Esther Piekarski Lysaght is a local woman and proud of her roots in the Asbury Park community. SHe attended Asbury Park schools, graduating from Asbury Park High School in 1972. She earned a BA in Elementary Education from Glassboro College (now Rowan University) in 1977, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She completed the Early Childhood Director''s Acdemy in 2004, earning a National Administrator''s Credential.

Esther taught public school in Texas for five years before returning home to Asbury Park to open Alphabets Preschool Center. She has served as owner and Director of this successful early childhood program since founding the school in 1983. Alphabets Preschool Center is an exceptional preschool serving the children and families of Asbury Park and providing a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment with outstanding outcomes for all who are a part of it.

Esther has been actively involved through the years in the field of Early Childhood Education and has grown along with Alphabets. She participated in the first class of the Building Stronger Centers Initiative sponsored by the state of New Jersey in 1998. SHe was a founding member of the Brookdale Early Childhood Community College Education Aide Advisory commitee. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and has served as a Member At Large as well as Vice President for the Shore Chapter of this organization.

Esther has been a strong supporter of the children and families of Asbury Park. She has served on the Asbury Park Recreation Commission. She received the Spirit of Asbury Park Carousal Award along with a Special COngressional recognitin in 1993. She was also the recipient of the Mayor''s Choice Award in 2003 at the first annual Mayor''s Ball for "recognition of her youth advocacy in the City of Asbury Park." In 2013 Alphabets Preschool Center received a proclamation from Governor Christie in recognition of thirty years of educating and enriching the lives of New Jersey''s children.

Though she is dedicated to her work and her community, Esther''s heart belongs first and foremost to her husband, Terry Lysaght of Design Solutions Company and to her daughter, Bridget Lysaght. With the love and support of her own family, she has been able to accomplish the great things in which her life of which she is so proud.

"I am thankful for all those who said NO to me. It''s because of them I am doing it myself" - Albert Einstein