Administration & Operations
Liz Shayne, Head of School
Liz (she/her) has spent her professional career in and around education and became the Head of School at The Schoolhouse in August 2011. Liz was a middle and high school teacher, administrator and technology specialist at the Spence School, an independent K-12 school in Manhattan.
Liz is co-founder of the Rosie’s Girls Summer Program, an award-winning trades exploration program for middle school-aged girls, and she continues to serve as a consultant to the program’s replication partners nationwide. She has served on the board and advisory committees of area non-profits, including the Fletcher Free Library, Vermont CARES, and The Schoolhouse. She received a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University and an AB in Modern European History from Harvard University.
Liz’s two children have attended Schoolhouse, and she served on the Board of Directors for seven years before becoming Head of School.
Kelly Story, Administrative Leadership Team Member
Kelly (she/her) grew up in northern California and earned a BA from Saint Michael’s College in political science and Russian in 1991. She’s worked in education her entire career. She spent the twelve years after college at Rock Point School, a small boarding high school in Burlington, working directly with teens and their families as Director of Admissions and Fundraising and as a member of the school’s leadership team.
Kelly also spent four summers at Heartworks preschool, leading outdoor adventure trips for young children, and she spent a year directing Renaissance School’s after school program.
In 2007 Kelly opened Story Time, home-based child care with a focus on nature, local adventures, play, and seasonal arts and crafts. Story Time joined The Schoolhouse in 2012 with Kelly as Director, fitting right in with Schoolhouse’s hands-on, joyful programming. Since then, she has moved into a more general administrative team role, specializing in helping families discover and access the learning resources they need for a successful education. When not at Schoolhouse, Kelly also works as a private educational consultant.
Maria McGrath, Operations Manager & Registrar
After spending her childhood in Alaska, Maria (she/her) attended Laguna Beach School of Art, and went on to work in the Development Office at Stanford University for ten years. To help round out her work/play skills, she has also worked at many theater companies as a stage manager, a property designer, and the occasional actor. In a pinch she is also willing to undertake light plumbing. Maria was a Schoolhouse parent from 2010 to 2014. She is so happy to be at The Schoolhouse full-time.
Elsa Oppenheimer, Child Care Programs Directing Team
Elsa (she/her) joined The Schoolhouse in August of 2022 as the Preschool Office Administrator. For the past sixteen years, she ran a successful family child care program out of her home. She is well-versed in all things child development as well as the administrative side of running a child care business. She obtained her Vermont Birth to Pre-K Educators License in 2016 through the Peer Review process, and has participated in Act 166 from all sides since 2008.
Elsa attended Burlington High School and subsequently graduated from Trinity College in Vermont in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Fine Arts. She lives in Shelburne with her husband Mark and their three children (Miles, Emma, and Delaney). Elsa considers herself pretty lucky to have all of her family live within ten minutes of each other, and spends as much time as possible with them. In the winters, she can be found skiing the slopes of Bolton Valley with her family. In the summers, Elsa enjoys floating in her pool (though more likely being dunked under by the kids). She is also a hobby wood-turner, and spends plenty of quality time on her lathe turning logs of wood into beautiful bowls.
Jennifer Boucher Albers,
Communications Director & Admissions Coordinator
Jen (she/her) is a native Vermonter who moved back to the Green Mountains the first chance she got. She came to The Schoolhouse as a parent and quickly found herself immersed in all aspects of the school—from subbing in the preschool to making tacos for lunch to organizing tag sales.
Jen holds degrees in Journalism and in Music Performance. She has worked as a reporter, editor, graphic designer, photography editor, and redesign/branding consultant for publications across the US and in the Caribbean. Before having children, she was a Title IX activist, had a short-lived stint as a lacrosse referee, and volunteered at an all-rabbit animal shelter. Locally she serves as vice president of The Shelburne Players and plays oboe and English Horn with the Vermont Symphonic Winds.
In her spare time, Jen is developing a line of delicious jams and jellies, and flirting with theater photography. She enjoys glamping and makes a mean cheeseboard. She has a perpetual Laundry Situation.
