— Maria Montessori
Our Staff

Primary
Primary 1

Julie Shores - Head Teacher & Primary Education Coordinator
When Julie first encountered Montessori, she was a nanny for a KMS family. While working for them, Julie volunteered at the school. She listened to readers, drove on field trips, and substituted in the classroom.
In 1999, Julie started working as an assistant in the classroom for three years. She then went on to do her Montessori teacher training through Northeast Montessori Institute and earned her primary Montessori AMS teaching credential. Now in her twenty fifth year here at KMS. She also holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from KVCC and earned her BA from UMA in Applied Science with a minor in Early Childhood Services. Julie also directs our summer program.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching the Red Sox, and working with flowers and plants. You might even spot her selling and taking tickets at many different Winslow High School sporting events. Julie resides in Winslow with her cat, Pumpkin. She is very active with the Maine Alzheimer’s Association and is the chairperson for the Waterville Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Primary 1

Maureen Vashon - Assistant Teacher & Before Care
Maureen Vashon has been an Assistant Teacher at KMS since 2004. She graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1990 and moved to Pennsylvania shortly after. Maureen first encountered the Montessori method of teaching at a preschool in Pennsylvania and worked there for two years before having twin boys and moving back to Maine to be closer to family. Once she was back in Maine, she finished her Montessori training and started working at KMS in 1999.
In March of 2000, Maureen left KMS to have her youngest child. Once all her children were in school full time, Maureen returned to KMS as the Assistant Teacher in P-1 with Julie, where she continues today. Maureen has loved being in Julie’s class and has really enjoyed developing her teaching skills in every area of the classroom. She loves watching the children blossom as they grow in Montessori and especially likes doing music and movement with the children any chance she gets!
In her spare time, Maureen loves to sing and is in a community band and sings at church. Maureen also loves to give back by volunteering throughout the community in various capacities. She lives in Winslow with her husband Mike, and three boys, who all attended KMS.
Primary 2

Kim Boutin - Head Teacher
Primary 2

Carrie Corson - Assistant Teacher
Carrie was born and raised in Central Maine. She is the mother of three young children, two of which attend KMS. Carrie is in the process of completing her BA in Child Development and Family Relations through the University of Maine at Orono.
She has 7 years of hands-on
experience in the field of early childhood education. Carrie discovered her love for all things Montessori upon enrolling her oldest child in the Primary program at KMS. After watching her daughter thrive in the classroom environment at KMS, Carrie decided to dive more specifically
into the Montessori field.
In her spare time, Carrie coaches a varsity high school cheerleading team. She enjoys
reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with her three children bouncing from one activity to the next. Carrie is eager to continue her Montessori experience working with young children and helping to guide each child along their journey through their early childhood years.
Primary 3

Katie Carlson - Head Teacher
Katie first encountered KMS as a student at Colby College, when she did a semester of classroom observation in the KMS Upper Elementary classroom. She went on to study child development in Scandinavia through a semester abroad in Denmark, where she completed her practicum at a Danish forest kindergarten.
After graduating with a BA in Education from Colby in 2020, Katie moved to Eau Claire, WI. Here, she spent her first year as a full time teacher leading the 3 year old classroom at the UWEC Children’s Nature Academy. During her time at this early childhood center, she also created a campus garden, developed a trail system map for the 120 acre campus, and headed the school-age summer program for children K-3rd grade.
Katie and her partner moved back to Maine in October, 2021. She was thrilled to become an assistant teacher in P3, and she spent the year learning many hands-on Montessori skills and techniques from seasoned KMS teachers. This year, she is excited to help design the new Whole Health program, and particularly looks forward to tapping into her background in outdoor education.
Katie loves living in Waterville with her partner, Kyle, and two dogs. She spends her free time walking the dogs, swimming in local lakes and rivers, gardening, cross-country skiing at Quarry Road, and crafting.
Primary 3

Mollie Jackson - Assistant Teacher
Mollie, a Central-Florida native, relocated to Downeast Maine in 2019 to complete her degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Life Sciences at the University of Maine.
She graduated in 2022 and began her career in the Maine public school system, but was always curious about alternative pedagogy, specifically the Montessori method. Mollie is very excited to join KMS as an assistant teacher in the primary level and looks forward to continuing her education to become Montessori certified.
Mollie lives in Madison, Maine with her husband Patrick and mini-Aussie Autumn. She enjoys fishing, hiking, paddling, gardening, and painting!
Elementary
Lower Elementary 1

