Faculty and Staff
Anna J. Boll is teaching integrated language arts and social studies to the 5th and 6th grade students at the Friends School beginning in 2010. Her experience includes nine years teaching at the middle school level in Cumberland, Auburn and Gorham. In addition to teaching, Anna is the marketing consultant to the Friends School working on special events and newsletters. She is a children's author/illustrator and MFA candidate in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Anna has a degree in Political Science and American Sign Language from the University of Rochester and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Southern Maine. Her most recent challenge includes participating in triathlon events.
Nicole Borrasso teaches grades 3-4. Nicole joined FSP in 2007. Previously, she had one year of experience as an assistant teacher in middle school, and 4 years experience as an environmental educator and wilderness trip leader. She has completed the Extended Teacher Education Program and MS in Teaching and Learning at the University of Southern Maine. Nicole has been instrumental in starting the school community garden and has involved her class with water quality studies that were then reported to the Friends of Casco Bay.
Lee Chisholm teaches math in grades 5-8, and science and social studies in grades 7-8. Lee joined FSP in 2008 and comes to us with 13 years of experience in Waldorf education. Prior to his calling to teach, Lee was an attorney for 14 years, practicing in Portland. Lee and his wife, Sukie Rice, a member of Durham Friends Meeting, were co-founding parents of Merriconeag Waldorf School. Lee has a BA from Harvard, JD from University of Maine School of Law, and a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Antioch New England.
Christina Chute is teaching music for K-8, joining FSP in 2010. A professional cellist, Christina has been teaching cello, violin, and viola to all ages for over 25 years. Her translation of Barbara Marcinkowska's je commence le violoncelle (I begin to play the cello) was published by Editions Armiane in 2005. Christina is a member of the applied music faculty at Bates and Bowdoin colleges and teaches music theory at the University of New England. She has a B.Mus. (violin) from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, a Performer's Certificate (cello) from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and a M.M. (cello) from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has been an FSP parent since 2006.
Ellen Couture joins the staff in 2010 as the Infant/Toddler Program Caregiver. Ellen's experience caring for and educating children from birth through teens is extensive. She became interested in working with very young children during her college years when she opted to take a year off and teach at the Lighthouse Preschool and Nursery School in South Portland. Ellen completed a BA in Art at USM and since then, she has worked at the Bowdoin Childcare Center in Brunswick, Maiden Cove Childcare Center in Cape Elizabeth, and spent 17 years working as a professional nanny. Ellen is excited to return to the career which she declares to be "the most rewarding, fun, inspiring, and exciting" jobs in the world!
Jessica Eller, Coordinator of Admissions and Office Manager, has been with FSP since 2006. She builds community through a Riddle of the Week, and encourages interaction between students, teachers, parents, and staff. She comes to FSP from Peace Action Maine, where she supported work on nuclear disarmament, nonviolent resolution to international conflicts and sustainability in Maine's environment and economy. She has provided administrative management and coordinated programs in a number of peace-related nonprofits in Maine, Indiana and Ohio over the past 8 years. She has a BA in Peace Studies from Manchester College, in Indiana.
Jonathan Ewell is assisting in kindergarte, and providing supervision for the Aftercare program. Jonathan joined FSP in 2006 and has been a teacher in Preschool, 5th-6th grade social studies, and an assistant in math from grades 1 to 8. Prior to FSP, Jonathan taught in Montessori schools for 6 years. He has a BA in Sociology from Haverford College. He lives in South Portland with his wife and son.
James Grumbach, Head of School, joined FSP in 2007 and had been a teacher and administrator for 29 years at George School, a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania. He also served on the school committee for Newtown Friends School, a Pre-K to 8 school. Prior to that, he taught at the Berkshire School in Massachusetts and public schools in Maryland. He earned a BS from the University of Maryland and an MS from Bank Street College.
Celeste Henriquez has been teaching art at FSP since 2006. Previously, she taught in schools from the west to the east coasts and has also given private art lessons for the past 16 years. Celeste is a practicing artist as well with a BFA from Philadelphia College of Art. In 2008, Celeste will assist in preschool as well.
