2024-2025 Faculty and Staff

At Breakwater we want for our students to explore the world confident in themselves, with a sense of purpose and compassion, belief in their own agency, and the resilience to embrace mistakes. We affirm the integrity of childhood by placing high value on play, balancing the education of the heart and the mind equally. Breakwater's ability to succeed in this is made possible by a talented, enthusiastic, and loving faculty who live these same aspirations in their everyday lives. Our teachers and staff are recruited and retained based on their professional skills, their willingness to model our mission in every respect, and their commitment to professional and personal growth.

For our Enrichment Center faculty and staff, click here

Rachel Gloria Adams - Community Projects Coordinator
radams@breakwaterschool.org
Rachel Gloria Adams is an multidisciplinary artist and holds a BFA from the Maine College of Art and Design. Adams has developed a vibrant, graphic pattern-based visual language filled with references to the natural world that possesses an heirloom quality.

She co-created Art & Cloth an afterschool, summer and admissions portfolio mentorship program with her mother, now retired art teacher Sharon Correnty. She has gone on to exhibit artwork at Space Gallery, Able Baker, Notch8, Alice Gauvin Gallery and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. In addition to her studio practice, Adams has been commissioned to create murals for several institutions including the Children's Museum of Portland, University of Maine and the Farnsworth Museum.

More notably, she is the mother of Zoë and Norah who are both students at Breakwater School.

Shaun Aylward -Grades K-8 Tinkering Essentialist & Enrichment Arts
saylward@breakwaterschool.org
Shaun holds a B.A. in Human Ecology, a Master’s of Teaching in Art Education, and is a Registered Maine Guide. His philosophy of teaching is that tinkering—as a cluster of behaviors—is so closely aligned with the ways in which children innately interact with and learn about their environment that it deserves a celebrated and central role in their education. That is: spontaneous, self-initiated, and experimental “messing about” is analogous to the way in which children (and adults) performatively make their way through the world, discover affordances for action, discipline their perception, expand their cognition, and learn to skillfully shape their surroundings. As Breakwater’s tinkering teacher, Shaun strives to create a habitat in which students may engage in proactive, self-generated exploration of the material world and work out the nature of their agency within it.

Hannah Blackwood - kindergarten assistant
HBlackwood@Breakwaterlearning.org
Hannah Blackwood grew up in Chicago but recently relocated to the Portland area to be closer to her sister and niece-on-the-way. She graduated from Calvin University in 2016 where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Elementary Education, Spanish, and International Development. Since graduating she has had the opportunity to work with children and youth in a variety of settings such as preschools, an after school program, a hands-on science education organization, outdoor education programs, rock climbing gyms, summer camps, and more. As an educator she strives to not only help students grow academically but to also nurture them on their journeys towards becoming compassionate, respectful, creative, and aware global citizens. She is excited to join the Breakwater community and explore the beautiful state of Maine. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, paddling, playing ultimate frisbee, reading, and playing the violin.

Pablo Casasbuenas - Grades K-8 Spanish Essentialist
pcasasbuenas@breakwaterschool.orG
Originally from Colombia, Pablo discovered his passion for teaching languages after arriving in North America in 2015. He is excited for the opportunity to learn and share his experience as a bilingual person with the Breakwater community. In previous years he has had the chance to teach Spanish in Mount Washington Valley in New Hampshire and also worked as a physical education teacher and basketball coach for the International Baccalaureate community for 9 years. Graduating from the National Pedagogical University of Colombia, he holds a bachelor degree in Physical Culture, a masters in Pedagogy of Sports Training and IB Teacher credentials. At home, Pablo stays busy developing his family band, which includes his four year old son Ray, his one year old daughter Salome, his wife Taylor and his dog Leo. Driven by sports, salsa music and his guitar Pablo also shares some of his culture though teaching after school classes in the Enrichment Center

Renée crabtree - Administrative Office Manager
rCRABTREE@breakwaterschool.org
Renée manages both the administration office, and is often the first face you see when entering our campus. Previously, Renee held similar roles at other specialty schools, including a school for the blind and visually impaired. A graduate of Emmanuel College and born into a family of educators, Renée appreciates the Breakwater mission and feels a sense of belonging with the Breakwater community.

