VINALHAVEN SCHOOL
Specialists
Bianca Barroso graduated from the University of Maine Orono with a bachelors degree in Communication Science and Disorders. She's very excited to begin as the Librarian for Vinalhaven School and can’t wait to share her love of books with all of the students. In her free time, Bianca enjoys kayaking, reading, and spending time outdoors.
MaryAnn got a Bachelor’s degree from UMF and began her career in education as an elementary teacher. After moving to Vinalhaven, she recognized the need for special education teachers and became certified to teach children K-12. She most recently earned her Master’s degree in Speech Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. She enjoys doing speech therapy with her students. MaryAnn is mom to Chad and Heidi, and enjoys reading, crafts, and puzzles.
Jill Oakes is a seasoned islander. She first graduated from Vinalhaven high school in 1973 and studied elementary education at UMO, graduating in 1977. She taught in Bingham and Camden/Rockport, and then returned to the island to teach elementary in 1981. Jill left Vinalhaven in 2005 to live in Pennsylvania, and worked for Hempfield Behavioral Health as the Center Director of 21st century after school programs for Hispanic children. She returned to VH with her husband, and took the ed. tech position in 2008, and is now employed as Special Ed. Teacher in the 2011/2012 year. Jill has 2 adult children, a coon cat and a pomeranian. She enjoys dog-walking, walks on the beach, playing cards, and reading when she has time.
Les Penick grew up on a farm in central Iowa. He earned his B.A. in Industrial Technology Education from the University of Northern Iowa. After 10 years as a Ind. Tech Teacher he earned his Masters from Iowa State University in Professional School counseling and worked for 26 years as a middle school and high school counselor. Les was also a head football coach for 21 years and a head track and field coach for 33 years. This year along with his wife, Theresa, he will be running the remote learning program as well supporting Vinalhaven school in a variety of other capacities. In his free time he enjoys kayaking, bike rides, hiking the preserves on the island, facetiming grandkids, and learning about the island culture.
Theresa Penick graduated with a BA in Middle School Education and a MA in Middle School Math Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Theresa taught and coached in Iowa for 33 years and has been a Professional Development Specialist. Theresa enjoys exploring Vinalhaven and looks forward to being part of the staff at Vinalhaven School District. In her free time Theresa loves spending time with her family and friends, biking, hiking, and just enjoying the great outdoors.
High School
Dan Ganoza grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and received his undergraduate degree from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He served 22 years in the Air Force flying both the KC-135 (air refueler) and C-130 (tactical airlift/airdrop) aircraft. He was fortunate to have worked and lived in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. He has a masters in business from the University of Arkansas and a masters in education from Regis University. Prior to arriving at Vinalhaven he spent six years teaching science at Woodland Park High School in Colorado.
James LePage graduated from Bates College in 2013 with a major in Politics. For the last seven years he taught 8th grade history and coached middle and high school soccer and track & field in Denver, Colorado. James grew up in Cumberland, Maine where he attended Greely High School before heading up to Lewiston for his undergraduate education. While at Bates, James was a member of the cross country, indoor and outdoor track programs in which he was captain both his junior and senior year. When he is not teaching, James enjoys running around Vinalhaven, playing a pickup game of soccer, and watching all Boston sports teams beat the teams from New York.
After teaching math and sciences courses for over 38 years in locales from Vermont to Cape Cod to Quito, Ecuador to various private, international and public schools in Maine, Africa and Central America, Dave McKechnie is happy to be here at The Vinalhaven School. Dave is a graduate of Pomfret School and the former Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont which is now recognized as Northern Vermont University at Johnson. Various graduate programs have tried to claim him but so far he has avoided being pinned down at anyone for his dissertation. He is an avid horse racing, baseball, rugby and hockey fan with a keen interest in astronomy and worlds beyond our own. Married to Kathy, they still call home Kennebunkport but let’s see what happens……Mr. McKechnie will be teaching various mathematics courses in the high school at Vinalhaven High School.