Anne Mollo, Development Director &
Special Projects Coordinator
Anne (she/they) has been connected with The Schoolhouse since 2014, when her children became students here. In addition to parent volunteer work for the school, she served for seven years as a voting member of the board of directors, and as board co-chair for four of those years. Now she guides Schoolhouse fundraising efforts, and continues to support short- and long-term strategic planning and fiscal management. She puts the fun in fundraising!
Anne has a BA in English from New York University, with a specialization in writing. Her theatrical training includes stints at HB Studio, Berkeley Rep, and Second City. As a communications professional, project manager, and thespian, she has over 30 years of experience across multiple industries, helping organizations achieve clarity in the missions, values and messages they share with their communities. She brings empathy and playfulness to all of her work.
When not at Schoolhouse, Anne enjoys both supporting and participating in various forms of performance art. She also co-produces (and often hosts) a quarterly storytelling event at the Shelburne Vineyard.
Preschool
Amy Carlson, Preschool Co-Director & Preschool Head Teacher
Amy (she/her) is one of the preschool co-directors and spends time as a Head Teacher in both classrooms. She has always enjoyed exploring life through the eyes of a child and believes children to be She joined the Storytime teaching team in June of 2013 where she worked with Katie McEachen, an original StoryTime teacher and environmental educator as well as mentor. Amy was also a long-time Schoolhouse parent until her daughter graduated from 8th grade in 2017.
Amy has always enjoyed exploring life through the eyes of a child and believes children are capable, creative, and full of wonder. Amy has worked with children and families for 30 years and earned her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education in May 2023 and Vermont State Teaching License in May 2024. Much of this work evolved around forest preschools and nature-based mentoring for children.
When not at Schoolhouse, Amy enjoys running and hiking on weekends with her family, playing ukulele, knitting and exploring the trails with her new pup Moose!
Eden Hubert, Managing Head Teacher, Dragonflies
Eden (she/her) is the Managing Head Teacher in the Dragonfly room. She's been a Dragonfly teacher at The Schoolhouse since early March 2020, just weeks before the COVID pandemic forced our school to switch to remote learning. She's been working with young children for almost 10 years; before The Schoolhouse, she graduated from UVM with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Vermont State Teaching License. While at UVM, she spent 3 years working, learning, and student teaching in an infant room, a toddler room, and a preschool room, as well as a year of student teaching in a public kindergarten. Aside from this, she has also worked as a lead young toddler teacher, a nanny for multiple families, and even a preschool ski instructor!
Her training in early education is in the Reggio Emilia method, which supports her own personal philosophy of bringing a strength-based, constructivist, nature-based, and emotion-informed approach to the preschool classroom. She knows children to be capable citizens of the world and have agency in their own learning. She views herself as a lifelong learner and, simply, loves the world of preschool.
When she's not at school, Eden enjoys reading, walking, and going to the lake.
Becca Mann, Head Teacher, Wild Grapes
Rebecca Mann grew up in central CT and moved to Burlington VT in 2012 with her now 17 year old son Julian. She resides in the NNE of Burlington near Lake Champlain in a cozy little house with Julian, their two cats, Violet and Henry, and their 2 year old puppy, Stormy Weather.
Rebecca’s educational background is primarily in creative writing, psychology, and clinical counseling, however most of her career experience has been working directly with children and families. Some of that experience includes: child-care as an infant/toddler teacher, trades (carpentry) Instructor for Rosie’s Girls camp for adolescent girls and non-gender conforming youth with VWFW, facilitator of Early Learning Readiness through the GBYMCA, facilitator of ACT Safe Parenting courses through the GBYMCA, and volunteer counseling for teens adjusting to motherhood through Manchester Community College. For the last 8 years prior to Rebecca’s employment at The Schoolhouse, she worked as the supervisor of the GBYMCA Membership Child care, and manager of the GBYMCA Family Programming.
In Rebecca’s free time she enjoys hiking with Julian and Stormy, drawing and painting with watercolors, healthy cooking, gardening, boating, and carpentry. Rebecca’s family is incredibly important to her, and during vacations she is almost always visiting with them in their little family cabin on the coast of Maine.
Rebecca’s goal as a Storytime preschool teacher is to bring her love of storytelling and visual art to life for the children. She also hopes to help create a calm and inviting environment full of learning opportunities, where children feel safe and valued.
