Hatchlings (2-3 Year olds) Lead Teacher

Miss Lilly has dipped her toes a variety of career paths like exterior painting, food service, marketing, and performing arts (including a one night gig as a backup singer for Foreigner in 2018, which she has been told cannot go on her resume.) but in 2019 she began teaching as an assistant at a daycare and found the job that stuck. She soon moved into a Lead Infant/ Toddler I position and in 2020 took over Toddler II/ Preschool. Lilly started here at Stepping Stones as a substitute teacher in the fall of 2021. Quickly moving into a full time position, Lilly fell in love with the Montessori materials and methods of teaching. In 2021-2022, Lilly assisted in Primary and taught art, while also floating to elementary groups. In 2022-2023, she moved between Lower Elementary and Primary, and taught Pre-K through 8th grade gym classes. Lilly loves to learn and has spent countless hours continuing her education in early childhood development, including many courses through Trillium Montessori. While she is known for her passion to work and do nothing but work for many hours day and weeks at a time, Lilly also enjoys going for walks, caring for her many houseplants, and game night with her friends!

Hatchlings Assistant Teacher

Miss Allison has taught toddlers and other ages at a variety of central Maine childcare settings. She has been working with children for 13 years and toddlers are her absolute favorite age group to be with! She went to KVCC for her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and then onto UMA to complete her Bachelor’s Degree. She has two school aged children of her own, a son and a daughter. Some of my her favorite things are dogs, coffee, and anything to do with the fall season! During her free time, she likes to spend time with her two kiddos taking hikes with her three dogs, playing games, and trying out new adventures. She is looking forward to getting to know the toddler kiddos in our Hatchling Room!

Caterpillar (3 to 4 Year Olds) Lead Teacher

Kacee is super excited to join the Stepping Stones Montessori School family, having just relocated to Maine from warm and sunny South Carolina and so far, her family loves being here! She has extensive background and experience working with children ranging in ages from six weeks to five years old. She was lucky enough to be a lead and part of an amazing center, Springview Academy, where she was a teacher and then a director. Children are her absolute passion and she loves the rewarding feeling she gets from watching them grow and learn new things each day. When she isn’t at school, she enjoys spending time with her husband of fifteen years and her five year old son, exploring the outdoors and adventuring!

Caterpillar (3-4 Year Old) Assistant

I am so excited to be a part of the Stepping Stones Montessori community. Teaching Early Childhood is my passion. I come to Stepping Stones with thirty years of teaching experience in Early Childhood and a Child Development Associate's Degree. I follow the philosophy of a child centered classroom, where children are given many opportunities to explore and grow in an age appropriate environment. My belief is that children develop lifelong social skills through play and early childhood connections. Every child deserves an early childhood experience that allows them to foster independence and have a sense of ownership in the world they live in.

Head Teacher, Chrysalises (4-6 Year Olds)

Jennifer Kruk, "Miss Jenny" is head teacher at Stepping Stones for the Chrysalises (4s-6s)

Jenny started volunteering in the primary classroom in 2011, when she enrolled her son at age 3. It was not long before she began filling regular full year positions and long term subbing in the primary and lower elementary classrooms, gaining experience under Miss Jen. From there Jenny moved into an assistant teaching position under Miss Mary Jane and Miss Heidi, not only with the children in the classroom, but with prepping and lesson planning as well. In 2020, she graduated to a shared head teaching position, working intensively with the kindergarten age students. It has filled Jenny’s heart with joy to get to know each child, watching them learn and grow. Jenny sees them all as amazing little people.

Outside of the classroom, Jenny has completed a Montessori assistant teacher training and reading/phonics training through Trillium Montessori.

When she is not in the classroom, you may find Jenny making homemade ice cream at her seasonal ice cream shop, Deb's. In Jenny’s free time, she enjoys horseback riding, canoeing/kayaking, hiking, camping, enjoying the outdoors with family, and farming on their 5th generation organic farm where she resides.

Teacher Assistant, Chrysalises (4-6 Year Olds)

Miss Patty was born and raised in Maine and graduated from a local High School in 1990. She met her husband shortly after. They’ve been married for 25 years and have two daughters.

For the majority of Patty’s working career, she was an insurance agent. After her youngest daughter was born, she started volunteering at a daycare. When she entered Kindergarten,

Patty started volunteering at her daughter’s school, Hallowell Montessori. In Spring of 2019, Patty started working for Stepping Stones Montessori School as a substitute teacher before her daughter enrolled in first grade at SSMS. It was an opportunity to develop a relationship with staff members and her daughter’s current teachers. Patty says she is living her best life surrounded by such an incredible community of children and staff.

Teacher Assistant, Chrysalises (4-6 Year Olds)

Miss Nici is a graduate of Gardiner Area High School, had specialized training in CNA and radiology and dental assistance. She also was a preschool assistant at Mary Jane’s Nursery School, a kitchen assistant at RSU 18, and a volunteer and employee at SSMS for several years.

Nici has been married for 30 years and has four children, all in their 20s. One child has Aspergers, so Nici has some experience with special needs children. As well, Nici homeschooled for a few years, and was a helper at Sunday school. Nici has recently become a Nana to Riah and she is loving this new role!