While Kris Osgood grew up in Davis, Ca, she spent every summer of her life here, on Vinalhaven. She earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and moved to Vinalhaven immediately after graduation, in January 1995. Kris began working at Vinalhaven School, first as a substitute, then as a long-term sub for middle school English. She was eventually hired as a permanent teacher and spent eight years teaching English, life skills, drama and journalism before she left to start her family. Sixteen years later, Kris is returning to the classroom as the high school and 6th grade English teacher. Outside of school, Kris enjoys reading, going for walks and lots of creative endeavors.
Susan Philbrook is enjoying her 7th year as the K-12 French teacher at Vinalhaven School. Originally from Davis, California, she attended the University of Maine at Orono where she played on the university soccer team and majored in French. She has a degree in French and a Master of Arts in Teaching in French. She is the Girls Varsity soccer coach, and the French club advisor. She also is part of the Sports Done Right Committee and the Girls Book Club and a member of the Discovery Curriculum Team. Besides teaching and soccer, Susan enjoys traveling, running, painting, and sewing.
Middle School
Emily Cohn graduated from Antioch University with a Masters in Education, with a concentration in Science and Environmental Education. Before teaching here on Vinalhaven, she was an environmental educator for many years working along the coast in Rhode Island and Maine. She was also an Americorps member in Chicago after going to college there. In her free time, she enjoys hiking on the trails around Vinalhaven, watching great movies, and swimming
Stormy Dyer graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a BS in Elementary Education. She previously has worked in the stern of a lobster boat, and has taught fourth grade at Vinalhaven School. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, working in her gardens, and going for long walks or hikes. She also enjoys baking, trying out new recipes and hosting family gatherings.
Elementary School
Cherie (Miller) Doughty is a 1987 graduate of Valley High School in Bingham, Maine. She attended the University of Maine at Farmington where she was an Alumni Scholar and a recipient of the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship. She graduated in 1992 with a B.S in Early Childhood Education. Cherie completed her student teaching in Kindergarten and Grade 2 on Vinalhaven. She met and eventually married a local and has remained since. While waiting for a Kindergarten teaching position, she taught in a variety of positions at Vinalhaven School including Elementary Ed. Tech., Special Education, a HS English class, MS Math and Science, Title 1, and Reading Recovery. She then taught kindergarten for 5 years, and is currently concentrating on literacy needs K-8 in the Title 1 Position. Cherie is the current MAP Coordinator for Vinalhaven School and is a member of the Early Literacy Curriculum Team and the K-12 English Curriculum Team. Outside of school, she is a member of Open Bible Baptist Church of Vinalhaven and teaches Sunday School ages 5-8. She also enjoys baking, reading to learn, studying the Enneagram, and spending time with her family and pets.
Brooke grew up in Sabattus Maine and graduated from Oak Hill in 2013. Afterwards she attended SMCC earning her associates in Early Childhood Education and later followed with her bachelor’s from the University of Maine at Farmington. Before moving to Vinalhaven she spent her first 4 ½ years teaching at an Intergenerational Preschool in Auburn- meaning her classroom was located within a nursuing home! On her free time Brooke enjoys spending time out on the boat, bringing her dog Crowley swimming and on walks, as well as riding snowmobiles up north.
Ellen is an alumnus of North Haven Community School. She possesses a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Special Education. She also attended secretarial school in Portland, but decided a career in teaching was the path she wanted to follow. Ellen holds a Behavioral Consultant Certificate as well. 2021 marks her 29th year of teaching! Ellen is married and has two grown sons. She began teaching first grade at Vinalhaven School in fall of 2019 and absolutely loves being a first grade teacher.
Melissa started her teaching career as a nursery school teacher when her children were young. When they started elementary school she volunteered in their classrooms on a daily basis. It inspired her to return to school and finish her Bachelors of Social Science degree from University of Maine at Augusta. After receiving her degree, she taught special education at Vinalhaven School from the fall of 2004-2011. For a year, she worked at the Belfast Head Start in the Early Head Start program. She returned to Vinalhaven School as an education technician in 2013. She is currently the second grade teacher. Her hobbies are traveling, reading, riding horses and baking.