Victoria Casson, Head Teacher, Wild Grapes
Victoria Casson (she/her) has been at the Schoolhouse since the fall of 2016. She began substitute teaching in all programs at The Schoolhouse, and then quickly found her place as a Wild Grape teacher by the summer of 2017. Victoria has previously been the After-School Director of the Preschool, and most recently accepted the role of Head Teacher in the Wild Grape room beginning the fall of 2020.
Victoria graduated from Champlain College with a BA in Public Relations, and a focus in Event Management in 2009. She is currently pursuing her MA in Early Childhood Education.
When she isn’t working, Victoria enjoys gardening, yoga, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
Aylie Baker, Lead Preschool Teacher & Elementary FFF program
Aylie (she/her) grew up in coastal Maine. She studied history and ethnography at Middlebury College and environmental studies at the University of Oregon. For much of her 20s she lived in Micronesia, sailing traditional canoes and supporting the continuance of canoe culture there.
She came to the Schoolhouse as a substitute teacher in 2018 and fell in love with the community. Over the years she has worked as a preschool teacher with Dragonflies and Wild Grapes in Storytime, as the Forest Teacher for the FFF program and as a 1:1 aide in the Tau classroom. She loves telling stories ("from her mouth"), reading the weather patterns, and generally getting lost in the natural world with children. She spends her freetime outdoors, writing poetry and training to become a clinical herbalist. One of her all time favorite poems is "For the Children" by Gary Snyder. The final lines read: "stay together / learn the flowers / go light."
Bo Bogush, Lead Preschool Teacher
Bo (they/them) grew up in Connecticut where they were an environmental educator for 10 years at the New Haven Ecology Project, working with ages 4-16. They spent time studying in Maryland and South Korea (이화여대 화이팅!) before moving to Vermont for school in 2022. Bo graduated from Sterling College in 2024 with a degree in Outdoor Education with a focus in ethical teaching practices and education theory. During their time at Sterling they focused their research on abolitionist, anti-racist and multicultural education pedagogies and learned through their TAships that they are incredibly passionate about providing accessible resources and education for current and future educators.
Bo is SO excited to start their journey at Schoolhouse with the littles. Their teaching is rooted in whimsy, curiosity, empathy, empowerment, joy and love. Bo loves to use real life and the things that are important to their kiddos to help them to become strong, excited stewards of their communities and of the world they live in.
Bo is an avid enjoyer of team sports, Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy books, rock climbing, Legos and live music.
Grantham Cannon, Assistant Preschool Teacher
Grantham (he/him) is a Schoolhouse alum who returned to his roots after graduating from Vermont Commons School in 2024. Grantham grew up in South Burlington and still lives within walking distance of the school. He spends most of his time in the Wild Grape room and with the afterschool program and is hoping to work towards a degree in elementary education in the not so distant future.
Grantham is known for his knack for telling vibrant stories. He always carries around a deck of cards and is ready to show a magic trick or play a game with anyone interested. You may see him around school eating an apple- core and all. He's glad to be back at The Schoolhouse and an active part of the community again. He's looking forward to a future in teaching.
Avery Lavoie, Assistant Preschool Teacher
Avery Lavoie (she/her) was born in the beautiful Huntington river valley of NDakinna (homeland in Abenaki). She spent her childhood searching for salamanders in the brook, building fairy houses and wandering the green mountains.
She received a bachelors degree in Psychology and Environmental studies from UVM and a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho. She has a background in environmental education and interpretation, wildlife field biology and environmental social science.
Avery is a poet, musician and artist, yoga teacher and death doula. She hopes to bring joy, ease and wonder to Story Time young people. She is constantly in awe of the young people and their gifts.
Caleb Morehouse, Wild Grapes teacher & Afterschool
Caleb (they/them) has nine years of education experience ranging from teaching to coaching to summer camp counseling. In 2024 Caleb earned their B.Sci. In Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise and Sports Science.
Caleb joined Schoolhouse in 2024 as a teacher in Wild Grapes and Afterschool. Caleb is passionate about psychosocial learning through structured and unstructured play. They came to Schoolhouse because it is a place where individual student development is priority one!