Val Duarte - Business Office Executive Assistant
vduarte@breakwaterschool.org
Val started at Breakwater during the summer of 2022 and spent her first year with our youngest students in the early childhood program. She was our Office and Operations Coordinator position for summer camp and will continue on this fall as the Business Office Executive Assistant. Outside of Breakwater, you can find Val trying to keep up with her two young children and trying to keep up with the thriving restaurant scene here in Portland. 

Jennifer Emrich– Summer Camp & Special Programs Director
jemrich@breakwaterschool.org
Jennifer is an educator and non-profit professional with over a decade of teaching, facilitation and community-building experience. She holds a Master's in religion and ethics as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Maine College of Art & Design. Jennifer is excited to offer up a multicultural thinking-and-making space during the summer months where children can grow intellectually and emotionally while having fun and playing in the sprinklers. She is also growing our ability to offer up special programming for adults and children outside of the typical school day and classroom setting. When not planning and preparing to support Breakwater as the most amazing and diverse year-round educational facility in Maine, Jennifer is making art in her painting/printmaking studio and having long Facetime conversations with her off-to-college-and-careers children.

Patrick “Fitz” Fitzgibbons - K-8 Science and Adventure
pfitzgibbons@breakwaterschool.orG
“Fitz”, as the students know him, is an avid life long learner. He came to Breakwater in 2012 and immediately fell in love with the school, the teaching philosophy and the community. Fitz has filled a variety of roles before becoming the Science and Adventure Essentialist. He gets his students outside as much as possible! Before coming to Breakwater Fitz studied Biology at Providence College and then worked for a decade as a naturalist and director of an environmental education center located on Cape Cod called Nature’s Classroom.

Danielle Gorman - Early Childhood division Director
dgorman@breakwaterschool.orG
Danielle has taught at Breakwater since 2012. Since joining our community she has moved through essentialist, classroom teacher, and administrator roles. Danielle earned a BA in Communication, a MEd in Human Development, with graduate certificates in Trauma-Informed Education and Mindfulness for Educators. In addition, she is a yoga therapist certified through the International Yoga Therapy Association. Danielle has a particular passion in social emotional learning, social justice, and the importance of community for nurturing growth and potential.

Pauline Juneau - Early Childhood Assistant Teacher
pjuneau@breakwaterschool.org
Pauline ‘Pauli’ grew up in New Hampshire and is a retired nurse and Air Force veteran. Pauli has decades of experience working in both healthcare and education including working as a Health Education Coordinator for grades K-12. She holds a nursing degree from Pace University and a BS in Health Education from Michigan State University. Outside of working at Breakwater, Pauli is an avid organic gardener and loves to camp, hike, and cycle. She is the proud grandmother of a Breakwater preschooler who has joyfully helped reawaken her sense of ‘awe’ in the world.

Dan Legnard - IT Manager
dlegnard@breakwaterlearning.org
Dan wholeheartedly embraces Breakwater’s “curiosity for life” motto by engaging in a wide array of hobbies and interests on and off campus. Since graduating from St. Lawrence University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies in 2008, Dan has spent time farming, providing tech and logistical support for an e-commerce company, and working as an outdoor guide for Farm and Wilderness as well as Rippleffect. At Breakwater, Dan has taught in our enrichment program for several years and began the role of IT Manager in November 2022. Despite working behind the scenes much of the time, he is still committed to sharing his passion and knowledge with the Breakwater community at every opportunity.

Kerry Loupe - Grades 5/6 Teacher
kloupe@breakwaterschool.org
Kerry started her teaching career at Breakwater where she completed both of her graduate school internships and then came aboard as the fifth grade teaching assistant. Since leaving Breakwater in 2001, she has taught students in grades 3-8 in Maine and New Mexico for the past 22 years. Kerry is passionate about social and environmental justice, is committed to helping her students think and live deeply and to co-creating  community with them. She shares her life with her horse and provides workshops with horses for individuals, educators and other groups through her business Equus Spirit Coaching. She is delighted to return to the Breakwater community this fall to learn with the 7/8 students.