Meagan was born and raised on Vinalhaven. After graduating from Vinalhaven School in 2007, she attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. At UMO, Meagan studied Elementary Education. After she received her BS in Elementary Education, Meagan returned to Vinalhaven to pursue her career in teaching. She taught third grade for three years before taking an extended leave of absence to raise her children, Logan and Henry. Meagan returned to the Vinalhaven School at the start of the 2017 school year to teach first grade. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her extended family, who all live on Vinalhaven. Meagan also enjoys reading books, going on vacation with her husband, Josh, and doing fun activities with Logan, Henry and Josh!
Robb Warren was born on Vinalhaven in 1964.~ He received his Bachelors of Science in International Affairs with a concentration in Political Science in 1987.~ Soon thereafter, he received his K-8 teaching certificate.~ Since then, he has taught every grade between 3rd~and 12th,~both on and off island, with a brief foray into the world of administration.~ His son, Trey, is a civil engineer for the firm of Gorrill Palmer in South Portland, ME. Lily, his daughter, is a sophomore studying finance at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Since March of 2020, she has been working remotely while home on the island. ~ This is Mr. Warren’s first year as a multi-age 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teacher of language arts and social studies.
Patricia Paquet started at the Vinalhaven~School in 2003 as the Middle School Math teacher. She taught middle school math until the 2010-11 school year when she moved to fifth grade. Originally from Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado, Pat received her B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1992 with a major in Environmental Biology and minor in mathematics. She recently earned a Masters Certification in Proficiency Based Education and is working on a certificate in Mathematics Leadership. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, graphite pencil drawing, hiking, gardening, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren.
Carolyn has been serving at Vinalhaven School for over 15 years now. She has worn many hats at our school. She started in the Business program, became and Ed Tech, and then a Special Ed Teacher. She then moved on to Theater and Social Studies. She now teaches Title I reading. She has received many scholarships to attend conferences all across the country. Carolyn graduated from Vinalhaven in 1991 and her sons graduated from Vinalhaven in 2019 and 2021. She is the current Mrs. Maine International 2021 and Mrs. Northeast International 2022. She enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs, traveling, pageantry, reading, keeping books for the baseball team, and camping. She has 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Educational Technicians
Patti graduated from Limestone High School in Aroostook County, Maine. She attended University of Maine at Presque Isle, majoring in Elementary Education. She graduated from Andover College in Portland Maine. She is married with 2 children and 1 grandchild. In her spare time, Patti enjoys baking and writing her blog called Aroostacook, where she bakes and shares recipes from her Northern Maine roots. She also loves to watch movies. She has been an Ed Tech at Vinalhaven School since 2016.
Bethany Candage graduated from Vinalhaven High School in 2014 and continued her education at Boston College before returning to the island. She began working as an Ed Tech in 2019 and discovered her love for teaching. She is excited to finish a Bachelors in Education in the future! In her time away from school Bethany works at a local restaurant and volunteers for the Vinalhaven Fire Department. In her spare time she also loves to watch Boston sports (especially the Boston Bruins) and she also loves creating art!
Heidi graduated from Vinalhaven School in 2015. She went away to attend Southern Maine Community college and returned 2 years later to work as an Ed tech. She continued her education while working and received her degree in Early Childhood Education. She began working 1 on 1 in the Discovery Room for 3 years and has now moved into the Kindergarten classroom! Outside of school you can find Heidi and her dogs hiking the many trials around the island. She also enjoys cooking, playing card games with friends and doing puzzles.
