Executive Director, Geography

Lori Peters is the founder of One Spark Academy. She wholeheartedly believes in the principles of teaching the whole child– meeting students’ academic, social, and emotional needs– and inspiring students to be healthy, balanced, and globally aware. In July 2011, after 16 years in public alternative education, Lori decided to put her energy into helping students find their spark and enjoy the process of learning with like-minded peers in a truly unique learning environment.

Math, Food Fascination, Gardening

Beyond inspiring her students to love math and science, Laura Erlig is the mastermind behind our Food Fascination classes and our lunch program at One Spark Academy.  A firm believer in whole child education, Laura’s experience includes 16 years in public education. Working with varied learners and in progressive programs helped Laura forge her educational philosophy, whereby students must have choices and experience in order to comprehend the whole meaning of what they are taught­– this connection keeps them engaged in their learning process.

English, History, Creative Writing

Way back in the day, when the birds sang a little sweeter and there was still a chance for your Hogwarts letter to come in the mail, Lori Peters had a student named Melanie Ware. She ran wild, a barefoot child roaming the woods and the beach like some kind of fairy. She kept growing up, sprouting dreams, spanning miles until finally, she ended up at UC Santa Cruz. There, she spent four years studying Shakespeare, Kerouac, and Woolf, exploring Iceland and New Zealand and everywhere in between.

History, Journalism, Humanities, Science

Jenni Buchanan has always believed that the greatest gift we can give our children (and our society) is a love of learning and a feeling of investment in their own education. In order for this to happen, we must respect and educate the whole child: body, mind, and spirit. When she read the first sentence of the One Spark Academy philosophy, she knew her family had found a home. Daughter Gwenna attended OSA for three years (and now writes for the Panther Prowler at NPHS). Jenni has served on the OSA Board of Directors since 2015.

Math, MAYL

Rachel Ameche loves learning and sharing that joy with students. She has been working in education for ten years, teaching classes at an alternative education program, substitute teaching in public schools, and teaching middle school science. Through raising her four kids and her experience in education, she learned that honoring students as unique, precious individuals is key to inspiring lifelong curiosity. Her two oldest children have experienced the benefit of One Spark Academy’s teaching approach, and she is happy to be a part of it.

Sous Chef, Food Fascination, Fitness Club

Sue Eaton was a part-time volunteer while her son attended OSA in 2015.  She happily joined the OSA Family in 2016 and found her niche in the kitchen.  She has a Culinary Arts degree from South Seattle Community College and is also a proud graduate of Washington State University.  Sue thoroughly enjoys her time in the kitchen with the kids and loves interacting with the entire staff – the kitchen is where all the action is!  In her free time, you can find her out on one of the many local trails running and/or mountain biking, or at the gym taking a spin class or two.

Gardening, Food Fascination, Study Sessions

Deneen Cienfuegos dove headfirst into alternative education when her boys first went to preschool. At Conejo Elementary’s Open Classroom is where she originally met Lori and Laura. As her philosophy of education continued to develop, this naturally progressed to homeschooling her boys for the last five years. Through teaching her sons, she caught a glimpse into the future of possibilities of authentic education. Learning by doing, teaching multiple subjects within a single lesson, encouraging discussion, and elongating lessons for true mastery are a few examples.

Earth Science, Astronomy, Climate Science, Film Studies