Outside of school, Caleb plays disc golf and ultimate frisbee. They love to hike, write, and read. As of writing this bio, they are reading More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa.
Beck Morrow, Lead Preschool Teacher
Beck (they/them) is a Migrating Monarch and Dragonfly co-lead teacher and has been happily working at The Schoolhouse since fall of 2023. Beck is an alumni of UVM where they studied Plant and Soil Science Ecology. They firmly believe in the power of nature-based education and are always eager to share their knowledge in a way that makes the classroom and world a more inclusive and approachable space. At The Schoolhouse, Beck learns something new everyday and is thrilled to be apart of the community.
Outside of school, you can find Beck playing cards with friends and enjoying hiking, running, swimming, cycling, and reading.
Julian Van Houdt, Assistant Preschool Teacher
Julian (he/him) is an only child who moved to Vermont from Connecticut at six years old. He loves to play the guitar and record music in his basement studio, and plays the piano and trumpet as well. Julian was first introduced to The Schoolhouse by his mom who works in Story Time, and he was honored to compose and perform the background music for the Wild Grape play for the past few years.
In the fall of 2023, he started subbing at The Schoolhouse in Storytime classrooms. He had been coming in to work with his mom since he was a kid, and loved playing and socializing with the younger children. Julian also worked at Very Merry Theatre in Burlington, where he organized plays with children from ages five to twelve, as well as performing in some older teen shows himself (The Wizard of Oz, Cabaret, Spamalot). He always surrounds himself with musical opportunities, like teaching guitar classes in highschool and playing in jazz bands for seven years. He will be pursuing a degree in music production and composition at UVM, and he hopes to help the children in Story Time to find and foster their own creative outputs.
Judy Mallory, Substitute Preschool Teacher
Judy (she/her) found her way to the Schoolhouse as a resident of the Dorset Farms neighborhood. Her children grew up, much to her dismay, and she missed spending time with young children. She works in Story Time, and also subs in the Elementary and Afterschool programs throughout the school year.
Judy grew up in South Burlington, graduating from South Burlington High School and Dartmouth College. She worked in publishing in New York City for five years after college, and then as Communications Director for the United Way of Chittenden County after moving back to Vermont. She has done consulting for charitable organizations, and volunteered in numerous capacities for the South Burlington School system while her children attended.
Judy lives with her husband, Ben, and dog, Kobe (who sometimes visits the children at Story Time), and her two sons, Mark and Andrew, whenever they make it home. She enjoys tennis, paddle tennis, skiing, reading, and walks, including the two-minute one she takes when traveling to and from work at the Schoolhouse.
Elementary
Courtney Seavey, Elementary Teacher (K-1)
Courtney (she/her) has been formally working with elementary and preschool children in both public and progressive settings since 2013 after graduating from Saint Michael's College with degrees in Elementary Education and Anthropology. She has a deep desire to blend the powers of the natural world, children's innate openness, and all forms of play in order to teach to each child's whole, unique being. After becoming a mother in 2021, she was gifted with a greater sense of purpose as an educator.
She is thrilled to be the Alpha teacher at the Schoolhouse. This position allows her to walk alongside children and families starting at a beautiful and ripe time during childhood. She is so happy to be able to watch Schoolhouse children grow as themselves, and into themselves.
Lance Whitesel, Elementary Teacher's Aide (K-1, Alpha Class) & Music Teacher
Lance (he/him) joined the Schoolhouse team in the fall of 2023, alongside the start of his Online Masters of Elementary Education program at Western Governors University. He graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2021 with a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Sustainability.
Lance worked as a Software Engineer following undergrad, but eventually found that his real calling was to elementary school teaching, which inspired him to pursue his Masters in Elementary Education.
Lance loves teaching at The Schoolhouse because it gives him the opportunity to work with students of all ages, and to teach them valuable skills in the arts, environmental consciousness, and social justice.
Lance spends his free time training for marathons, rock climbing, songwriting, and getting outside whenever he can!
