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.
Celina Page, Assistant Teacher
Bachelor of Science, native Mexican speaker, Educational Technician III, experience in Early Elementary and Primary teacher assistant since 2009, Spanish teacher for Primary and Lower Elementary classrooms.
Bachelor of Science, native Mexican speaker, Educational Technician III, experience in Early Elementary and Primary teacher assistant since 2009, Spanish teacher for Primary and Lower Elementary classrooms.
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; 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; 12 years public school teaching experience; Co-Founder and Co-Director of Stepping Stones; Head Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom since inception in 2003.
Marlene Patten, Assistant Teacher
Assistant Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom since 2005; prior classroom and special education aide in public school settings.
Assistant Teacher in Lower Elementary classroom since 2005; prior classroom and special education aide in public school settings.
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.
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.
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
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.
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, Algebra Teacher and Head Spanish Teacher, Part-time Administrative Assistant
Doctorate in educational psychology with a focus on gifted learning, past high school algebra teacher. Administrative assistant since 2006, head Spanish teacher since 2007
Doctorate in educational psychology with a focus on gifted learning, past high school algebra teacher. Administrative assistant since 2006, head Spanish teacher since 2007
Angela Figoli
Random Task Specialist
Random Task Specialist
Jaye Cummings
Maintenance/Grounds
Maintenance/Grounds
After Care Supervisor, Michelle Shaw Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, school based counseling for RSU 11. Past foster care supervisor and trainer of therapeutic foster parents. Past rehab specialist for at-risk children.
Music/Performance Instructors, Jennifer Cousins and Mike Gervais
Art Teacher, Jennifer Cousins
Did you know?
Did you know that our school logo was created by our very own Miss Jen? Miss Jen is not only Co-Director of Stepping Stones and Head Teacher in the primary classroom, but she also teaches art at the school and is an artist herself. She loves to draw and paint, and is quite an accomplished photographer as well. In fact, most of the photos on this website were taken by Miss Jen! In designing her logo for the school, she wanted to convey a sense of celebration of the child.
Music/Performance Instructors, Jennifer Cousins and Mike Gervais
Art Teacher, Jennifer Cousins
Did you know?
Did you know that our school logo was created by our very own Miss Jen? Miss Jen is not only Co-Director of Stepping Stones and Head Teacher in the primary classroom, but she also teaches art at the school and is an artist herself. She loves to draw and paint, and is quite an accomplished photographer as well. In fact, most of the photos on this website were taken by Miss Jen! In designing her logo for the school, she wanted to convey a sense of celebration of the child.
...taking the next step with your child each day...
