People

We are looking for personnel with a heart for children and for education.
Click here to learn more about employment at Ambleside.

Ambleside School of Ocala staff:

Valarie Lacefield, Kindergarten Teacher

In addition to several years of experience as a Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lacefield previously worked as a Marion County School Board contracted Speech Pathologist. She has a passion for learning and for children. She holds a BA in Education of the Speech & Hearing Handicapped as well as an MS in Speech & Language Pathology from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia. Valarie along with her husband and three daughters attend Church of Hope.

Rebecca Mason, First-Second Grade Teacher

Miss Mason's bio coming soon!

Cayce Miller, Third-Fourth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Miller's bio coming soon!

Stephen Zedler, Fifth-Sixth Grade Teacher

Mr. Zedler's bio coming soon!

Emelyn Palm, Art Teacher

Native Floridian, Emelyn Palm is an accomplished painter and teacher. Her work has been selected for juried exhibitions and is included in numerous private and corporate collections in the U.S., England and New Zealand. She holds an MFA in drawing and painting from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from the University of Florida. Emelyn has also studied art in Cortona, Italy. She has over fifteen years of teaching experience in both public and private school settings.

Nelle Smith, Apprentice Teacher and Music Instructor

Miss Smith's bio coming soon!

Shari Ausley, Spanish Teacher and Executive Director

En 1994 Mrs.Ausley recbió su título en Negocios Internacionales en la Universidad Estatal de San Diego (SDSU). Sus estudios incluyeron séis meses en la Universidad Iberoamericana en la Ciudad de México. También estudió un semestre en la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California que se ubica en Tijuana, México.

Heather Regnier, Office Manager

Mrs. Regnier's bio coming soon!

School Board:

Mrs. Ausley, along with her husband, Ken, established Ambleside School of Ocala in early 2005. Before moving to Ocala in 2002, she served as a missionary for 7 years with Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of California at Irvine, as well as various colleges and universities in Tampa, Florida and San Francisco, California. She is the mother of three children ages 5, 8, and 10.

Mr. Ausley is Co-Owner of Ausley Construction Co., Inc. & ACA Construction Group, LLC. He holds a BA in History from Florida State University and attends Christ Community. He is a Founding Board Member of First Avenue National Bank, and serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marion County as well as United Way of Marion County Endowment Committee.

Mr. Werner serves as the Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking at Community Bank and Trust of Florida. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Marketing and Business Law and his Master’s degree in Retail Bank Management from the University of Virginia. His community affiliations are as follows:

• Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Council—Director, Immediate Past Chairman;
• First United Methodist Church—Chair, Church Council and CrossWalk Praise Band;
• March of Dimes—Steering Committee, 2007 In Honor of Excellence.

Dave and his wife, Betty Werner, are members of First United Methodist Church, Ocala.

Mrs. Werner is a recently retired teacher with the Marion County public schools. She received a BA in Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Education at the University of Florida. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Florida Southern College and a member of First United Methodist Church in Ocala.

Mrs. Smith's bio's coming soon!

Mrs. Miller's bio's coming soon!