What an Amazing Team of Caring Teachers!
Our faculty and staff members are experienced, committed, and caring educators who truly enjoy working with young people. Each day they take the steps, small and big, that provide a high quality educational experience that honors each child in our school.
Directors
Jennifer Cousins and Carrie Gervais are Co-Directors of Stepping Stones.
Please see their biographies below.
Our faculty and staff members are experienced, committed, and caring educators who truly enjoy working with young people. Each day they take the steps, small and big, that provide a high quality educational experience that honors each child in our school.
Directors
Jennifer Cousins and Carrie Gervais are Co-Directors of Stepping Stones.
Please see their biographies below.
Primary Faculty, Pre School and Kindergarten
Heidi Stout, Primary Head Teacher
Heidi has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Political Science form the University of Maine at Presque Isle and has completed graduate work in Administrative Education from Thomas College. Heidi has taught in elementary schools in Freeport, Gardiner, and spent 8 years teaching Kindergarten at China Primary School. While working as a teacher, Heidi was on both the school and district leadership teams, developed curriculum, and spent time working in administration. She is passionate about working with our youngest learners to further their social, emotional, and academic growth and to help the little ones develop their love of learning!
Heidi is the mother of three children at SSMS/Cushnoc Academy. Her family enjoys traveling, skiing, boating, lobstering, gardening, and staying active with sports.
Mary Jane Gray, 2nd Head Teacher, Primary
Mary Jane comes to us with a plethora of experience in early childhood education, including a Bachelors and Masters degree. She has been trained in a variety of early childhood curriculums, including the Montessori Method. For decades, she ran her very own well-regarded preschool in Gardiner. She has also been the administrator of private schools in Florida.
Mary Jane comes to us with a plethora of experience in early childhood education, including a Bachelors and Masters degree. She has been trained in a variety of early childhood curriculums, including the Montessori Method. For decades, she ran her very own well-regarded preschool in Gardiner. She has also been the administrator of private schools in Florida.
Elementary Faculty
(grades 1-8)
Jennifer Cousins, Co-Director SSMS, Lower Eementary 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 from 2001 to 2015. Lower Elementary Head Teacher beginning Fall 2015. Jen has a passion for art and incorporates many STEAM activities into the classroom. A gifted teacher with a open heart, she puts parents and students minds at ease.
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 from 2001 to 2015. Lower Elementary Head Teacher beginning Fall 2015. Jen has a passion for art and incorporates many STEAM activities into the classroom. A gifted teacher with a open heart, she puts parents and students minds at ease.
Jennifer Polley, Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher & Buildings and Grounds Coordinator
Licensed Massage Therapist, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation, Educational Technician 2017-2018 is Jennifer's (aka Auntie's) sixth year in the Lower Elementary Classroom. Jennifer manages our emergency response items, and makes sure we recycle as much as possible!
Licensed Massage Therapist, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation, Educational Technician 2017-2018 is Jennifer's (aka Auntie's) sixth year in the Lower Elementary Classroom. Jennifer manages our emergency response items, and makes sure we recycle as much as possible!
Jenna Peck, Upper Elementary Teacher Assistant & Grade 4 Math Assistant
Teacher Assistant in the Upper Elementary Room, Jenna comes to us from California. Jenna has an Associates Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. At our school she works in the Lower and Upper Elementary Programs. Jenna teaches art to all the 1-8 Grade students as well. She describes herself as a big kid who loves to learn and help others learn. Jenna is currently furthering her education at the University of Maine at Augusta.
Teacher Assistant in the Upper Elementary Room, Jenna comes to us from California. Jenna has an Associates Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. At our school she works in the Lower and Upper Elementary Programs. Jenna teaches art to all the 1-8 Grade students as well. She describes herself as a big kid who loves to learn and help others learn. Jenna is currently furthering her education at the University of Maine at Augusta.
Carrie Gervais, SSMS Co-Director, Upper Elementary Head Teacher, Cushnoc Academy Curriculum Coordinator and Supervisor
Head teacher in Upper Elementary Program. B.S. Elementary Education; Maine state certification K-8; Montessori Elementary certification (ages 6-9) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association, Maine Academy for School Leaders, past Pineland Suzuki School staff member; author of an adult literacy lesson handbook, Secretary, NA Sher Foundation; past Secretary, Augusta Babe Ruth; 12 years public school teaching experience; past state coordinator of the Maine Ending Hunger campaign; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones since 2001; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom from 2003-2015. Carrie is passionate about curriculum, geography and most importantly, providing a top-notch school environment for all of our learners.