Sara Bankert, Elementary Teacher (2-3, Tau Class)
Sara (she/her) joined The Schoolhouse after teaching middle school science in the Washington, DC area for seven years. Most recently, she taught 5th and 6th grade science at a progressive Quaker school. When she moved to Burlington in September 2016 with her partner Craig, she was anxious to find a school that fit her creative and holistic approach to teaching. She quickly found The Schoolhouse and enjoyed subbing there (at every level). Sara was beyond thrilled when a classroom position opened up in 2017! She’s been the lead teacher in the Tau room ever since, and is now lucky enough to have her daughter Margaret at the Schoolhouse as well - right around the corner in the Dragonfly room!
Sara graduated from Cornell University in 2008 with a BA in Physics and a MAT in Secondary Education. She took a brief “break” from teaching while in DC to pursue another passion—animal rights. She quickly missed the classroom and realized she could find ways to incorporate her love for animals into her teaching. At her last school she started a student led Animal Advocacy group, where students explored issues of compassion and justice. When she’s not teaching, Sara loves to spend time with family and friends, hike, bike, run, cook delicious vegan food, and make pottery!
Baker Baker, Elementary Teacher's Aide
(2-3, Tau Class) & Art Teacher
Baker (she/her) is so grateful to be part of the Schoolhouse community. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Baker has worked at summer camps for many years, becoming a leader and a friend to children of all ages. She joined the Schoolhouse community in 2021 and has since worked in the Tau, Alpha, and Wild Grapes classrooms and in the FFF program. She absolutely loves to teach and play and explore with kiddos.
In her free time, Baker likes to rock climb, jump in puddles, and spend time outdoors with friends.
Laura Castrigano, Alpha & Tau Math
Laura (she/her) grew up in Grafton, Vermont, and has spent much of her life exploring the state on foot and bicycle (she even met her partner while thru-hiking the Long Trail). Laura moved back to Vermont in 2021 with her family after teaching in Connecticut for six years. Her son is a Dragonfly this year!
Laura graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and a minor and certification in Elementary Education. Laura has taught in Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms and is especially passionate about math education. She has a MA in Teaching Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College, and strives to make the math classroom an inclusive, inviting, and celebratory environment in which all children can thrive.
In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time outside with her family, learning new board games, and watching women's sports.
Jeb Brady, Elementary Teacher (4-5, Sophos class)
Jeb (he/him) started his career in childcare at The Schoolhouse in the summer of 2013. For two years Jeb worked in the Dragonfly classroom. In 2015 Jeb switched roles and took over as lead in the preschool afterschool program, and worked two days in the Wild Grape classroom. Jeb completed the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council Apprenticeship program under the mentorship of Amy Carlson. In the late fall of 2016 Jeb left The Schoolhouse to pursue other career options.
After struggling to find interests elsewhere in the job world, Jeb returned to The Schoolhouse as a teacher’s aid in the Alpha classroom. In his new position, Jeb hopes to expand his knowledge of child development focusing on the area of school aged children. Jeb also hopes to be a positive contribution to the planning and organization of gross motor group games and sport activities for the children at Schoolhouse.
In his spare time, Jeb very much enjoys being a father and spending time with his family. He also enjoys hiking, cooking, and participating in various sports. Jeb is also an avid football fan and greatly enjoys following his favorite team, The New England Patriots.
Barry Steyling, Elementary Teacher's Aide, Sophos Math & Afterschool
Barry (he/him) is a life-long educator with a focus on social justice, history, and government/civics. Born and raised in what he refers to as the "Great State of New Jersey", he moved to New England for college and never left. He now lives with his partner and hound-dog in Fairfax, Vermont. Barry's educational experience includes working with Bolton's Chill program, classroom teaching, and volunteering at a summer camp in Mongolia teaching literacy to elementary-aged kids. He loves everything outdoors, is an accomplished Dungeons and Dragons player, and travels the world when possible. Barry is excited to join the Schoolhouse community.
Marc Hughes, Elementary Teacher's Aide (4-5, Sophos Class)
Marc (he, him) grew up in Springfield, Vermont. He joins The Schoolhouse Community after several years of substitute and part-time teaching in Colorado and Vermont. Marc graduated from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania with a BS in Art Education.
