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Kate Dwyer
School Coordinator
It's a privilege to see learning in action. Our students' observations about the material we offer them are so often insightful and profound. It just reaffirms our premise that the instinct to live in harmony with this planet is present in everyone. My job as a teacher at Cuvilly is to encourage and cultivate this connection.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
23
Additional Experience:
I taught Child Development in the Hampton, N.H., public school system for three years at Winnacunnet High School, and five years at Tilton's Winnisquam Regional Middle School.
Special Interests:
Knitting, sewing, hiking and boating, especially on Squam Lake in N.H.
I was born and raised in New Hampshire, where I lived until I got married in 1986 and moved to Beverly, Mass. I have three daughters: Janna who just started graduate school at Lesley University for Art Therapy; Breezy who is working at the "Y" in New Hampshire and will start nursing school in January; and Chapin who is now a sophomore at St. Lawrence University. I am married to Steve Dwyer, who works in Peabody as an accountant.
I attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for undergraduate school and have taken classes at UNH and Salem State in administrative work and teaching reading. I continue to attend as many classes and workshops as possible to further my education and stay current in my field.
In addition to my career in education, I founded and ran my own business designing and sewing wedding dresses when my two oldest daughters were little. Once I enrolled my oldest daughter Janna in Cuvilly's pre-school program, I realized how much I missed teaching and accepted a position as a teacher at Cuvilly as well. I have been connected to Cuvilly for 23 years, two as a parent and 21 as a teacher; I have served as the school coordinator for the past 16 years.
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Heather Ann Forbes
Farm Manager
It's so wonderful to watch the children and animals interact with one another. Farm Chore Challenge is a great learning experience for the children to learn to love and respect the animals. It's always fun to watch the dogs follow the children around and try to help them with the obstacle course!
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
13
Additional Experience:
I graduated from Essex Agricultural Institute in Middleton, Mass., after double-majoring in Animal Science and Horse and Barn Management. I also studied massage therapy, Reiki and acutonics, which I use mostly on the animals when they are hurt or in distress. I recently obtained my license to be a horseback riding instructor in the state of Massachusetts.
Special Interests:
I am interested in anything and everything about animals, especially horseback riding and training. I love to sketch and paint. I also enjoy knitting, spinning, weaving, felting, jewelry and soap making. There's nothing like being outside and enjoying nature. My favorite activity is rooting for my favorite team -- the Boston Bruins!
I live in Lynn, Mass., with my husband Michael, my parents, brother, three dogs, cat, rabbit and several saltwater fish. I am very blessed that I am able to board my horse Fergus in the Cuvilly barn. I rescued Fergus from a shelter in October 2011 after losing my horse Nelson a month earlier. It's great that my husband comes to volunteer at Cuvilly on his days off work. I love my job at Cuvilly, the animals, staff (who feel more like family) and children. There is no place I would rather be!
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Rene Jamerson
Teacher
I've always thought of teaching as the art of helping others on their journey of discovery. There's nothing more satisfying or enriching as watching the children I teach make connections for themselves.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
3
Additional Experience:
I have been teaching for the past 16 years. I taught second grade in the Franklin Public School System in Franklin, La., and kindergarten, sixth grade and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Valencia, Venezuela. I also taught pre-school in Georgetown, Mass., before accepting my position at Cuvilly.
Special Interests:
Gardening, traveling and spending lots of time with family and friends.
I had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout my childhood as well as throughout my married life. After an early childhood spent in the Boston area, I attended schools in New Hampshire, New York and Florida before graduating from high school in a tiny town called Iva, South Carolina. I then attended Anderson College in Anderson, South Carolina, before returning to my roots to complete my bachelor of science degree at Salem State College.
After marrying Tom Jamerson, an engineer with Cabot Corporation, I traveled with him and, later, with our two children - daughter Kelsey, a recent graduate from Emory University, and son Kyle, a sophomore at Assumption College. My husband's assignments took us to Missouri, Louisiana, Venezuela, Georgia, Texas and Canada.
I am very fortunate to have been able to teach in so many different states as well as Venezuela. I also have had the opportunity to meet so many different people and learn from them about their cultures, languages and customs, something I have enjoyed immensely and draw from daily as a teacher.
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Tina McCoy
Teacher
I love working in the Cuvilly gardens and teaching our students about the natural world. I thoroughly enjoy exploring, planting and harvesting with them. It's amazing how much their classroom learning is enhanced by their direct observations and interactions with the Cuvilly animals and our outdoor adventures.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
8
Additional Experience:
I taught pre-school and kindergarten in the Essex Public School System, Essex, Mass., for 10 years and privately taught a series of nature workshops called "Discoveries" as an enrichment program for small groups of children.
