April Lord Ruzicka
Owner and former student
Summerfield Academy has been part of my story for nearly my entire life. I was a student here more than 40 years ago, and I still remember Mrs. Clark, the smells on spaghetti day, and most importantly, the feeling of being somewhere special. Summerfield gave me a place to learn, grow, build confidence, and feel connected. I never imagined that one day my life would come full circle and I would become the proud owner of the little school that meant so much to me.
My passion for working with children began long before I became a preschool owner. While volunteering with AmeriCorps, I had the opportunity to mentor and teach at-risk children, and that experience changed the direction of my life. I later served as a lead camp counselor for the YMCA, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, hosted fundraisers, and served as a spokesperson for JOY International. Those experiences strengthened my belief that investing in children and serving others can truly change lives.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Media Communication from St. Edward’s University in Austin and my master’s degree in Marketing & Advertising from The University of Texas. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to serve in a variety of leadership and managerial roles and receive recognition for leadership and community service. I also have the honor of serving on the Board of Trustees for St. Edward’s University, giving me the opportunity to give back to the university that played such an important role in my own education. I continue to stay actively involved in my community through board service and volunteer work.
Today, my greatest professional joy is leading Summerfield Academy and continuing the legacy that began long before me. For more than 12 years as owner, my goal has been to create a place where every child feels welcomed, loved, connected, and truly part of the Summerfield family.
And for me, the word family has an especially personal meaning here.
I have been happily married to my soulmate, best friend, and husband, Joel, for more than 17 years. Together, we have been blessed with three amazing children who are our world—Annabelle (13), Maddox (11), and Mason (8)—and all three are proud Summerfield Academy alumni.
One of the greatest gifts of owning Summerfield has been having the opportunity to bring my children to school with me each day and watch them experience the same special place that shaped so much of my own childhood. Just as I did decades before them, Annabelle, Maddox, and Mason learned, played, grew, built friendships, and made memories at Summerfield that I know will stay with them for a lifetime. There is something incredibly meaningful about watching my children grow up in the same little school that helped shape the person—and mother—I am today.
I believe early childhood education is about so much more than academics. It is about creating a foundation of confidence, curiosity, kindness, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. I am passionate about supporting our families, investing in our teachers, continuously improving our programs, and finding new ways to positively impact the children and community we serve.
Working with children is something I always dreamed of doing, and today I am incredibly grateful to say that I am living that dream.
When people ask me to describe Summerfield Academy, my answer is still simple: “Unique, inspiring, and simply amazing!”
I know firsthand the impact this little school can have on a child because it had that impact on me and my own children. Now, as the owner of Summerfield Academy, I get to help create those same experiences, memories, and foundations for another generation of children. I was once a Summerfield student, then a Summerfield mom, and today I have the incredible privilege of carrying on its legacy as its owner. Summerfield isn’t just my school—it’s part of my family’s story, and it will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Joyce Harlow
Founder
Joyce holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Joyce founded Summerfield Academy in 1985 on an acre of land in Spring, Texas. She was the first president of the North Houston Area Association of the Education of Young Children. Joyce has been a validator and mentor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.) She conducted workshops for teachers on how to implement Thematic Literature Based Units of Study. These workshops were based on the curriculum “Story Play™” that she developed at Summerfield Academy. On September 29th, 2014 Joyce sold Summerfield Academy to one of her first students, April Lord Ruzicka. Joyce had all the confidence in the world that April would be the perfect replacement for her. She believed April would bring great energy and dedication to her new venture as head mistress of Summerfield. April has asked Joyce to stay on board as a consultant and a mentor.
“Surrounded by students, Joyce clearly remembers standing in the middle of her newly purchased acre of land, when a smiling, curly, red-haired girl named Summer came running across the field towards her yelling, “Mrs. Harlow, Mrs. Harlow!” “In that moment I knew my preschool had to be named Summerfield Academy.”
When asked if Summerfield Academy is her legacy, Joyce responded “Yes, this program is timeless!”