Astra first visited Vinalhaven on a blustery April day, while she and her husband were sailing home to Maine. They loved the area, and have enjoyed slowly settling in. Astra is looking forward to working with the students of Vinalhaven School this year! Astra has a BA in Art & Anthropology from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Arts in Museums & Cultural Heritage from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where she studied as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar. She and her husband moved to Maine in 2009, and for the next couple of years she enjoyed working at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor as Manager of Museum Services -- working closely with artists, volunteers, members, school groups, and visitors. Astra loves being outdoors, in the woods and on the water. She grew up sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River, where she spent many summers as a sailing instructor; she crewed aboard historic Friendship Sloops for five years in the Acadia region offering tours and charters, and has sailed aboard private vessels from Maine to the Caribbean.
Aamber is a graduate of Vinalhaven School. She started subbing in 2018 before joining the team full-time in 2019 as an Ed Tech. Aambers hobbies include coaching the Islands Little League Softball Team, and spending time with her husband Dusty and three children Kailyn, Mackenzie and Noah.
Daisy Morton received a BA in English from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She began working at the Vinalhaven School in the fall of 2016 and continues to enjoy and find her work at the school rewarding. She first came to Vinalhaven in 2005 to visit family who had recently moved to the island. After a second visit the next year, she decided to leave her hometown of Homer, Alaska and in the Spring of 2007 moved to the island full time. Between the fall of 2015 - spring of 2016 she temporarily left the island to take classes in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Maine in Orono so as to qualify for application to graduate programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During her free time she enjoys taking her dog on walks and listening to podcasts or audiobooks.
Katrina Osgood graduated from Vinalhaven School in 2017. She then went on to Southern Maine Community College where she received an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Katrina is passionate about teaching young children and truly getting to know every child. In her free time, Katrina enjoys walking the island trails, traveling and exploring new places, spending time with friends, and going on boat rides with her
family.
Derrick comes from Elizabeth, NJ. He graduated from John E. Dwyer Technology Academy. Before coming to Vinalhaven he worked as a youth leader for an outreach program for youth 3rd - 12th grade. He moved to the island to be a part of an amazing community. Outside of school Derrick likes to hang out with fiancé, Zoey Warren, and his soon to be family. He also enjoys art work and talking to his mother and family on FaceTime. Derrick is excited to get know students and learn with students each day.
Bev graduated from Vinalhaven in 1993. She moved to South Portland to pursue her degree in Culinary Arts at SMTC. After graduation, in 1995, Bev moved home and married her husband Corey. Bev has two daughters, two yellow labs, and a soon to be son-in-law. Bev worked for eleven years as a cook in the school cafeteria. After a few years home with her family she decided she missed seeing the kids and working in the school. She began as a sub and decided that she loved working with the kids long term. Bev currently loves to cook, roam, camp, garden, and hang with her family.
Zoey Stout grew up on Vinalhaven, graduating from high school in 2016. Later pursuing her associates degree in Early Childhood Education at Southern Maine Community College, she graduated in May 2019. She has substituted at Vinalhaven School off and on since Winter 2016. She is excited to work and grow with the children at Vinalhaven School. During her free time she walks her dog Nahla, cooks, spends time with her husband Derrick, and knits.
Zoey Stout grew up on Vinalhaven, graduating from high school in 2016. Later pursuing her associates degree in Early Childhood Education at Southern Maine Community College, she graduated in May 2019. She has substituted at Vinalhaven School off and on since Winter 2016. She is excited to work and grow with the children at Vinalhaven School. During her free time she walks her dog Nahla, cooks, spends time with her husband Derrick, and knits.
Discovery
Taylor Leach graduated from Dordt University with a bachelors in Theatre Management. After receiving her bachelors, she worked with a children's theatre company in South Dakota and then later served as children's department lead in her home state of Illinois. She recently received her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Northern Illinois University. She has spent the past couple of summers working for Camden Harbor Cruises providing educational lobster tours on the M/V Lively Lady. When she isn’t in the school library Taylor can be found working through her constant pile of to be read books, on a walk listening to podcasts, or playing video games with her friends.