Head teacher in Upper Elementary Program. B.S. Elementary Education; Maine state certification K-8; Montessori Elementary certification (ages 6-9) through the North American Progressive Teacher Training Center; member Maine Montessori Association, Maine Academy for School Leaders, past Pineland Suzuki School staff member; author of an adult literacy lesson handbook, Secretary, NA Sher Foundation; past Secretary, Augusta Babe Ruth; 12 years public school teaching experience; past state coordinator of the Maine Ending Hunger campaign; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones since 2001; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom from 2003-2015. Carrie is passionate about curriculum, geography and most importantly, providing a top-notch school environment for all of our learners.
Mike Gervais, Head Teacher, Science and History, Cushnoc Academy
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; music minister at St. Michaels Parish; previous high school and college level mathematics instructor. Mike is passionate about history in and would go back 200 years if he could!
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; music minister at St. Michaels Parish; previous high school and college level mathematics instructor. Mike is passionate about history in and would go back 200 years if he could!
Delia Riccardi Cunningham, Head Teacher, Middle School
Bachelor of Arts in Art HIstory at Pratt Institute, New York, and masters in Archaeology at KUL Leuven in Belgium. Delia drew achaeological finds in Crete and then became a trench supervisor, combining an interest in environmental studies with artifact conservation. An interest in teaching led her to the North American Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2013. Delia started in our 5th grade math program. A proponent of Harkness Method, a seminar-style educational method, and also passionate about getting our middle schoolers out into the world, Delia has a knack for taking middle schoolers' unique energy and turning it into a passion for learning. Last but not least, her three wonderful children have attended our school.
Bachelor of Arts in Art HIstory at Pratt Institute, New York, and masters in Archaeology at KUL Leuven in Belgium. Delia drew achaeological finds in Crete and then became a trench supervisor, combining an interest in environmental studies with artifact conservation. An interest in teaching led her to the North American Montessori Teacher Training Center in 2013. Delia started in our 5th grade math program. A proponent of Harkness Method, a seminar-style educational method, and also passionate about getting our middle schoolers out into the world, Delia has a knack for taking middle schoolers' unique energy and turning it into a passion for learning. Last but not least, her three wonderful children have attended our school.
Amanda Clifford, Assistant & Grade 8 Math Teacher
Amanda started as a summer care teacher and substitute teacher at our school. Amanda has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Maine at Farmington. She spent 2 years teaching Grade 6, before starting her family. She is a past character assistant at Disney World. Amanda loves acting and the arts. She is a coach at a Colby arts program as well.
Amanda started as a summer care teacher and substitute teacher at our school. Amanda has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Maine at Farmington. She spent 2 years teaching Grade 6, before starting her family. She is a past character assistant at Disney World. Amanda loves acting and the arts. She is a coach at a Colby arts program as well.
Angela Figoli, Adminstrative Assistant
Miss Angela is our go-to gal! She keeps the school from falling to pieces on any given day. She is our friendly face and master of efficiency. She is also a member of a hip hop band, The Shizzle. Angela is mother of 3 current or past students at SSMS & Cushnoc Academy. She used to be called the Random Task Specialist, and she is able to wrangle photocopiers out of any refusal to cooperate!
Miss Angela is our go-to gal! She keeps the school from falling to pieces on any given day. She is our friendly face and master of efficiency. She is also a member of a hip hop band, The Shizzle. Angela is mother of 3 current or past students at SSMS & Cushnoc Academy. She used to be called the Random Task Specialist, and she is able to wrangle photocopiers out of any refusal to cooperate!
Shirley Allen, Spanish Teacher & Apprenticeship Coordinator, Grade 6 Math Teacher
Shirley is the happy mother of three teenagers! They love to camp, hike, and travel together. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening. Shirley has a BA in English and an MA in Spanish from the University of Mississippi. She also studied at La Universidad de Costa Rica. She has experience speaking Spanish in Spain, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras, as well as in the U.S. A teacher of Spanish since 1992, she she also worked/volunteered in various capacities at fine arts and nature camps, at Fredericksburg Academy, for Girl Scouts and churches. Shirley is a passionate, experienced teacher and loves working with all ages!
Shirley is the happy mother of three teenagers! They love to camp, hike, and travel together. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening. Shirley has a BA in English and an MA in Spanish from the University of Mississippi. She also studied at La Universidad de Costa Rica. She has experience speaking Spanish in Spain, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras, as well as in the U.S. A teacher of Spanish since 1992, she she also worked/volunteered in various capacities at fine arts and nature camps, at Fredericksburg Academy, for Girl Scouts and churches. Shirley is a passionate, experienced teacher and loves working with all ages!
Music/Performance Instructors, Jennifer Cousins, Ben Bowman, and Mike Gervais
Art Instuctors, Jennifer Cousins, Jenna Peck
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.