Clara McGurren - Preschool Teacher
cmcgurren@breakwaterschool.org
Clara is excited to continue to grow at Breakwater, now in the role of a co-lead preschool teacher. Clara graduated from Wheaton College (MA) with a double major in Elementary Education and Psychology, followed by a year of service with Americorps, during which she was a tutor and mentor for a third grade class. Her teaching philosophy led her to Breakwater, as it involves fostering curiosity and wonder in students, prioritising hands-on learning, celebrating diversity, and building strong relationships with every student in order to foster safe and brave learning environments. In her own time, Clara loves running, reading, fiber arts, and exploring wild places.

Madeline Gordon Meador - Director of Development
Ext. 223 I mmeador@breakwaterlearning.org
Maddy joined Breakwater in 2019 after spending 8 years working in development in Boston, most recently at Perkins School for the Blind. Drawn to the community values and spirit, Maddy enjoys connecting with Breakwater families, friends, and alumni to learn about how they carry their Breakwater experience with them and how they give back. A graduate of the University of Richmond, Maddy holds a B.A. in English Major with a Spanish Minor. Maddy's son, Teddy, is a current Breakwater student.

Alex Millan – Grades 7/8 Teacher
amillan@breakwaterschool.org
Alex joined the Breakwater community in 2015. Before entering the 5/6 classroom, she worked in the AfterCare/Enrichment program and as the Guest Teacher Coordinator. Alex grew up near New Haven, CT and earned a BA in Music Education and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, both from UConn. In summer 2015, Alex moved to Maine and learned about a magical place called Breakwater. She was so taken by the Breakwater spirit that it was the only school she applied to--a gamble that has paid off every day since then! You might see Alex around campus teaching guitar lessons, filming cooking shows, writing musicals, or playing four square. To Alex, the best part of working at Breakwater is the opportunity to say "yes" to everything! Outside of school, Alex enjoys her musical life as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Jake Murray - Learning Strategist
jmurray@breakwaterschool.org
Jake is an enthusiast for life-long learning, and believes strongly in making mistakes, shifting your perspective, and having fun. Before Breakwater, Jake taught EFL in South Korea for four years, and then worked as a special education teacher at Aucocisco school. His most recent gig was as the special education teacher for Long Island School. Jake has also published numerous EFL textbooks and ran a small publishing outfit for several years before deciding that teaching kids is way more fun than staring at spreadsheets all day.

Erica Paul - Toddler Teacher
epaul@breakwaterschool.orG
Erica has been teaching toddlers at Breakwater since 2016. Add second sentence: She is passionate about storytelling in all of its forms and can’t wait to see what stories emerge in the toddler program this year.ERICA COMES FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS. SHE BEGAN HER FORMAL TRAINING AT SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE, AND CONTINUED AT UMAINE AT FARMINGTON. ERICA RECEIVED A DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND HOLDS A B.S. IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION. ERICA IS A LEVEL SIX MAINE ROADS TO QUALITY MEMBER, HOLDS A 282 CERTIFICATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION AND A 081 CERTIFICATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF BIRTH AND FIVE.

Amy Pichette - Director of Enrichment and AfterCare
Ext. 238 I apichette@breakwaterschool.org
Amy believes students’ time out of school should be filled with wonder, discovery, and personal growth. Amy has been involved in afterschool programming since she began teaching 4th and 5th grade in Washington State in 2002 and comes to Breakwater after 12 years as the Director of Afterschool and Summer Programs at LearningWorks. Amy was an Afterschool Ambassador through the Afterschool Alliance and a White-Riley-Peterson Fellow in out of school time policy. Amy holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Geography and a Masters of Arts in Teaching, both from Southern Oregon University. She lives in Portland with her husband, daughter and two step-sons. She loves to swim and run, and travel in her free time.