Jamien Jacobs teaches science to grades 5-6. She has been with FSP since 2006 and was a middle school teacher and head of the science department for an independent K-12 school in Virginia for seven years. She was a field biologist for Maine Audubon, Acadia National Park and a variety of other organizations for ten years. She taught a science methods courses for teachers at the University of New England, and most recently was Curriculum Consultant for Portland Trails. Jamien received her BA from College of the Atlantic and her Masters in Education from Antioch New England Graduate School.
Billy Maley, the Physical Education teacher and assistant in 1st-2nd grade, had several years of experience working with students in outdoor education and camp programs. Prior to joining the FSP in 2007, he worked as a naturalist in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and as part of a living history program for the San Francisco Maritime Association. He has a BS from Springfield College and is spending most of the summer getting married and leading cycling trips.
John Marble, joined FSP in June 2009 as Director of Finance and Development. John brings considerable experience to FSP in the areas non-profit and school finances. John worked as the Director of Finance at both Catherine McAuley High School and the Disability Rights Center of Maine. In addition, John has worked with middle and high School students in both academic and athletic areas. John is a graduate of Philadelphia University with a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.
Peter Nowak is teaching 5th-6th grade language arts, social studies, and math, and assisting with math in the 3rd-4th grade classroom. Pete started at FSP in 2008 after completing the ETEP Program at the University of Southern Maine. Prior to that, he worked at The Foote School in New Haven, Connecticut. Pete completed his BA at Colby College in 2003. In his free time he helps out with walking Katie Spirer's dog.
Corie Scribner, the Pre-K/K teacher, joined FSP in 2007 and had 2 years of teaching experience in a 3rd grade classroom and 2 years experience with K-8 children of migrant workers. Corie's interest in teaching began when she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador where she became involved in the local school teaching English and leading other activities. Corie is drawn to teaching children and is a strong advocate for the education of the whole child. Corie also advocates for enriching children's outdoor experience and using nature as foundation for learning. She has a BS from the University of Wyoming in Laramie and has completed certification requirements from USM. Corie has also attended many workshops to enrich her teaching. Some of these workshops have given her skills in the Montessori, nature-based, and Reggio Emilia approaches to teaching.
Katie Spirer is teaching grades 1-2. She joined FSP in 2007 and previously had one year of teaching experience with 2nd graders and one year as a Special Education Assistant in New Hampshire and Maine. She has also coached basketball, soccer, and softball at the middle school and high school levels. Katie has a BA in anthropology from Colby College and MS in General Childhood Education from the Bank Street College in New York City. She is thrilled to be back in Portland, teaching at a school that values community, children's natural curiosity, and nature. When she is not at school, Katie can often be found enjoying the outdoors by bike or by foot.
Lea Sutton, the Preschool teacher, joined FSP in 2006. Prior to teaching, she had been leading weekly story hours and running the summer reading programs at the Limington Public Library where she was the director for many years. She was, for ten years, very actively involved in all aspects of the New Country School, a parent-run cooperative, and was also part of a cooperative homeschool group. Lea earned a BA from Earlham College, a JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and has had training in Waldorf education.
Mary Tracy, the founding teacher of FSP, is the Curriculum Coordinator and teaches language arts to grades 5-8. She taught grades 1-8 in New Hampshire, New York, and Maine for 17 years and worked for five years in professional development, including three as a training instructor for the Junior Great Books literature and discussion program. For Mary there is never enough time to read all the amazing books and writers out there, and she has been known to get teary-eyed when kids write super funny or insightful or beautiful pieces. She lives with her husband, Tom, and their two dogs. She earned a BS in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College and a Masters in Education from Harvard University, where she specialized in Reading Education.
Annie Ware is teaching Spanish to grades 1-8, beginning in 2010. Previously she taught Spanish at a Middle School in Portland for five years. Prior to that, she taught English to elementary aged kids in a two-room school in Costa Rica. She has traveled extensively through Spain, Mexico and Central America. Annie received her BS from University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and is currently working towards her Masters degree.