Marc's true talent lies with his life's purpose as a cartoon illustrator. He has written and designed children's books and activity books, done ad work and is proficient at doing caricatures. His portfolio is filled with work that hints of his progressive slant towards society and life, whether it be health, diversity or constructive thinking in some educational way. He has done work for a full-length documentary about a "World Citizen" activist and illustrated a book about a monk who hands out positive statement stickers. He currently finished the drawings and layout for a graphic novel about the importance of plankton in our oceans and lakes. Plus, thanks to Covid, recently dared himself to self-publish a YA fantasy novel that, in many ways, honors American Indians, as well as wolves, within one exciting story. Marc is most famous for the thousands of caricatures he has drawn in the area since his four-year stint as a street artist on Church Street in Burlington.
In his spare time, Marc likes to bike, hike, paddle-board, kayak, ski and cross-country ski. He has two wonderful older children, both exploring life in the Big Apple.
Middle School
Chris Broughton, Middle School Humanities Teacher
Chris (he/him) was born and raised in the Great Lakes state of Michigan, where he developed a love for all things outdoors. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2008 with a BS in Secondary Education History and English. He promptly moved to Bethel, Alaska where he taught for four years at an alternative high school serving the local Native Alaskan population. He refined his teaching skills during this time to focus on working with students who benefit from a more individualized curriculum than was typically offered in a public school setting. In 2012 Chris moved to
Burlington, VT with his partner who is now his wife, and he landed a job at a school operated by the Howard Center. There he taught all general subjects in an alternative therapeutic setting, serving students who struggled with behavioral and emotional challenges. This work continued his career focus with students who benefit from more individualized support so they can achieve academic success. Chris and his wife have two young children, and Chris loves being able to teach part-time at Schoolhouse and be a devoted stay-at-home dad.
Shane Bufano, Middle School Math Teacher
Shane (he/him) teaches math in the Delta (middle school) classroom. He has been very active in education as a teacher and a coach for the past decade. Shane earned his BA in Elementary Education from Green Mountain College. Prior to The Schoolhouse, Shane was a founding member of the faculty at Vermont Athletic Academy where he taught Math and Language Arts. Shane also held several educational positions at Williston Central School and Allen Brook School in Williston.
Outside of the school setting, Shane is a very successful soccer coach in the area. He’s coached at the collegiate level as the head coach of the men's team at Vermont State University-Johnson and is second all-time in NCAA wins. He has been a member of the coaching staff for the Saint Michael’s College women’s soccer team. Shane is also the director of coaching for Queen City Football Club, which he founded in 2011 and developed to incorporate twenty teams between U-7 and U-19, with more than 500 children in the program. He holds several coaching certifications including a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National License and Director of Coaching Diploma, as well as the United States Soccer Federation “D” License.
Shane has also earned prestigious coaching awards and was recently named VSCA Capital League Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023 for coaching Stowe High School. He was also named the Vermont State Small School Coach of the Year in 2022 (again at Stowe HS). And in 2023, he was named Vermont Soccer Association (VSA) Girls Coach of the Year for club soccer for work with Queen City FC.
Lorraine Carter-Lovejoy, Middle School Science Teacher & Lead Teacher, Elementary FFF Teacher
Lorraine (she/her) is originally from Richmond, VA. She attended West Virginia University, where she studied music and wildlife management. She spent these days hanging in the woods to look for ginseng, and playing trombone at football games across the country.
After working in outdoor education and for Outward Bound, Lorraine moved to Vermont in 2012. She taught at Centerpoint School, Rock Point School, and then worked in HR administration at the UVM Medical Center. At Schoolhouse she teaches the middle schoolers, who are active learners interested in creating a meaningful educational experience for themselves. What she likes about Schoolhouse is the flexible and supportive community for both teachers and students.
In addition to teaching at Schoolhouse, Lorraine also serves as the faculty liaison for the school's board. She also plays and coaches ultimate Frisbee. In her free time, Lorraine likes to ski, canoe, travel, and “yarden" with her family in Burlington.
Afterschool & Specials
Megan McKeown, Afterschool Co-Director & FFF program, Lead Preschool Teacher
Megan (she/her) is so excited to be a part of The Schoolhouse in the Afterschool program and FFF roles this year. Last winter, she was a substitute teacher and fell in love with the Schoolhouse community.