Lori Tanguay - Preschool Teacher
ltanguay@breakwaterschool.org
Lori has a love for nature based learning and has been working in early childhood education for the last 25 years. She is a Level 6 Maine Roads to Quality member, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Program with a minor in early childhood, and completed her pre-K certification. In the classroom, Lori loves to get messy and explore art, science, and outside activities. Outside of Breakwater, Lori and her husband, Mike, have two adult children who they love traveling with. She also loves to raise and tag monarch butterflies and once raised 181 in one year!

Melanee Waters - Preschool Teacher
mwaters@breakwaterschool.org
Melanee comes to Breakwater from NH having recently worked at a small private school teaching preschool followed by Kindergarten and 2nd grade. She loves working with younger students, being able to witness the firsts of so many experiences and watch them blossom into their own. Melanee got her start in education teaching adults at a cosmetology school for eight years. It was this experience that drew her to the field of education and her later degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University. Melanee is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Special Education at University of Southern Maine. In her down time, she enjoys exploring the beaches with her family.

Alicia Amy - GRADES 3/4 TEACHER
aamy@breakwaterschool.org
ALICIA HAS HER BA FROM PENN STATE, AND SPENT EIGHT YEARS TEACHING WITH NATURE'S CLASSROOM. ADDITIONALLY, SHE HAS TAUGHT ON THE DECK OF TALL SHIPS, IN THE WOODS AND BEACHES OF NEW ENGLAND, AND IN SMALL VILLAGES IN WESTERN SAMOA. SHE CAME TO BREAKWATER WITH A PASSION FOR THE REGGIO EMILIA PHILOSOPHY, AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY, ITS FOCUS ON CURIOSITY AND THE CREATIVITY IT ALLOWS. ALICIA BEGAN AT BREAKWATER LEADING OUR PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN AFTERCARE PROGRAM AND TAUGHT SPANISH, THEN TAUGHT OUR GRADES 3/4 BEFORE STEPPING UP TO TEACH 7/8. Although she has loved all her teaching roles at Breakwater, she feels most at home in 3rd/4th grade.

Sarah Beckmann - Toddler Teacher
sbeckmann@breakwaterschool.org
Sarah found her passion for engaging with young children while shadowing a teacher for her high school’s career class. Through that experience, she discovered how rewarding nurturing young children can be. Since then, she has worked in a variety of Early Childhood settings before finding her place at Breakwater. Sarah’s personal philosophy aligns with Breakwater in that she believes that a child's individuality should be celebrated and that young children learn through play. She most enjoys watching the children begin to form their sense of self, make connections with others, and use their innate curiosity to explore and learn. Sarah is currently finishing up her Associates Degree in
Early Childhood Education at Southern Maine Community College.

Emily Butters - 1st Grade Teacher
ebutters@breakwaterschool.org
Already a Breakwater parent, Emily is thrilled to join the Breakwater community as a first grade teacher! After earning her Bachelor's in French and Education at Wellesley College, she taught elementary school in Massachusetts and New York before moving to Maine. Emily then spent several years mixing up delicious cocktails as the owner of a small organic syrup company before returning to the classroom in 2019. She believes in creating strong connections with her students and nurturing a sense of fun and wonder in and out of school. She has two children who are Breakwater students. In her spare time she loves to ski, fish, and enjoy Maine's beautiful outdoors.

Ashley Costa - Toddler Teacher
acosta@breakwaterschool.org
Ashley is thrilled to be a part of the Breakwater community! Originally from Massachusetts, Ashley is a graduate of Wheelock College in Boston with a BS in Inclusive Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children in private as well as public school settings, from preschoolers to first grade. Ashley aims to support every child’s diverse needs and create a classroom culture of curiosity and collaboration. She is mom to daughter, Cohen, and lives in Westbrook with her family.

Stephanie Hayward Davis - Social Media Manager and Early Childhood Music Essentialist
sdavis@breakwaterschool.org
Stephanie began her Breakwater journey as the toddler through 8th grade music teacher - a position she held for ten years. She has worn many other hats at Breakwater, as film, literacy, and classroom teacher, and as the organization’s photographer and storyteller. Stephanie is thrilled to begin her 19th year at Breakwater. She loves working with students creatively and collaboratively, and finding joy in community building. When she’s not at Breakwater, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and three children - hiking, biking, making music, gardening, and taking pictures.

