The NYA faculty & staff knows each
and every student by name. Now’s your
chance to learn a little about us. Below is our
2020-2021 Faculty and Staff Directory:
NYA Viewbook
Eric P. Austin
University of New Hampshire, B.S.; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, M.S.
eaustin@nya.org
Head of Upper School, Upper School Mathematics
Danielle Fisher Barschdorf
Pennsylvania State University, B.A.; University of New Hampshire, M.A.
dbarschdorf@nya.org
Lower and Middle Schools Science Chair, Middle School Science
Theresa Bartick
University of Connecticut, B.S., M.S.; University of Southern Maine, M.S.
tbartick@nya.org
STEM Coordinator
Michelle Bourget
University of Maine, B.S.; University of Northern Iowa, M.A.; Santiago De Compostela, Spain
mbourget@nya.org
Upper School Spanish
Ethan Brown
Rink Attendant
Michele Buehner
University of Maine – Orono, B.S.; University of New England, M.Ed.
mbuehner@nya.org
Middle School, Grade 5
Marissa Cassily
University of New Hampshire, B.A.; The American University of Paris, M.S.
mcassily@nya.org
Upper School French
Heather Dean
Nazareth College, B.S.; University of Southern Maine, B.S.
hdean@nya.org
Athletic Trainer, Physical Education Teacher
Nick DiMola
Rink Attendant
Leslie Durgin
The Ohio State University, B.A.
ldurgin@nya.org
Associate Director of Lower School & Admission
David C. Echeverria
Wesleyan University, B.A.; St. Joseph’s College of Maine, M.S.
decheverria@nya.org
Middle School History, Middle School Tennis
Jennifer Elkins
Parsons School of Design, New School for Social Research, B.F.A.
jelkins@nya.org
Lower School, Assistant Toddler Teacher
David Gagne
University of Maine-Orono, B.A.; University of Southern Maine, M.S.
dgagne@nya.org
Upper School History, Technology Coordinator
Ellen Gagne
Bridgewater State College, B.S.; Simmons College, M.S.
egagne@nya.org
Lower School, Elementary Teacher
Shannon Gallagher
Westfield State College, B.S.; Lesley University, M.Ed.
sgallagher@nya.org
Lower School, Elementary Teacheer
Michael Gengras
Trinity College, B.A.; University of New Hampshire, M.S.T.
mgengras@nya.org
Upper School English, Assistant Dean of Students
Grace Gilbert
Denison University, B.A.
ggilbert@nya.org
Lower School, Assistant Primary Teacher, After Care Instructor
Mary Goodrich
St. Michael’s College, B.A.
mgoodrich@nya.org
Director of Summer Programs, Middle School Administrative Coordinator
Crystal A. Gordon
University of Maine, B.A.; Harvard University, ALM
cgordon@nya.org
Development and Events Coordinator
Eliot Grady
Yale University, B.A.; Simmons College, M.S.; Harvard University, M.A.
egrady@nya.org
Modern & Classical Languages Chair, Librarian, Upper School French, Middle School History
Heidi Grant
Colby College, B.A.; Columbia University, M.A.
hgrant@nya.org
Upper School English, Emerge, Make-A-Wish
Bryce Hach
Colorado College, B.A.; Carnegie Mellon University, M.S.
bhach@nya.org
Upper School Science
Kathleen “Kathi” Hardy
University of Southern Maine, B.A.
khardy@nya.org
Lower School, Lead Toddler Teacher
Carol Weeman Harris
Andover College, Southern Maine Community College
charris@nya.org
Development Coordinator
Karin Hoppenbrouwers
Yale University, B.A.; University of Georgia
khoppenbrouwers@nya.org
Upper School Latin
Cindy Hould
University of Maine – Orono, B.S.; University of Conneticut, M.A.
chould@nya.org
School Counselor
Benjamin Jackson
Hobart College, B.A.; Providence College, M.A.; Regis University, M.Ed. Leadership
bjackson@nya.org
Head of School
Tara Johnson
Bishop’s University, B.A.
tjohnson@nya.org
Registrar, Upper School Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Johnston
Ohio Dominican University, B.A.
jjohnston@nya.org
Lower School, Lead Primary Teacher
Taylor Kanzler
University New Hampshire, B.A. Spanish, B.A. English, M.Ed.
tkanzler@nya.org
Upper School Spanish
Casandrea Konkel
Maintenance & Cleaning Technician
Nora N. Krainis
Corpus Christi State University, B.S.
nkrainis@nya.org
Vocal Music, Theatre Arts, Varsity Volleyball
Alex Kurtz
Rink Assistant
Morgan Lake Adams ’99
Wellesley College, B.A.; Boston College, M.A.
mlakeadams@nya.org
Upper School History
Kelly Beth Lavertu
Unity College, B.S.; University of Southern Maine, M.Ed.; AMS Montessori Certification
Lower School Lead Primary & Kindergarten Teacher
Marissa Markonish
Wesleyan University, B.A.; University of Massachusetts-Amherst, M.A.T.
mmarkonish@nya.org
Head of Lower & Middle Schools, Middle School Latin
Ross J. Markonish
Harvard University, B.A.
