Faculty/Staff
Our faculty and staff members are committed and caring educators who truly enjoy working with young people. Each day they take the small and big steps necessary to provide a high quality educational experience that honors each and every child in our school.
Directors
Jennifer Cousins and Carrie Gervais are Co-Directors of Stepping Stones. Please see their biographies below.
Primary Faculty
(preschool and kindergarten)
Our faculty and staff members are committed and caring educators who truly enjoy working with young people. Each day they take the small and big steps necessary to provide a high quality educational experience that honors each and every child in our school.
Directors
Jennifer Cousins and Carrie Gervais are Co-Directors of Stepping Stones. Please see their biographies below.
Primary Faculty
(preschool and kindergarten)
Jennifer Cousins, Head Teacher
B.S. in Elementary Education; Maine state teacher certification K-8; Montessori Primary certification (ages 3-6) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association; 7 years public school teaching experience, including special education; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Primary classroom since its inception in 2001.
B.S. in Elementary Education; Maine state teacher certification K-8; Montessori Primary certification (ages 3-6) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association; 7 years public school teaching experience, including special education; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Primary classroom since its inception in 2001.
Nasreen Sher, Assistant Teacher
Assistant Teacher in Primary classroom since 2003; 5 years previous preschool teaching experience; Montessori training through Maine Montessori Association; former translator; Co-founder of the Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation.
Jessica Gray, Part-time Assistant Teacher
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education; experience in several childcare settings. Coordinator of our 2012 Summer Childcare Pilot Program.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education; experience in several childcare settings. Coordinator of our 2012 Summer Childcare Pilot Program.
Jennifer Polley, Part-time Assistant Teacher
Licensed Massage Therapist, part owner of Eliza-Rek Farm, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation.
Licensed Massage Therapist, part owner of Eliza-Rek Farm, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation.
Elementary Faculty
(grades 1-8)
Carrie Gervais, Head Teacher, Lower Elementary Classroom (Grades 1-3)
B.S. in Elementary Education; Maine state teacher certification K-8; Montessori Elementary certification (ages 6-9) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association; member Maine Academy for School Leaders; Pineland Suzuki School staff member; author of an adult literacy lesson handbook, Secretary, NA Sher Foundation; Secretary, Augusta Babe Ruth;12 years public school teaching experience; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom since inception in 2003.
B.S. in Elementary Education; Maine state teacher certification K-8; Montessori Elementary certification (ages 6-9) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association; member Maine Academy for School Leaders; Pineland Suzuki School staff member; author of an adult literacy lesson handbook, Secretary, NA Sher Foundation; Secretary, Augusta Babe Ruth;12 years public school teaching experience; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom since inception in 2003.
Celina Page, Assistant Teacher in Lower Elementary Classroom and Head Spanish Teacher
Bachelors Degree, native Mexican speaker, Educational Technician III, experience in Early Elementary and Primary teacher assistant since 2009, Adult Education Spanish Teacher; Spanish teacher for all levels, including Spanish I in Middle School; Board member, NA Sher Foundation.
Bachelors Degree, native Mexican speaker, Educational Technician III, experience in Early Elementary and Primary teacher assistant since 2009, Adult Education Spanish Teacher; Spanish teacher for all levels, including Spanish I in Middle School; Board member, NA Sher Foundation.
Su Locsin, Literacy Specialist
Su Locsin, experienced classroom teacher with a Masters in Education, is our librarian and literacy specialist, supporting children in their various reading and writing needs. She also has developed a leveled classroom library and school library. Board member, NA Sher Foundation.
Mike Gervais, Head Teacher, Upper Elementary Classroom (Grades 4-6)
B.S. in Mathematics Education and Music; M.S. in Counseling; private music teacher for 20+ years; Pineland Suzuki School staff member; Head Teacher in Upper Elementary/Middle classroom since inception in 2005; 4 years public school counseling experience; previous high school and college level mathematics instructor
B.S. in Mathematics Education and Music; M.S. in Counseling; private music teacher for 20+ years; Pineland Suzuki School staff member; Head Teacher in Upper Elementary/Middle classroom since inception in 2005; 4 years public school counseling experience; previous high school and college level mathematics instructor
Lily Kapiloff, Teacher Assistant
Lily is an Educational Technician 1 certified-ready assistant. She is also exploring wilderness survival and nature. She loves creative writing and art as well. Lily is also the coach of her own after school club, Club Re-Wild. She has worked at a Montessori school in Colorado and has spent 1.5 years substitute teaching in Maine.
Lily is an Educational Technician 1 certified-ready assistant. She is also exploring wilderness survival and nature. She loves creative writing and art as well. Lily is also the coach of her own after school club, Club Re-Wild. She has worked at a Montessori school in Colorado and has spent 1.5 years substitute teaching in Maine.
Chris Simpson, Head Teacher, Middle School Classroom (Grades 7 &8)
JD, University of Virginia School of Law; AB, double degree in History and English, University of Illinois; trained facilitator, mediator, and arbitrator; volunteer Community Advisor to Wiscasset Middle School and Wiscasset High School Civil Rights Teams; full-time head teacher and co-curriculum coordinator of Middle School Program since inception in 2010.
Melissa Small, Administrator and Algebra Teacher
Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a focus on gifted education and talent development. Stepping Stones Montessori School Administrator since 2006, former Secondary Mathematics Teacher and Elementary/Middle Spanish teacher, current Algebra 1 Teacher, Coordinator of Clubs and Competitions at SSMS.
Doctorate in Educational Psychology with a focus on gifted education and talent development. Stepping Stones Montessori School Administrator since 2006, former Secondary Mathematics Teacher and Elementary/Middle Spanish teacher, current Algebra 1 Teacher, Coordinator of Clubs and Competitions at SSMS.
Angela Figoli
Random Task Specialist
Random Task Specialist
Jaye Cummings
Maintenance/Grounds
Maintenance/Grounds
Music/Performance Instructors, Jennifer Cousins and Mike Gervais
Did you know that this logo was designed by one of our directors, Miss Jen? In the logo, Jen tried to convey a sense of celebration of the child.