Special Interests:
Gardening, knitting, reading, cooking, boating on the Essex River and Chebacco Lake.
I live in Essex, Mass., with my husband Alan and our two dogs, Manny and Ruby. We have four grown children -- Anna, Dan, Caroline and Cody.
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Robin Mills
Teacher
I enjoy watching the excitement and wonder of the children as they explore and discover all the new experiences that Cuvilly has to offer. I feel privileged to be part of this learning process.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
2
Additional Experience:
I have been working with children and teaching for the past 20 years. I cared for many children in my home daycare for ten years. I taught in the Infant-Toddler room at Stoney Brook Children's Center in Georgetown, Mass., for five years. I have also been working as a substitute teacher since 2007 at the Perley Elementary School in Georgetown, Mass.
Special Interests:
Walking, gardening, cooking and spending time with my family.
I was born and raised in Ipswich, where I lived until 1985, when I moved to Georgetown, Mass., with my husband Brad. We have been married for 32 years and have two grown children, Stephanie and Jennifer.
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Alexandra Pappalimberis
Teacher's Aid
Cuvilly will always have a special place in my heart. I attended Cuvilly as a student for three years, taking every class offered from kindergarten and chorus to the art class on Fridays. I feel so honored and excited about now being a teacher's assistant here. Having the opportunity to share my love of art with the children is a dream come true. I truly feel that learning through arts allows children to blossom and learn, while encouraging them to have fun and find their creative side.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
Newly Hired Fall 2012
Additional Experience:
I have been a substitute teacher and teacher's assistant in the Ipswich Public School system for the past three years and am currently also a nanny for two families. I taught Sunday School at the Greek Orthodox Church, coached for the Ipswich cheer-leading program, and babysat for many years.
Special Interests:
Crafts, gardening, designing, cooking, exercising, boating, and spending time with family and friends.
I was born and raised in Ipswich and have resided in Newburyport for the past two years. I graduated from Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass.,with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design in 2010. Although my degree is in Interior Design, I have always been very interested in child education and am currently seeking a Master's Degree in teaching.
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Ginger Shaughnessy
Teaching Assistant
With its emphasis on experiential learning, Cuvilly encourages students to make creative connections and explore possibilities -- much needed skills that they will one day offer to the larger world.It is truly a privilege to be a part of this process.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
1.5
Additional Experience:
I worked in the insurance industry as a corporate trainer and was also a counselor in a group home for girls. In addition to the countless volunteer positions I held while raising my children over the past 24 years, I have volunteered for many years as a "Play Space Pal" with Horizons For Homeless Children in Peabody.
Special Interests:
Other than spending time with my family, I adore my two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Meera and Lili. I enjoy watching basketball, visiting my siblings (I have five!), doing yard work, and appreciating the beauty of Ipswich on a daily basis.
I am native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a proud alumna of the Pennsylvania State University, where I also met my husband, Dennis, a member of the faculty at Northeastern University. We lived in the Washington, DC area, Philadelphia, and Lexington, Mass., before settling in Ipswich in 1987. We have been married for 31 years and have four children, all of whom attended Cuvilly. Lindsey lives in Tamale, Ghana, and is a Project Coordinator for Innovations for Poverty Action. Kathleen is a member of the Baltimore Teach For America Corps and teaches 10th grade American Government. Audrey is entering her third year at Northeastern in the College of Business Administration. Doug is a 2011 graduate of Ipswich High School who will also be attending Northeastern in the fall.
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Lisa Thomas
Teacher
Cuvilly's philosophy regarding the sacred nature of the earth and the importance of preserving diversity in all aspects of life reflects my own. I am grateful to have the opportunity to not only live it, but teach it.
Number of Years at Cuvilly:
10
Additional Experience:
I have worked as a substitute teacher for a variety of local pre-schools and completed my four-month practicum in a kindergarten classroom at Pinegrove Elementary in Rowley, Mass. I was also a full-time nanny for two young children and was very lucky to be with the family for four years.
Special Interests:
Painting with watercolor, reading, spending time with friends and family and walking in the woods with my dog, Ollie. Also, photography as well as boating and "beaching" in the summer!
I have lived in Ipswich for most of my life and am still discovering and finding new places and things to do here. It's such a beautiful town. My husband Michael and I have two beautiful girls, Whitney, who is a freshman at Champlain College in Burlington, VT -- a favorite area for our family to explore -- and Jacklyn who is a 5th grader at Winthrop School. Both are Cuvilly "graduates." I have recently finished my degree in early childhood education at North Shore Community College. I love teaching at Cuvilly and having the opportunity to discover something new with the children on explorations around the property. Cuvilly has been and always will be a very special place to me.