Jessica Parker - Head Teacher
Jessica was first introduced to Montessori when her eldest child enrolled in primary at KMS and she took on the role of Elementary Assistant at the same time. She instantly fell in love with the philosophy, methodology, and traditions that the school had to offer. 5 years later she found her way back as the Lead Teacher in that same Elementary classroom. Jessica is an experienced high school educator with certifications in both Social Studies and Special Education. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s in Education from the University of Maine and has spent her entire teaching career in charter schools and alternative education settings, where she feels most inspired. Jessica is currently attending Montessori teacher training through Oaks Montessori Teacher Education and is looking forward to many years of watching her students learn, grow, create, and inspire in this wonderful space. Jessica lives in Oakland with her Husband Garret and 3 children who all attend KMS. In her spare time she enjoys teaching dance, traveling, spending time outdoors, and cheering on her kids in all of their activities.
Lower Elementary 1

Emma Goodrich - Assistant Teacher
Lower Elementary 2

Abbie Giallombardo - Head Teacher
Abbie has been an educator in a variety of roles over the past 12 years, including teaching high school students and guiding adults who support the youngest of learners. She is enrolled as an adult learner in Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC) and is enjoying every minute of the intensive deep-dive into Montessori pedagogy and methodology.
Abbie has long appreciated the Montessori philosophy and joined the KMS community when her eldest enrolled 5 years ago. During that time, Abbie has served as parent rep in her children’s primary classroom and participated on the auction and development committees. She is excited to be a part of the KMS community in a different capacity, to guide the lower elementary students on their learning journeys, and to wonder, explore, learn, and grow alongside KMS students, staff, and families.
A native Mainer, Abbie grew up on the midcoast and now lives in St. Albans with her husband and their two children. Outside of work, Abbie enjoys traveling, reading, playing with their two young Labradors, volunteering with her Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute (OSWLI) cohort, and spending time with the kids in their various activities.
Lower Elementary 2

Angie Gimond - Assistant Teacher
Angie was born in Bolivia but grew up in northern Chile. She moved to the US in 1989, and spent a few years in Virginia before moving to Florida. There, she worked as a daycare teacher at a public elementary school. After many vacations to Maine, she and her husband quickly grew fond of the state and decided to seek a homesteading lifestyle there. In 2006, they moved to Benton and bought a 160-year-old farmhouse where they grow food and raise chickens.
Angie started work at KMS in 2007, where she first learned of the Montessori philosophy—a philosophy she was quick to embrace. She enjoys working with children and is particularly keen in sharing in their curiosity of life in general.
Outside of work, Angie enjoys gardening, camping and crafting.
Upper Elementary

Joy Tabatsko - Head Teacher
Joy began her time in Montessori as a three-year-old in Maryland. Twenty years later, she returned to that classroom as an intern while working toward her Primary Montessori Teacher certification. Shortly after that, life led her to a small Montessori school in Jacksonville, Florida. She spent two decades there guiding students from ages three to eleven while earning her Lower and Upper Elementary teacher certifications. After all this time, she is still inspired by the insight and wisdom of her students. She truly values the opportunity to work with students in a partnership and develop meaningful relationships with them.
Joy’s husband joined the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, giving her the opportunity to become a member of the community at Kennebec Montessori School. They will be continuing their adventures with their black lab in an off-grid home nearby. Joy is looking forward to learning about all the wonderful wildlife in Maine and entertaining everyone with her efforts to learn to snowshoe and cross-country ski. While indoors, she is always trying to master a new creative skill. Most of all, she is eager to get to know her students and their families and continue to learn and grow together.
Elementary

Elizabeth Hoffman - Elementary Education Coordinator
Elizabeth Hoffman began her journey in Montessori at the age of two, and has remained a part of the Montessori community, working in all levels of classrooms from primary to middle school. After 12 years as a Head Teacher at the Elementary level, Elizabeth has shifted to part-time in the classroom. Her time in Montessori schools now includes roles in administration, consulting, and professional development. Elizabeth is Admissions Director, teaching faculty, and field consultant at METTC. Elizabeth holds an AMS teaching credential for Elementary I-II (CMTE/NY & METTC), as well as a B.S. in Environmental Science (SUNY-ESF) and an M.Ed in Special Education (University of Maine). She is working towards an LCPC to continue supporting children, families, and schools in creating and maintaining inclusive learning environments where neurodiversity is celebrated and all children thrive.
Enrichment & Support Staff
Enrichment Programs

Rosemary Ellis - Art
Enrichment Programs

Danielle Ogden - Enrichment Music Teacher
Danielle Ogden graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. During the time of her first teaching position on Cape Cod she earned her Master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University. In 2012 she married her husband Scott and moved back to southern Maine. Danielle spent the past 11 years teaching middle school band and general music at Gray – New Gloucester middle school and is now very excited to continue her career at KMS working with a more diverse age range of students in the Montessori philosophy. She is mom to two sweet musical girls and one baby boy who loves to groove and resides in Pownal. In her spare time Danielle loves to garden, read, and enjoy Maine’s beautiful state parks.
Enrichment Programs

