Jen Knabb teaches 4th grade Science and Social Studies at FPES. Jen has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Evansville and a Master’s degree in Education from Mount St. Joseph University. She holds a Lead Professional License and has over 21 years of experience -- all in 4th grade! Aside from her duties in the classroom, Jen also serves on the District Leadership Team and the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Committee. Jen’s unofficial title is “Best Teacher Ever!”, and her student’s will completely agree! When she’s not at school, Jen enjoys traveling and would love to complete the National Park Quest to visit all 62 national parks with her husband Mark.
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Jen Knabb
Jen Knabb teaches 4th grade Science and Social Studies at FPES. Jen has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Evansville and a Master’s degree in Education from Mount St. Joseph University. She holds a Lead Professional License and has over 21 years of experience -- all in 4th grade! Aside from her duties in the classroom, Jen also serves on the District Leadership Team and the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Committee. Jen’s unofficial title is “Best Teacher Ever!”, and her student’s will completely agree! When she’s not at school, Jen enjoys traveling and would love to complete the National Park Quest to visit all 62 national parks with her husband Mark.
Nathan Birkhimer
Nathan Birkhimer is the Agricultural Instructor and FFA Advisor for FPHS. “Birk” is in his 7th year teaching all areas of Agricultural Education including Mechanical Principles, Agribusiness, Animal and Plant Science, AFNR, and Livestock Selection, Nutrition, and Management. He has a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Agriscience Education from The Ohio State University and holds a Professional Career Technical (4-12) Licensure. Being the district FFA Advisor keeps Birk busy with the students both inside and outside of school, but when he’s off for the summer, he always looks forward to going home to compete in the Combine Derby at the Columbiana County Fair. Birk is engaged to 4th grade teacher Gabby Valentine, and he is looking forward to their December wedding!
Erika Lockhart
Erika Lockhart brings seventeen years of teaching experience to FPMS where she teaches 7th and 8th grade General Science. She has a Bachelor of Education in 4-9 Science and Language Arts from Otterbein University and a Master’s in Zoology from Miami University. Erika advises the 7th and 8th Grade Science Club who maintain the school’s outdoor habitat which offers hands-on learning experiences for MS students. Erika is also the advisor for the 7th and 8th grade Science Fair, and she serves on the Building Leadership Team and the District Leadership Team. In her time away from school, Erika loves spending time outdoors with her family, traveling, and exploring new places!
Gretchen Ansteatt
Gretchen Ansteatt has been teaching 1st grade at FPES for the past 13 years, and she has 25 years of elementary teaching experience all together! Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Wilmington College, and she holds an Elementary (1-8) License. In addition to supporting her students in the classroom, Gretchen also serves on the Literacy Committee which works to improve instructional cohesion throughout the ES. In addition to her work with students, Gretchen serves as the FPEA Vice-President. She is an avid football and baseball fan, she enjoys gardening and being outside, and she always looks forward to spending time with her seven children and her granddaughter.
Marci Schaefer
Marci Schaefer brings over 26 years of experience to her classroom at FPHS where she teaches World History, Ohio History, and Street Law to grades 9-12. Marci also teaches CCP American History and CCP Western Civilization which allows students to earn college credit on the FPHS campus. Marci has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Wilmington College, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and has 18 hours toward her Master’s in History as well. She has a licensure in 7-12 Comprehensive Social Students and K-12 Specific Learning Disability. Outside of the classroom, Marci continues her work with students as Academic Team Coach and National Honor Society Advisor. She also supports district improvement by serving on the Local Professional Development Committee, the Building Leadership Team, and the District Leadership Team. Outside of school, Marci enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, reading, and avidly supporting streaming services
Sharon Sheets
Sharon Sheets is the K-5 Math Intervention Teacher at FPES. After more than three decades as a classroom teacher, Sharon delayed her well-earned retirement to fill the district need for math intervention in the ES! She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Rio Grande College, a Masters of Education from the University of Dayton, and holds an Elementary K-8 Professional License. Sharon is a constant presence at FPLS where she has served as the JV and Varsity Volleyball coach and has been a driving force behind the FPLS Boosters! Most importantly, Sharon is committed to the school improvement process and has served on the Building Leadership Team, the District Leadership Team, the Math Committee and was the previous Continuous Improvement Plan co-coordinator. When she’s not at school, Sharon loves spending time outdoors, especially with her husband, Toby, and their two daughters, Shelby and Sydney.
