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.

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)

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!

Lead Toddler Teacher, Hatchlings, (2-3 Year Olds)

Brooke has assisted in many childcare settings, including the YMCA toddler program, 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!

Lead Chrysalis (4-6 Year Old) Teacher

“We must look to the children as a vehicle for bringing change to humanity. ” Maria Montessori My name is Lanie and this will be my first-year teaching at Stepping Stones Montessori, and I am beyond happy to be here. I am a lifelong learner and so is the Montessori child, which is why both of my children are also enrolled here at Stepping Stones! I am dedicated to my own learning as much as I am your child’s, and I am never not learning. I put a lot of value in fostering a love for reading, a love for the natural world, family, and the importance of positive experiences in childhood! I as an educator and parent know that a parent/caregiver is a child’s first teacher and when family and teachers work together there are so many benefits for the child and their educational journey. Lanie is working toward her Bachelors Degree in ECE and has a range of experience in classrooms with young children.

After Care Coordinator and Chrysalis Teacher Assistant

Hi everyone my name is Robyn, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as one of the assistant teachers in the primary classroom and the aftercare coordinator. I firmly believe in the principles of Montessori teachings including recognizing each child for their absorbent mind, their sensitivity, self-efficacy/autonomy, and of course, respect and a prepared environment, especially regarding aftercare and outdoor play. I have spent nearly two decades in childcare environments including preschool, after-school program director, learn to swim programs, 1 to 1 direct care for children with disabilities in school and home environments, and as a private nanny. I am thrilled to join the Stepping Stones Family! I live in Gardiner with my Navy Veteran wife of 12 years, and we are firm believers in Veteran care and support. We volunteer with veteran and community organizations. I love reading, camping, nature, the ocean, and our furry grey baked potato (cat), Stella Mae.

Co-Director and Monarch/Upper El Teacher

Carrie has been a teacher for decades, first in public school for 12 years and then at SSMS in Primary, Lower, and finally Upper. Carrie is passionate about learning! It has been her pleasure to develop a schoolwide, rigorous, Montessori and project-based curriculum. Carrie’s personal specialty is teaching geography and cultures.

Carrie is a certified teacher with masters coursework in administration. She was selected to the Maine Academy for School Leaders. She has been the Secretary of the NA Sher Foundation, and worked on providing micro-finance loans to village women in Oaxaca, Mexico. She also worked as the first statewide coordinator of the Maine Ending Hunger Now Campaign, which is now run by Maine Credit Unions.

The students are Carrie’s top priority!

Co-Director and Butterfly/Lower Elementary Teacher

Jen is co-director and co-founder of Stepping Stones Montessori School. Initially a public school teacher with a special ed background, Jen wanted to found a pre-school and decided upon Montessori. She is a Maine state certified teacher.

Jen is very creative and imaginative. She loves to teach art whenever possible, and is an artist herself! She works with paint and pottery mediums.

Jen is always there to lend supportive ear for our staff and our students, along with words of support and encouragement.

Chrysalis/ Upper El Co-Head Teacher

Emory Burke is excited to join the team, assisting with Upper Elementary and teaching Spanish.

Emory studied Spanish in high school, college, and in Peru at an intensive Spanish immersion program. They love learning other languages and about other cultures, and are excited to share this with the students. Emory has worked with children and teenagers in various settings including leading middle and high school programs for a church, volunteering with refugee and immigrant children and their parents, and recently, working with after school social, emotional, and physical education programs at the Alfond Youth and Community Center. Emory loves living in Central Maine with their dog and two cats! Outside of school, they are often hiking, road tripping, reading, or hanging out a coffee shop. 

Butterfly/ Lower El Co-Head TeacherMy name is Kayla Washburn. I live in Richmond with my husband, Elijah, our daughter Magnolia, and dog Blu. I am blessed to be part of a very large extended family that enjoys spending time together as often as we possibly can. I enjoy reading, playing with Magnolia and Blu, spending time at the ocean and at our family camp.

I graduated from UMA in 2019 with my K-8 teaching degree. For the last 8 years I have worked in public education ranging from providing 1-1 instruction to children with autism, aiding in a kindergarten classroom, and teaching first grade for the last four years.

Throughout my career I have felt a consistent pull toward Montessori education, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to begin this journey here at Stepping Stones.
I want you to know that it is a privilege and a joy to teach and spend this school year with your child.

Here's to a year of learning, laughs, growing in our skills, knowledge, friendships, and so much more.

Chrysalis/ Middle School Head Teacher

Tandy grew up in Virginia, mostly, and then traveled around a good bit until she decided she liked Maine the best.  Tandy went to Hollins University back in the day, with every intention of becoming an archeologist.  She got a little distracted and fell in love with art and literature, and graduated with a B.A. in English.

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.

Tandy began teaching art at Stepping Stones in spring of 2023, and gained certification as an Ed Tech III.  She also worked as a Title I literacy interventionist for Augusta Schools, and a student services specialist at St. Michael School in 2023-2024.  (It was a busy academic year!)  In spring of 2024, she was delighted to accept the Co-Head Middle School Teacher position at Stepping Stones!

Life-long learner extraordinaire, Tandy has taken innumerable courses on whatever attracts her magpie-like attention.  She is also a sucker for volunteering.  Her current community affiliations include: Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec; Stepping Stones Montessori School Lego Robotics Coach; and Board Secretary of the Kennebec Valley Arts Association.

Tandy lives in Augusta, Maine with her delightfully cranky husband, her sweet and clever son, and two charming but troublesome cats.

Chrysalis/ Upper El and Middle School Lead Math, Science and History Teacher

Mike has been with the school since 2006, and a supporter from the get-go, as Carrie’s husband. Mike has been a music teacher and music minister for decades. He has a Bachelors in Education and a Masters Degree in Counseling. Mike is a lover of history and makes it come alive in his classes. He is also the author of a recently published historical fiction novel, The Ways of Heaven.

Admin Assistant and Random Task Specialist

Angela is an indispensable part of our school. Giver of band-aids, wrangler of the photocopier, designer of costume sets, and supervisor of the ever-changing staff schedule are among her many duties. Angela has three grown children, all graduates of Cushnoc Academy at Stepping Stones!

Toddler Assistant

Megan is excited to join the Stepping Stones Montessori School Family! She has 8 years of experience working with children of various ages and is a state-certified K-8 teacher. She is passionate about supporting the uniqueness of each learner by providing the necessary tools for them to be successful. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, decorating, reading, spending time outside, and eating way too much chocolate!

Lower El Assistant and Buildings and Grounds Coordinator

Jennifer, aka Auntie, has been with us for years! Auntie is the lifeblood of all our facilities and materials. She is our go-to gal for maintenance issues, and on top of that is an indispensable classroom assistant/ ed tech. Auntie is also a licensed massage therapist.

Teacher Assistant, Caterpillars (3 Year Olds)

Stacia has been with SSMS as a floater and after care monitor for a few years. She is now an assistant in the Caterpillar Room, and loves working and playing with the children!

Stacia is a trained mental health counselor as well!