Kayla was born and raised on Vinalhaven. She left for a short time to get her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington. Kayla started her teaching career in Kindergarten for seven years then transitioned into the Discovery Room as a Special Education teacher. Kayla has three children- Ellie, Liam and Colin. When not at school, Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, being outside, and reading books.
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Thom Buescher, consultant for the GATE program, earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Fine Arts, a Masters degree in Special Education, a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, and finally an MSW in Clinical Social Work (Loyola University Chicago). He has many years experience working with gifted and talented students. Thom was professor of Gifted and Talented Education at Wayne State University (Detroit) and Associate Director of the Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University. For almost twenty years he was the Director of gifted and talented programs for the Five Town CSD and Camden-Rockport Schools. He was also a member of the high school faculty and taught in the GT programs at Camden Hills Regional High School until 2016. In addition, he has been the GT and curriculum consultant for the Monhegan Island School since 1998. He retired from his clinical practice with exceptional older children and adolescents in Rockland two years ago after 25 years.
A Vinalhaven native, Steve moved off the island when he was just five years old when his family moved to northern Maine. He continued to visit the island every summer throughout his high school years. As an adult, Steve worked in construction for 32 years, initially starting in residential home building which later led to commercial construction. During these years Steve also served in the Maine Army National Guard, and retired after 22 years of service. In 2012 Steve went to work for the Loring Job Corps as a tradesman instructor. In 2015 Steve had opportunity to move back to Vinalhaven and take over the vocational education program -- he and his family jumped at the chance to come home. Steve and his wife, Patti have two children, Benn and Annie. In his spare time he enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping and fishing. Welcome home Steve.
Randy Pitts grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan. After graduating high school he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country for 23 years. While on active duty Randy earned a Technical Certificate in Management Information Systems and later a BA in Information Systems Analysis. He completing his undergraduate studies at University of Maine Orono in 1994 and graduated that same year from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1999, Randy worked as an applications developer for Tidewater Telecom in Nobleboro, Maine. He joined the Vinalhaven teaching staff in 2001 and has been teaching a wide range of information technology classes since. Randy earned a graduate degree in Instructional Technology in 2009. He is the president of the Fox Islands Electric Board of Directors and enjoys restoring antique vehicles, traveling, and fishing and camping in his free time. He is married to Susie Warren Pitts of Vinalhaven and has two children and four grandchildren.
Having worn many different hats at Vinalhaven School over the years, including working in the office and coaching basketball, Susie has most recently been at school since the spring of 2013, working first in the cafeteria, and presently in her second year as an educational technician in Kindergarten/First Grade. A native of Vinalhaven, Susie has a large island family. Susie is married to Randy Pitts; they have two children and four grandchildren. Susie and Randy enjoy traveling around the country visiting their extended family and friends. Together they have logged many miles in their motorhome seeing this great country we live in, as well as parking at campgrounds in Maine to enjoy time at the lake with their kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews! Susie also loves to read, knit, and go on walks to various locations on the island; she and Randy have also hiked the Grand Canyon and trails at Arches National Park!
William Trevaskis teaches music and yearbook to grades K-12. He has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in music theory and composition from Berklee College of Music, and his original compositions have been featured in recitals, workshops, and on television and can be heard on his web site, www.ofthelion.org. His award-winning photography includes aerial images of the Fox Islands and he regularly freelances for local and national publications with his images.
Heather White received her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Keene State College. After teaching fourth grade for 2 years in New Hampshire, she and her husband moved to Vinalhaven in 2002. Heather started her time at the Vinalhaven School teaching 3rd grade, and is now the K-12 Visual Arts teacher. When it comes to student artwork, whether it be from a 5 year old or an 18 year old, she encourages students to see their growth in the process first, and then to examine the product. Heather White also coaches high school rowing, is a member of the VSEC team, and the visual and performing arts team. Heather enjoys gardening, inventive knitting, walking, and any type of art classes for further personal growth & just for fun.