Summer Echeverry - Early Childhood Assistant Teacher
secheverry@breakwaterschool.org

Tom Fisher - Assistant Executive Director
tfisher@breakwaterschool.org
From 1999-2020 Tom worked as a classroom teacher at Breakwater, teaching 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8. He then spent 3 years working as the school's Business Manager before becoming Co-Director of Breakwater Learning in 2023. He holds a B.A. in geology from Vassar College and has many interests including photography, hiking, cooking, and backcountry skiing. He also loves teaching and still teaches Algebra. As Co-Director he is looking forward to working with Maggie and the entire staff to build on the great strengths of Breakwater that he has consistently seen over two decades: dedication to and love of children, teamwork, and a belief that social/ emotional development is fundamental to academics.

John Forsleff - K-4 Music, Band, and chorus essentialist
jforsleff@breakwaterschool.org
John is a music educator, multi instrumentalist, and vocalist who moved to Portland from Seattle. He plays a wide variety of instruments including piano, guitar, drums, brass and woodwinds. John grew up in a family of music teachers and musicians, studied music education in college, and received a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Western Michigan University. He has experience playing in rock bands, folk bands, orchestras, mariachi, and many other groups. Over the past 6 years, John has helped develop and direct bands at the middle school level in both Michigan and Seattle. John is excited to begin this new chapter of his teaching career here at Breakwater and looks forward to all that will be accomplished with this new band program!

Cheryl Hart - Grades 5/6 Teacher, Middle School Student Support
chart@breakwaterschool.orG
Cheryl is one of Breakwater’s longest tenured teachers, having joined the school in 1983. Prior to Breakwater she directed and taught in a gifted and talented program in New Hampshire and taught in public schools in Maine. She first taught kindergarten when hired, and has since served as a classroom teacher for several different combinations of grades, as well as in a variety of administrative positions. In addition to teaching fifth and sixth grade, she brings years of experience to her role as coordinator for professional development and student support. Cheryl has a B.S. in Elementary Education, with minors in both early childhood and learning disabilities, from the University of Maine. She has pursued graduate studies in gifted and talented education, and is the proud parent of a Breakwater alumna.

Jim Kingsley - Early Childhood Assistant/ AfterCare Teacher
jkingsley@breakwaterschool.org
After arming himself with a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.ED. from the University of Vermont, Jim embarked on a 40-year journey as an Early Childhood Educator. The last 25 of those years were at Breakwater School teaching in the preschool and kindergarten programs. During those 25 years the school made many significant changes, doubling in enrollment, expanding and building new facilities, and adding Middle School and Toddler programs. After retiring in 2016, he kept busy in a variety of endeavors, including watching his 2 grandchildren begin their life journeys. Upon finding himself with a lot of extra time in 2022, he found himself returning to Breakwater in a part-time support position in the Early Childhood program, rotating among the various classrooms, assisting with teacher breaks and planning times, and being a regular sub for the other teachers. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, reading books, playing cards, and taking long walks.

Alison Loughlin - preschool assistanT
ALoughlin@breakwaterlearning.org
Alison joined the Breakwater community in the fall of 2023 as an early childhood assistant teacher, after working at their summer camp. She has previously worked as a floater teacher in a Portland preschool and is excited to be involved in the Breakwater community. She is earning her Early Childhood Education degree at Southern Maine Community College. Outside of school, Alison is heavily involved in community theatre, frequenting the stages of Lyric Music Theater, Schoolhouse Arts Center, and Portland Players; plus holds a first-degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo Karate and has taught classes. Alison believes you never stop learning as a teacher, since many discoveries are yet to be made. 