Nici loves working with the preschoolers because they show joy when learning new concepts. Their cute smiles and quirkiness make Nici’s day better and more fulfilled.

Teacher Assistant, Chrysalises, (4-6 Year Olds)

Hannah has ten years experience with preschoolers and toddlers. She enjoys watching the curiosity and growth of these ages. Hannah comes to us with a boatload of patience and a kind demeanor. We are so happy to have her calming presence.

She has been riding horses for 30 years. In fact, she taught riding, and that led her to working with children. She is a lover of big dogs as well!

Co-Director, SSMS, Lower Elementary 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.

Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher and Buildings and Grounds Coordinator

Licensed Massage Therapist, active member of Gardiner Main Street, Board member of Stepping Stones Enrichment Foundation, Educational Technician. 2021-2022 is Jennifer's (aka Auntie's) eighth year in the Lower Elementary Classroom. Jennifer manages our emergency response items, and makes sure we recycle as much as possible! She is also a power house worker for our buildings and grounds, which is no small feat!

Certified Teacher/ Lower Elementary Assistant

Kayla Washburn lives in Richmond with her husband Elijah, her daughter Magnolia, and dog Blu. She is blessed to be part of a very large extended family that enjoys spending time together as of ten as they possibly can! Kayla enjoys reading, playing with Magnolia and blu, spending time at the ocean and at the family camp.

Kayla graduated from UMA in 2019 with her K-8 teaching degree. For the last 8 years she has worked in public education ranging from providing 1-1 instruction to children with autism, aiding in a Kindergarten classroom, and teaching first grade for four years.

Throughout her career, she has felt a consistent pull toward Montessori education, and she is super excited to start her journey here at Stepping Stones. She considers it a privilege and a joy to teach and spend the school year with your child. She looks forward to learning, laughs—and growing skills, knowledge, and friendships!

Assistant Teacher, Lower Elementary

Brooke has assisted in many childcare settings, and has volunteered at The Sensory Gym. She has nearly completed a degree in criminology and then hopes to explore special education. Brooke brings a huge heart for kids and their big feelings!

Head Teacher, Upper Elementary, Middle School Language Arts and Math

Ryee Hagelin has been a part of education for her whole life, starting as a young child pretending to teach all of her stuffed animals. She worked as a substitute teacher while attending college at the University of Maine at Farmington and graduated with a B.S. in Community Health Education. After teaching in public schools for a few years, she settled down to raise her children before returning to education in a volunteer role when her daughter began preschool. Since then, she has been a lead elementary teacher at a small private school, and most recently taught Special Education at a local Charter School. Ryee has a love of learning and enjoys helping students discover their paths and passions.

This year, Ryee is taking over as Upper El head teacher!

Assistant Teacher, Upper Elementary, Grades 4-5 Math and Language Arts, Ed Tech 3

Ashleigh has been a soldier in Operation Enduring Freedom. She returned to Maine and started a family; she has three wonderful kiddos, two of which have attended SSMS! She has been working on, and has nearly finished, her degree in Social Services, and we are blessed to have her here in Upper El! Ashleigh recently received her black belt as well. She looks forward to teaching our Upper Elementary students!

Head Teacher, Middle School, Ed Tech 3

​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! He is currently writing an historical fiction novel entitled The Ways of Heaven about a young girl who lived in Mike’s family’s home (right beside the school).

Administrative 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 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!

Art Teacher and Aftercare Assistant

Tandy grew up in Virginia, mostly, and then traveled around a good bit until she decided she liked Maine the best. (She also met her husband Chris in Maine, so that worked out pretty well, in retrospect.) She has always loved art and literature. Tandy went to Hollins University back in the day, with every intention of becoming an archeologist. The classes on ancient art led her to studio art, and then to studying everything from the earliest art up to modern what-not. She also got a little distracted and fell in love with English literature and philosophy as well. (She’s like that.) Tandy ended up majoring in English. (She could have been a double major, but she barely got one thesis done in time. Those things take a while…. She’s over it now. Mostly.)

After some time working with Maine’s Community Colleges, Tandy decided perhaps education was what she truly wished to pursue. They supported her, most kindly, as she got her Master of Science in Education from Thomas College. She also ran a private tutoring business for a while for literacy, specializing in helping folks with dyslexia. She is now a literacy interventionist for Augusta Schools as well.

Life-long learner extraordinaire, Tandy has also taken innumerable courses on drawing, painting, watercolor, and whatever other artsy thing attracts her magpie-like attention.

Tandy is also a sucker for volunteering. Her current community affiliations include: Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec (LVK Ambassador, Tutor Trainer, Meeting Facilitator, Researcher, Volunteer Tutor, Event Volunteer, Workshop Coordinator and Presenter, previous Board Member, and member of Board’s Committee on Tutor Support); Stepping Stones Montessori School Lego Robotics Coach; and Board Secretary of the Kennebec Valley Arts Association.

She has a beautiful son, Jack, who has been at SSMS since pre-K and is now in 7th grade.

Co-Director and Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator

​Head teacher in Lower and Upper Elementary Program for many years, 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.