Kelley Douglas
Kelley Douglas currently teaches 4th grade ELA at FPES; however, she has had a wide range of classroom experiences -- preschool through eight grade -- during her fifteen year career. Kelley has a B.A. from Wilmington College and a Master of Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. Kelley holds a pre-k through 3 licensure with a 4-5 endorsement and a K-12 reading endorsement. Kelley is a member of the Building Leadership Team which focuses on building-wide improvement. Outside of Fayetteville, Kelley is the Co-VP of the Bethel Diamond Sports Board and the Bethel district representative for the Southern Ohio Softball League. In her time away from school, she coaches her daughter’s softball team and her son’s soccer team. Kelley is married to her high school sweetheart and she has three children, Dakota, Kylee, and Hunter, and the family is expecting a new addition in April 2022!
Beth Smith
Beth Smith has taught Anatomy, Biology, Environmental Science, and Physical Science during her thirty year teaching career -- sixteen of those years at FPHS. Beth has a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education from Miami University and holds a Professional High School (7-12) License in Biological Science and General Science. She serves as the Science Club Advisor and especially enjoys preparing students for the annual Envirothon competition.Beth also serves on the Building Leadership team. When she’s at home, Beth loves cooking for her two grown children, Carrie and Andy, and walking her dogs, Mac and Shadow.
Jeff Lockhart
Jeff Lockhart teaches US History, Government, and Psychology at FPHS. He has dedicated eighteen years to teaching the students of FPLS including several years teaching US History and World History at the middle school. Jeff has a B.A. in History from Thiel College, a Masters in Education Administration from Xavier University, and he holds an AYA (7-12) Integrated Social Studies License as well as a MS and HS Principal License. Outside of the classroom, Jeff works with students as a high school football coach, and as the Mock Trial advisor, leading his Mock Trial team to the Regional competition multiple times! Jeff is an avid reader who also enjoys fishing and spending time with his two children, Jack and Ann, and his wife, Erika..
Nathan Birkhimer
Nathan Birkhimer is the Agricultural Instructor and FFA Advisor for FPHS. “Birk” is in his 7th year teaching all areas of Agricultural Education including Mechanical Principles, Agribusiness, Animal and Plant Science, AFNR, and Livestock Selection, Nutrition, and Management. He has a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Agriscience Education from The Ohio State University and holds a Professional Career Technical (4-12) Licensure. Being the district FFA Advisor keeps Birk busy with the students both inside and outside of school, but when he’s off for the summer, he always looks forward to going home to compete in the Combine Derby at the Columbiana County Fair. Birk is engaged to 4th grade teacher Gabby Valentine, and he is looking forward to their December wedding!
Erika Lockhart
Erika Lockhart brings seventeen years of teaching experience to FPMS where she teaches 7th and 8th grade General Science. She has a Bachelor of Education in 4-9 Science and Language Arts from Otterbein University and a Master’s in Zoology from Miami University. Erika advises the 7th and 8th Grade Science Club who maintain the school’s outdoor habitat which offers hands-on learning experiences for MS students. Erika is also the advisor for the 7th and 8th grade Science Fair, and she serves on the Building Leadership Team and the District Leadership Team. In her time away from school, Erika loves spending time outdoors with her family, traveling, and exploring new places!
Gretchen Ansteatt
Gretchen Ansteatt has been teaching 1st grade at FPES for the past 13 years, and she has 25 years of elementary teaching experience all together! Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Wilmington College, and she holds an Elementary (1-8) License. In addition to supporting her students in the classroom, Gretchen also serves on the Literacy Committee which works to improve instructional cohesion throughout the ES. In addition to her work with students, Gretchen serves as the FPEA Vice-President. She is an avid football and baseball fan, she enjoys gardening and being outside, and she always looks forward to spending time with her seven children and her granddaughter.
Marci Schaefer
Marci Schaefer brings over 26 years of experience to her classroom at FPHS where she teaches World History, Ohio History, and Street Law to grades 9-12. Marci also teaches CCP American History and CCP Western Civilization which allows students to earn college credit on the FPHS campus. Marci has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Wilmington College, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and has 18 hours toward her Master’s in History as well. She has a licensure in 7-12 Comprehensive Social Students and K-12 Specific Learning Disability. Outside of the classroom, Marci continues her work with students as Academic Team Coach and National Honor Society Advisor. She also supports district improvement by serving on the Local Professional Development Committee, the Building Leadership Team, and the District Leadership Team. Outside of school, Marci enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, reading, and avidly supporting streaming services
