What an Amazing Team of Caring Teachers!
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)
Jessica Gray, Primary Head Teacher
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education; experience in several childcare settings; past owner of a preschool; Coordinator of our Summer Childcare Program. Miss Jess has worked with us since 2011. She first was a classroom assistant and then co-head teacher with one of the school directors, Jen Cousins. She is the happy mom of a seven year old girl and a baby boy.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education; experience in several childcare settings; past owner of a preschool; Coordinator of our Summer Childcare Program. Miss Jess has worked with us since 2011. She first was a classroom assistant and then co-head teacher with one of the school directors, Jen Cousins. She is the happy mom of a seven year old girl and a baby boy.
Nici Hatch Hoyle
Nici comes to us with a full range of experience with children. Not insignificant is her experience as a mom of 4 teenagers and older children! She worked in the Messalonskee lunch room most recently. Years ago, she was an aide at our own Miss Mary Jane's preschool in Gardiner!
She and Miss Carrie have been besties for 36 years!!
Nici comes to us with a full range of experience with children. Not insignificant is her experience as a mom of 4 teenagers and older children! She worked in the Messalonskee lunch room most recently. Years ago, she was an aide at our own Miss Mary Jane's preschool in Gardiner!
She and Miss Carrie have been besties for 36 years!!
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.
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.
Jenna Peck
Teacher Assistant in the Primary Room, Jenna comes to us from California and is looking to see what Maine is like and what working with children is like! Welcome, Jenna!
Jenna has an Associates Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. At our school she works in both the Primary and Lower Elementary Programs. She describes herself as a big kid who loves to learn and help others learn. In her spare time, she gives the SSMS Library lots of TLC!
Teacher Assistant in the Primary Room, Jenna comes to us from California and is looking to see what Maine is like and what working with children is like! Welcome, Jenna!
Jenna has an Associates Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences. At our school she works in both the Primary and Lower Elementary Programs. She describes herself as a big kid who loves to learn and help others learn. In her spare time, she gives the SSMS Library lots of TLC!
Elementary Faculty
(grades 1-8)
Jennifer Cousins, Co-Director SSMS Grades Pre-K to 8, 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.
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.
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, Educational Technician 2.
Licensed Massage Therapist, part owner of Eliza-Rek Farm, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation, Educational Technician 2.
Celina Page, Assistant Teacher in Lower and Upper Elementary Classroom and Head Spanish Teacher
Bachelors Degree, native Spanish 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 and a pilot Spanish Immersion program; past Board member, NA Sher Foundation.
Bachelors Degree, native Spanish 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 and a pilot Spanish Immersion program; past Board member, NA Sher Foundation.
Carrie Gervais, Co-Director, Cushnoc Academy, Grades 4-8
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; past state coordinator of the Maine Ending Hunger campaign; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom from 2003-2015.
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; past state coordinator of the Maine Ending Hunger campaign; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom from 2003-2015.
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.
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.
Kaili Quinn, Head Teacher, Language Arts and Apprenticeship, Middle School
Middle School teacher since 2014. State of Maine certified teacher. B.S. Elementary Education, Cedar Crest College. Substitute teacher, Pennsylvania schools. Teacher Assistant, Greenway Creative Learning Center. Kaili serves as our Yearbook Club advisor as well.
Middle School teacher since 2014. State of Maine certified teacher. B.S. Elementary Education, Cedar Crest College. Substitute teacher, Pennsylvania schools. Teacher Assistant, Greenway Creative Learning Center. Kaili serves as our Yearbook Club advisor as well.
Hannah Sher Currently majoring in English, Hannah Sher is an Educational Technician in the Upper Elementary classroom. She has 3 years of experience at our school and a range of life experience. Hannah was instrumental in setting up this website. She has been the president of the NA Sher Foundation, and is currently the vice president of this charitable organization. She has made several humanitarian trips to Pakistan. Hannah has an avid interest in cinematography and dance. She is a talented henna artist.
Angela Figoli, Random Task Specialist
Miss Angie 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.
Miss Angie 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.
Amanda Clifford
Amanda is a summer care teacher and substitute teacher at our school. She will soon have her degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington!
Amanda is a summer care teacher and substitute teacher at our school. She will soon have her degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington!
Music/Performance Instructors, Jennifer Cousins and Mike Gervais
Art Instuctor, Jennifer Cousins
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.