Before joining The Schoolhouse, Megan taught at a forest preschool in Washington state, and lead summer-long backpacking trip for teens. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 2020 and loves all the Burlington area has to offer. She enjoys playing outside, bird watching, board games, watching jeopardy, and cooking for friends.
She is most excited to explore the gorgeous land surrounding The Schoolhouse and investigate how it changes throughout the school year.
Anne Borick, Chef, Preschool & Afterschool
Anne (she/her) grew up in New Jersey. She graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1992 with a BA in Biology, minoring in Chemistry. In 1996 she moved to Vermont to attend the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier. She graduated two years later with an AOS in Culinary Arts.
Anne joined The Schoolhouse in 2017 as Food Service Director and Chef. She also has teaching roles in FFF, Afterschool, and substitutes in the Preschool during the summer months.
Celia Bird, Elementary/Middle Health Teacher
Celia (she/her) is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a background in education, and training and experience facilitating Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education.
As Elementary & Middle Health Teacher, she is passionate about delivering culturally congruent, equity based, comprehensive sexuaility education that is also interesting, fun and relevant!
Celia is a parent of three young children and she and her family enjoy exploring and playing in the wilds of Vermont and right in their own backyard!
She is excited about helping families and educators connect place-based, outdoor and environmental education with comprehensive sexuality education. Celia enjoys helping students and families engage with health education in ways that are accessible and interdisciplinary and allow her to collaborate with other educators.
Outside of school Celia can be found playing outside with her kids, husband and dog, running, skiing and skipping around enthusiastically!
Katie Goodwin, Flex Teacher
Katie (she/her) graduated from Schoolhouse in spring of 2020, and has since completed her high school education and returned to Schoolhouse as an alum and staff member.
Katie has been skiing ever since she was 4, and in 2021 was offered a job in the Schoolhouse at Sugarbush resort as a ski instructor, she did that in the winter seasons for 3 years while she was still in highschool. During the summer months she worked at Local Motion doing bike repairs and renting bikes to people in her community as well as tourists. Currently, Katie just finished school for Emergency Medical Technician and will be taking her nation license test at the end of January 2025.
Katie also enjoys Traveling, writing, and is looking forward to being able to start her part time career as an EMT.
Rose Lord, Flex Teacher
Rose (she/her) graduated from Schoolhouse in spring of 2020, and has since completed her high school education and returned to Schoolhouse as an alum and staff member.
Rose has been training in American Ninja Warrior ever since she was 8, and in 2018 was picked for the junior version of the TV show. She has also been competing in the WNL (World Ninja League), and has qualified for and attended the Ninja World Championships for three years running. Currently, Rose helps coach and support the current ninja team (aged 7-17) at Vermont Ninja Warrior Training Center, and hopes to bring many of them (and herself) to the world championships again this coming season. She is currently ranked within the top 10 Elite Female ninja warriors worldwide.
Rose also enjoys musical theater, poetry writing, and is looking to attend a college in the future which focuses around circus acrobatics and the arts.
Our Consultants
Kate Danforth, Learning Specialist
(Kate Danforth Tutoring, LLC)
Kate (she/her) adores her dogs, cooking, reading and being in nature with her family! She started teaching in 2002. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and is currently studying to become an Orton Gillingham Practitioner. She’s been a head teacher, a literacy and math specialist, a curriculum support specialist and a tutor. Her passion is working one-on-one with students to increase skills and self confidence.
Kate has loved working with the fascinating humans at the Schoolhouse (since 2019), and feels that she’s found an academic home here.
Ashley Williams-Wenschhof, Literacy Consultant
Ashley (she/her) loves anything language related: reading books on linguistic muddles, tongue twisters, learning another world language, and good ole conversations with friends and family. She also loves traveling, swimming, sailing, yoga, and black liquorice. Ashley has been teaching since 2001, has a B.A. and M.A. in Italian Language and Linguistics, and is also certified as an Orton Gillingham Practitioner. She has served varied roles at The Schoolhouse since 2016 including head teacher, aide, Italian teacher, LCS teacher, OG tutor, and literacy consultant. She loves the combination of “feel good vibes” that intermingle with academic exploration here at The Schoolhouse and loves to see her students succeed.