People

Amy Wentworth, Lead Educator

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Amy has been a teacher and mentor at School Around Us for over 25 years. She thrives in a setting where collaboration, community, and relationships are at its core. Mentoring young people activates her creativity, fosters a sense of wonder and the feeling that anything is possible. Amy feels fulfilled when a learner finds their true passion and they are seen for their authentic self.

Making the world a better place for all living things is woven into the fabric of her being. Fascinated by the ecosystems of life from the vast down to the microscopic level, Amy’s curious how nature at every level works to find equilibrium. During her yoga teacher training her understanding of our interconnectedness was expanded and she came to understand the essential element to life was kindness. It is with this perspective that Amy works to walk through each day, making heartfelt connections.

Amy has a BA in Social Sciences, with a focus in history, from USM. She graduated from USM’s Extended Teacher Education Program with a K-8 teaching certificate and went on to get her Masters in Teaching and Learning. Amy went to School Around Us as a child and grew up on a cooperative organic farm. It is from these roots that Amy followed her path into progressive education movement and essentially back to SAU’s door.

Reach out - Amy@schoolaroundus.org

Margaret Munro, Lead Educator

Margaret has been a teacher and mentor at SAU for 23 years. She discovered her passion for student centered, progressive education while studying at Goddard College where she worked with advisors (instead of professors) who took time to get to know her, valued her life experience and supported her through caring relationships. It was life-changing to be seen and valued as a person, rather than a set of grades or test scores.

Over time, Margaret has discovered that she is a meaning person; in order to be engaged in something, that something needs to hold value to her as a person. During her undergraduate years at USM, she studied both social work and photography, and merged the two studies to capture street portraits of everyday people and to make social and political statements. Margaret finds herself leaning toward social justice topics in both her personal life and in the way she guides others, and she also has unleashed passions for music, art, photography, singing, laughing, collaboration, traveling, exploring, baking bread, gardening, homesteading, theater, swimming….to name just a few. But most of all, she has discovered that just about anything is possible if you are passionate and excited about it and are willing to do the work! 

Margaret’s formal education includes: BA degree in Art (Photography, Art History), University of Southern Maine; MA in Education and Literacy,  Goddard College, VT; Education Technician III certification, Maine'; and (Pending) General Elementary (K-8) Teacher Certification, Maine.

Reach out - Margaret@schoolaroundus.org

Ruby Alley, Lead Educator

Ruby began to cultivate her passion for learning as a tool for world change as a student at School Around Us. Ruby believes that a learning environment is a place for children to blossom into their authentic selves, obtain relevant and passion-driven knowledge, and become well-rounded and participatory citizens. Ruby stands firmly in the fact that as an educator she has enlightenment to share but equally has enlightenment to gain from her students, families, and community members. Ruby received a BA in English and a MA in Teaching from Simmon’s University. Before joining us she taught in the Cambridge Public School System. As a true SAU alumna, Ruby’s interests span across many disciplines; from trying new foods to tracking great white shark migrations… from Greek culture and language to multi-media art. Ruby is overjoyed to return to SAU and encourage passion within our learners.

Reach out - Ruby@schoolaroundus.org

Mel Brunswig, Support Educator

Mel is passionate about education, art, and growing food. She is happiest when she is helping others. Mel first heard about SAU while working on the farm crew at Frinklepod Farm and was immediately interested in the teaching practices and opportunities available here for students. She will be joining SAU as a Support Teacher for the younger spiral group. Mel is originally from Colorado where she earned her a degree in K-12 Art Education at the University of Northern Colorado. In her spare time, she loves to draw, work on fiber art projects, listen to Joanna Newsom, read, cook for friends, and go on hikes to the ocean.

Sally McQuade, Lead Educator

Sally is more than thrilled to be joining the School Around Us team again after being gone for 5 years.  She has a 19 year old daughter and enjoys being outside and gardening.  With her School Around Us and Waldorf background, Sally is excited to offer rich, meaningful and fun experiences for the learners she will guide. 

Reach out - Sally@schoolaroundus.org

Joe Moore, Support Educator

Joe is a retired Maine educator who spent 42 years working, mainly in administration in a pre-K through adult setting in many Maine schools. He has been retired for eight years and has done some GED tutoring although the pandemic brought his tutoring to an end. He has found himself missing the contact of working with young people and professional staff in a learning environment. The opportunity of part-time work at the School Around Us gives him the flexibility of part time and the contact with children and other professionals that he has been craving. Plus, the unique atmosphere, that School Around Us employs in their learning environment will be a new experience for him, so he expects to be learning along with everybody else.

In his personal life, Joe enjoys time with six grandchildren that range in age from one year to 13 years old. He is also an avid reader who always has a couple of books handy that he’s plowing through. He stays active with daily walks, as well as biking and, in the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. He hopes to be able to incorporate some of these activities with the children that he’ll be working with at School Around Us.

