.

Joy France – Lower Elementary Music Teacher
Joy graduated in 1993 from Wilmington College with degrees in Musical Theater and Biology. Having grown up as the youngest of eleven children, Joy learned how music can be an integral part of family life. She continued her singing as a member of the Grailville Choir, the Columbus Symphony Chorus, and performed various singing roles with the Miami University Summer Theatre, Phoenix Theatre Circle and Children’s Theater of Columbus. Joy and her husband, Steve, live in Loveland with their daughter, a student at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori.

Barb Blasch:  Upper Elementary Music Teacher
Barbara Blasch shares her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for music as our upper elementary music teacher.  An accomplished musician, Mrs. Blasch is the organist at St. Jerome Church where she has led the congregation in song for eight years.  GSCM students and parents also enjoy Barb’s singing and musicianship at our weekly Mass, where she has assisted Mary Hamiter for the past four years. Mrs. Blasch earned her B.A. at Georgetown College and a law degree from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law at N.K.U.   She has practiced law and served as an adjunct professor in paralegal studies at the University of Cincinnati.  Over the years Mrs. Blasch has given piano and guitar lessons to students of elementary and high school age, as well as substitute teaching grade school music classes. Since she truly enjoys teaching, especially music, Mrs. Blasch is eagerly looking forward to working with the children of GSCM.  Barb and her husband, Paul Blasch, are the parents of Daniel and Annie, who are students at GSCM, and Matthew, a 2009 GSCM graduate.

Jeannie Speier – Music/Movement Teacher
Jeannie is an accomplished dancer with a background that equips her to offer a rich arts education program to children. She earned a B.A. from St. Louis University in “Communications through Movement,” and a Masters of Arts in Dance Therapy from Hunter College in New York. She is a certified teacher for the Katherine Dunham Dance Technique. She has trained with the Music Maker program and the Nature Trail music and movement program for 3-7 year olds. Jeannie has also lived in Bali and studied classical Balinese dance at the University for the Arts in Denpasar, Bali. Next year, Jeannie will offer a the Music Maker music/movement program to our kindergarten students. She has worked as a music/movement instructor at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori since the spring of 2001.

Missy Bushman – Physical Education Teacher
Missy recieved her B.A. in Education from Miami University in 1989.   She also has her M.S. in Audiology from Miami.    In addition to raising four children over the past ten yeras, Missy has taught swim lessons at the YMCA, coached several soccer teams, and served as a substitute teacher at St. James.   She has served as the physical education teacher at GSCM since 2007.

The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori is also a frequent internship site for graduate students completing their Montessori training.  We are always pleased to welcome them to our school!

Faculty & Staff Biographies:

Administrative Staff
Pre-Primary Team
Lower Elementary Team
Upper Elementary Team
Middle School Team
Special Classes Faculty
Support Staff