Avalinda Lindsay - Lead Custodian
alindsay@breakwaterlearning.org

Maggie Lyon - Executive Director
mlyon@breakwaterschool.org
Maggie has taught, guided and collaborated with young people in diverse settings for over two decades, including many years at an Expeditionary Learning school near the Colorado Rockies. After the adventure of team teaching in our middle school and serving as the Middle School Division Coordinator, Maggie accepted the role as our Academic Director. She believes it is by challenging young people and educators to explore new places, take risks, and embrace the unexpected opportunities inspired by mistake-making that a space for truly meaningful learning is created. Her formal education started at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in literature and continued at the University of Colorado in Denver for her teaching credentials. Additionally, she obtained her Masters in Education from Antioch with a focus on educational leadership. She firmly believes in the value of Breakwater’s teaching model and unique qualities of our community, which she shares with her child, Rowan.

Erin McNeill - literacy specialist
emcneill@breakwaterschool.org
Erin joined the Breakwater community in 2023 with a strong background in education. After graduating from Portland High School, she attended College of the Holy Cross and finally, the University of Southern Maine’s Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP). Erin now lives in Portland, the very city she grew up in with her three children, James, Ollie, and Finn, and husband, DeVIN. Outside of school, Erin loves to bike, hike, play music, and explore with her family!

Stacey Mousseau - Bookkeeper
smousseau@breakwaterlearning.org

Katie O’Toole - Kindergarten Teacher
kotoole@breakwaterschool.orG
Katie has been enjoying the magic of Breakwater since 2016. Co-creating learning experiences with a community of children and adults where there is curiosity, exploration, collaboration, creativity and joy fuels her passion as an educator. Having worked with children of various ages and stages over the past two decades, she is thrilled to be teaching in the Kindergarten classroom. Katie has a Master's in Elementary Education with a concentration in special education and a Master's in Early Childhood Leadership from Bank Street College of Education, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross. Prior to Breakwater, Katie served as Director and Twos Teacher at the Nest at Alphabet Academy, a Yale affiliated early learning center, and Associate Director and Twos Teacher at Downtown Little School in Manhattan. Her child is a current Breakwater School student. When not at Breakwater she loves spending time exploring the natural world with her daughter and dog, moving her body in yoga and dance, as well as cooking/baking with eggs from her family's hens or other homegrown produce!

Heather Peters - Grades 7/8 Teacher
hpeters@breakwaterschool.org
Heather started at Breakwater in 2022 bringing with her 13 years of classroom teaching experience. She has previously taught in Massachusetts at Cambridge Friends School and Touchstone Community School. Heather has a BS in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in STEM Education, both from Framingham State University. She is currently working on her Doctorate from Antioch University studying social and emotional learning through the Institute for Humane Education. When not at Breakwater, Heather can be found spending time with her family exploring Portland and working in the garden.

Daniel Strauss - health Consultant
health@breakwaterschool.org

Christina Townsend - Toddler Teacher
ctownsend@breakwaterschool.org
Christina comes to Breakwater with experience as both an early childhood educator and music educator. She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Maine Community College as well as a Bachelors Degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of Southern Maine School of Music. Christina is a wife and mother of two Breakwater students, Oliver and Alden. Outside of school, Christina continues to be an active member in the music community and has been fortunate enough to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and alongside the Portland Symphony Orchestra at Merrill Auditorium. Christina is excited to be at Breakwater working with some of our youngest children!

Molly Tucker - Director of enrollment
mtucker@breakwaterschool.org
Molly has taught at Breakwater School for six years, beginning in 2016 in preschool and then leading the kindergarten program for five years. After taking a sabbatical year where she dove into a new endeavor of becoming an indoor cycling instructor,  Molly is eager to use her skills in new ways and passionate about sharing the Breakwater Way. Because of Molly’s teaching experience, she knows firsthand what authentic learning at Breakwater looks like and how school-parent partnerships support student success. She holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Child Studies, and an M.ED. in Integrative Teaching Through the Arts, both from Lesley University.  Before embarking on her teaching journey, Molly attended Berklee College of Music, where she studied songwriting and she is often found singing or playing instruments with students.  Molly is excited for this new role at Breakwater, collaborating with the teaching teams and administration, and welcoming families into the community.