Deb Justham, Summer Director

Deb Justham holds a degree with dual majors in Elementary Education and Psychology.   Her passion is outdoor education, promoting curiosity, respect and stewardship of nature.   Deb loves to guide experiential activities and exploration with children, promoting observation skills and a sense of wonder about the world around us.  She has raised goats, geese and ducks; grown and preserved her own food; and prefers being active outside exploring nature.  Her favorite camp activity? A scavenger hunt in the woods.

Sharon Trace, Music Educator

Sharon was a 5th grade teacher of all subjects for 16 years and has been a music educator/mentor/performer in various settings for most of her life. Sharing music with others is part of who she is. Encouraging curiosity about the world we all share, supporting learner’s interests, and helping to foster new passions are her goals as an educator. Whether exploring history, sharing wonderful books, or understanding the science of the world around us, Sharon shares her enthusiasm for learning with all. She also believes that developing caring and respectful relationships are essential for children (and adults) to learn, grow and thrive. Sharon currently teaches our Sprouts & younger spiral classes.

Sharon’s formal education included a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and an MEd in Community Education from Springfield College. Springfield’s philosophy of the connectedness of spirit, mind and body has continued to be part of her guiding philosophy. She holds a Maine K-8 Teaching Certification. She also holds the Master Trainer Certification from Ace Interface in ACEs education.

Will Sawyer, Music Educator

Will has been playing music for over 25 years. He has taught music from grades 3-12 and has performed in many different ensembles. His favorite music to listen to is electronic dance music and pop. Will currently teachers our Middle & Older spiral classes.

Cedar Lukacs, Community Support

Cedar found her way to School Around Us as a parent while homeschooling her youngest child and quickly found a learning community that enlivened her spirit. She has a background in office administration as well as architectural drafting and finds fulfillment in her professional life when her work serves a purpose she connects with. Cedar’s alignment with the SAU mission led naturally to taking on a role within SAU. Outside of work, Cedar loves to study nature, practice yoga and play games with her friends and family..

Reach out - Cedar@schoolaroundus.org

Tim Germain,

Part-Time Facilities Co-ordinator

Tim is the newest member of our team! He grew up in N.H. and Maine and finished High School in Old Orchard Beach. He is a US Navy Veteran and has been working in commercial and residential maintenance for 15+ years. He has been married for 33 years to his better half (his words!). He likes to travel, go camping, cook and loves all kinds of music. He also enjoys reading and learning as much as possible. His greatest joys are his grown children and his other best friend, Trinity, the puppy.

Board of Directors

Clymer Berry

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Clymer Berry is a former student of the School Around Us (‘89-‘00). A believer in lifelong learning and the benefits of holistic education, Clymer is excited to be involved with an organization that played such a pivotal role in his upbringing.

Jason Romagnoli, Treasurer

Jason Romagnoli is a former parent at SAU. His daughter attended SAU for eight years. As such, he is a big proponent of the school, the school community and what it has to offer each and every person involved. He is happy to now serve the school as a member of the board.

Lauren Tenney

Lauren is a current SAU parent and former SAU board member, supporting admissions and development as a member of the Leadership Team. Lauren is a consultant in leadership and organizational change, specializing in group dynamics, facilitation, and adult learning. In an earlier life, Lauren was an Americorps educator for underserved youth in rural CA, and later, a communications specialist for a leading transformative learning provider. She received her MA in holistic studies, focusing on human development and transformative change.

Tsipora Claudia Berman M.Ed. Holistic Education - Alumni Outreach

Tsipora is a former teacher, parent, coordinator, and board president starting at SAU in 1980.  Following a 46-year holistic and progressive education background to all ages 5-105 including special health-oriented populations, in New England for 30 years and 15 years in Oregon. Her current focus is mindfulness training across the curriculum, body-centered experiential education expanding intuition, imagination, inspiration, integration by presenting holistic experiential education integrating basic sciences, arts, mindfulness practices, brain research, health sciences, and positive psychology. Her current work has been in Interdisciplinary Yoga: Dance, Walking, Yogalates, and Mindfulness Skills Courses are infused with Body-Mind Centering, Evolutionary and Developmental Movement, 5 Rhythms, Contemplative Dance/Authentic Movement, Laughter Yoga, and Expressive Arts.   Tsipora’s Wings: Mindfulness Education and Therapy is her current business. www.Tsiporaswings.com

 Publications:

·       School Around Us: 25 Years. School Around Us Press. 1994.  ISBN 0-9643758-0-X. 195p.

·       “Streams and Ponds: A multidisciplinary curriculum.” Connect. Jan/Feb 1994. Vol. 7 No.3. Teachers’ Laboratory

·       “Experiencing Science: Integration with Life.” Holistic Education Review. Sum. 1994. Vol. 7 No. 2

·        ABC’s of ECOLOGY Curriculum Editor, Ferry Beach Ecology School, 2005/2006 pb June 06