rmarkonish@nya.org
English Chair, Upper School English, Senior Speeches
Christopher J. Mazzurco
Wesleyan University, B.A.
cmazzurco@nya.org
Director of Information Technology, Varsity Track, Varsity Cross Country
Isabel “Izzy” McDonald
Sewanee: The University of the South, B.A.; Columbia University Teachers College, M.A.
imcdonald@nya.org
Middle School English
Christa Mecham
Massachusetts College of Art & Design, B.F.A.
cmecham@nya.org
Lower School Art and Classroom Assistant
Jennifer Michaelis
Boston University, B.S.; University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, M.A.T.; University of Alabama, J.D.
jmichaelis@nya.org
Upper School Mathematics
Kassie Michaud
Husson University, B.A., M.B.A.
kmichaud@nya.org
Lower School, Assistant Toddler Teacher, After Care
Ashley Spicer Moody ’02
Southern Maine Community College, Associate’s in Paramedicine; University of Maine, A.D.N.; Walden University, B.S.N., M.S.N.-FNP
amoody@nya.org
Health Services Coordinator
Colby Myer
University of Utah, B.F.A.; Laguna College of Art & Design, M.F.A.
cmyer@nya.org
Upper School Studio Art, Gallery Coordinator
Heidi H. O’Connor
University of New Hampshire, B.A.
hoconnor@nya.org
Middle School French & Spanish, Middle School Debate
Leslie Pike
Dickinson College, B.A.; University of Southern Maine, M.S.
lpike@nya.org
Lower School, Lead Primary Teacher
Anne Powell
Bowdoin College, B.A.; University of Richmond, G.T.L.
apowell@nya.org
Middle School English
Ian A. Ramsey
University of Southern Maine, B.S.; M.F.A. – Rainier Writing Workshop, Pacific Lutheran University
iramsey@nya.org
Visual & Performing Arts Chair, Upper School Instrumental Music, Studio Band
Cindy Rideout
Portland Arts & Tech, C.N.A.
crideout@nya.org
Lower School, Assistant Primary Teacher, After Care
Lisa D. Robbins
University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Aquinas Junior College, A.S.; Arizona State University
lrobbins@nya.org
IT Assistant, Web Tech and Lead Scheduler
Kelsy Ross
Roanoke College, B.A.; Springfield College, Masters in Physical Education and Athletic Administration
kross@nya.org
Director of Athletics
Erika Sahlman
Northeastern University, B.S.; St. Michael’s College, M.Ed.
esahlman@nya.org
Middle School Science & Mathematics
Sagaree Sengupta
Cornell University, A.B.; University of Wisconsin, M.A.; University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.
ssengupta@nya.org
Upper School English, Coordinator for International Students
Peter Sillin
Williams College, B.A.; University of Virginia, M.A.
psillin@nya.org
History Chair, Varsity Boys Cross Country
Elizabeth “Liz” K. Smith
Wheaton College-Illinois, B.S., M.A.T.
lsmith@nya.org
Upper School Science Chair, Upper School Science
Jessica Smith
Bucknell University, B.A.; Wilmington University, M.Ed.
jsmith@nya.org
Lower School and Middle School Spanish, Middle School Mathematics
Nathan Smith
Allegheny College, B.S.; Wilmington College, M.Ed.
nsmith@nya.org
Lower & Middle Schools Mathematics Chair, Middle School Dean of Students
Nicholas Stuart
Maintenance & Cleaning Technician
Lynn Sullivan
Colby College, B.A.; University of Southern Maine, M.A.
lsullivan@nya.org
Upper School Dean of Students, Upper School History
Sheila Taylor
University of Glasgow, Scotland, M.A.; Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland, Postgrad Degree
staylor@nya.org
Lower School, Literacy and Academic Support
Steve Thomas
North Carolina State University, B.A.; Wesleyan University, M.A.
tsthomas@nya.org
Associate Director of College Counseling
Michael Townsend
Transportation and Facilities
Lindsay Turner
Elon University, B.A.; Bank Street College of Education, M.S. Ed.
lturner@nya.org
Lower School, Elementary Teacher
Linda M. Vaillancourt
University of Southern Maine, B.S.; University of Maine, M.M.
lvaillancourt@nya.org
Lower School Music, Middle School Instrumental Music, String Ensemble
Christine Van Alstine
University of Maine, Farmington, B.S.; Tufts University, M.A.
cvanalstine@nya.org
Academic Support Consultant, Study Skills
Morgan Vigue
University of Maine, Augusta
mvigue@nya.org
Lower School, Creative Movement, Assistant Primary, After Care Instructor
Bella Weidner
Montserrat College of Art, B.F.A.; Maine College of Art, M.A.T.
bweidner@nya.org
Lower School, Part-time Assistant Primary Teacher, After Care Instructor
Jacie Welch
Boston University, B.S.; Lamar University, M.S.
jwelch@nya.org
Lower School, Elementary Teacher
Karen Wentworth
Lasell College, AMS Montessori Certification
kwentworth@nya.org
Lower School, Senior Toddler Teacher
Jessica Zanetell
Regis University, B.S; Wake Forest University, M.S.; University of Arizona, M.S.
jzanetell@nya.org
Upper School Mathematics
