People
Amy Wentworth, Lead Educator
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 25 years. She first discovered her passion for student-centered, progressive education at Goddard College, where she was supported by advisors who valued her life experiences and nurtured her growth. That transformative experience continues to shape her work today—centering relationships, meaning, and care.
A lifelong “meaning seeker,” Margaret studied social work and photography at USM, blending the two by capturing street portraits that carried social and political messages. She brings that same lens of social justice into her teaching and mentoring, encouraging others to find purpose and passion in their own paths.
Outside the classroom, Margaret is fueled by creativity and connection—singing, making art, photographing, collaborating, traveling, baking bread, gardening, homesteading, theater, swimming—and always exploring what’s possible when passion meets dedication.
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
Sally McQuade, Lead Educator
Sally is a holistic teacher who loves learning right alongside her students. She incorporates the learners’ interests, as well as her own into her curriculum. School Around Us has been a longtime home for her heart, where her passion, love, and commitment have grown over the years. Her daughter, Linnea was part of SAU through 6th grade, and the experience was a wonderful journey for them both—one that continues to shape and inspire Sally’s path as an educator and lifelong learner. She finds joy in music, tending her garden, and sipping coffee on her front porch.
Reach out - Sally@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.
Betsy Harder, Support Educator
Betsy is passionate about creativity, connection, and supporting each child’s unique path. With a background in fashion design and photography, she brings a strong visual eye and nurturing energy to her role as a part-time educator at SAU. Betsy was drawn to the school through her daughter Natalie’s experience and is excited to contribute to its vibrant, student-led environment.
For the past decade, Betsy has been a dedicated stay-at-home mom, also running her own photography business and volunteering in local early education spaces. She loves helping kids express themselves and feel seen.
In her free time, Betsy enjoys beach walks while collecting sea glass, practicing yoga, exploring wellness, and working on creative projects and crafts.
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
Lily Reiter, Summer Camp Director
Lily has always had a passion for connecting with people. Over the years she has found herself in many different roles, all focused on building relationships with others. Whether it was an educator for 1st and 2nd graders through City Year Americorps, a director for a summer camp for adults with disabilities, or as a therapist, she loves meeting people for who they are and where they are at.
Lily enjoys finding deep understanding for others and felt drawn to SAU for their values and shared approach to viewing children as complex, whole humans. She is looking forward to supporting the summer camp, wondering, exploring, and playing from a child-centered approach to camp.
Lily has a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, as well as a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from the University Vermont. She has spent the last 13 years in Burlington, Vermont and is moving back to Maine to be closer to family and her hometown, this May. She looks forward to re-experiencing her home state with the campers this summer. In her free time, Lily enjoys being outside, crocheting, hiking and dabbling in community theater.
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 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.
Amy Jane Larkin, Administrative Support
Amy Jane Larkin is grateful to be joining the team at School Around Us. She is an artist and illustrator who's run a small business with her husband for the last twelve years. She also lives with and cares for her 102-year-old grandmother, a former teacher who taught everyone to bring curiosity and a willingness to learn to each new challenge. She believes in the power of community and finds great joy in creating and nurturing connections through volunteering. In her free time, Amy loves cooking, traveling, and making handbuilt ceramics.
Board of Directors
Carlton Powers, Co-chair
Carlton Powers attended SAU in the early 2000’s. He went on to graduate from Magdalen College and Emory University School of Law and practices law in Augusta, Georgia. One of Carlton’s proudest moments was playing the Big Bad Wolf in “The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf” while he was a student at SAU, and he has gone on to act in over 30 stage plays since.
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.
Rachael Morrow, Secretary
Rachael Morrow found School Around Us in 2008 while homeschooling her 2 children. She credits SAU with fostering a love of learning for the whole family. Rachael lives with her kids in Old Orchard Beach and works as a special education teacher at a local high school. She is thrilled to be giving back to SAU as a member of the Board of Directors!
Kelly Romagnoli, Co-chair
BIO & pic will be posted soon