Mica Whitney - Enrichment Whole Health Teacher
I grew up on the unceded land of the Powhatan Confederacy, also known as Richmond Virginia. I grew up exploring the wildness in and among the cityscape. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Peace and Global Studies from Earlham College where my focus became the connection between imagination, art, and social transformation. I’ve worked with children for over 15 years in a variety of settings including Montessori classrooms, summer camps, community arts programming, and a self-directed nature connection program. I’ve also worked as a MOFGA apprentice on a vegetable farm, where I learned to drive draft horses. I am committed to facilitating spaces where children can be rooted, guided, and free. I love facilitating group games, community building activities, hands-on experiential ecology learning, and opportunities for self reflection through expressive arts. Outside of work, I play music in a band, tend my garden, and work on my own artistic development. I live in Liberty with my family where I one day dream of starting a forest school where children can develop a relationship with the natural world and learn wilderness skills.
Enrichment Programs

Maegan Conway - Before & After Care Coordinator
Maegan received her BA in Communications at the University of Massachusetts, and has had several different careers including photographer, agent for Southwest Airlines, and as an Administration Assistant in healthcare. She enjoys wearing many hats at KMS!
Support Staff

Elizabeth Hubbard - Support Staff
Support Staff

Timothy Curry - Support Staff
While not a Maine native, Timothy has been enjoying its wonders for decades and now has the pleasure of living here too. He is a father to a wonderful child who currently attends KMS and is looking forward to her growth and learning there.
He has been excited to transition from volunteering his time to working part time with the school to help support the staff, teachers, and students, as well as help inform, learn, and keep the traditions of Montessori. Seeing the children grow and develop is a true joy for him.
In his free time, he loves to play all kinds of storytelling and board games, as well as getting out into nature for some hikes, beach or lake time, and exploring new places with his friends and family. He can’t wait to see where this Journey with KMS takes him and the kids whose lives are touched by it.
Support Staff
Eva Goulette - Support Staff
Eva was born in Waterville and spent her childhood attending local public schools. After being certified to teach classical ballet by the School of the Hartford Ballet’s three-year Teacher Training Program, Eva became the director of Syracuse Ballet Academy in 1980. Her mission to support the whole child started at that time when she created policies and programs that would encourage and support her students mentally, emotionally, and physically as they maintained a rigorous classical training schedule.
After leaving her position at Syracuse Ballet Academy, Eva spent years working at Disneyland as an event coordinator and became a project manager for major park event program launches.
She returned to Maine in 2003 after suffering a traumatic brain injury and spent a few years recovering while living with family members. She discovered KMS when she became a nanny for a family that was part of the school community. As the children grew older, Eva became a substitute teacher at the school. She embraced the Montessori philosophy and enjoyed the time she spent in the classrooms.
In 2014 Eva launched her company Dancing Jaguar Inspirations, whose mission is to teach a curriculum that nurtures the spirit of a child. She created a teacher training program that shares her specialized curriculum with other adults so they can support the children in their communities throughout North America. Eva shares her curriculum at education symposiums and conferences and is a frequent speaker at summits, podcasts, and radio programs.
Eva is excited to become part of the staff at KMS where she continues to fulfill her passion of supporting the whole child.
Administrative Staff
Administration

Meaghan Murphy - Head of School
Meaghan Murphy is a Central Maine native, coming on as Head of School at KMS after 15 years of working in public schools. She has worked both as a teacher and an Assistant Principal in a local school district. Meaghan holds both her k-8 teaching certificate and Principal certification in the State of Maine, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine.
Meaghan first became interested in Montessori philosophy when her daughter began at KMS and is looking forward to learning alongside the teachers this year and obtaining her American Montessori Society Administrator credential over the next several years. She lives locally with her husband and soon to be 3 young daughters.
Administration

Kristin Gagnon - Office Manager
Kristin Gagnon is a UMF grad with a degree in Elementary Education. She has spent the majority of her career working with children and families in various capacities. Connecting and maintaining these relationships is at the heart of all of Kristin’s daily routines.

Join the Team!
Open Positions Available
Board of Directors

The environment at KMS fosters independence, Working with a team of adults who model diversity, love of learning, and respect for ourselves and the world makes the environment we build for the children deeply rich with experiences. The culture of high-fidelity programming, coupled with an ethos for collaboration and growth ensure that each year we all grow together.
Elizabeth Hoffman, LE 1 Head Teacher

The environment at KMS fosters independence, Working with a team of adults who model diversity, love of learning, and respect for ourselves and the world makes the environment we build for the children deeply rich with experiences. The culture of high-fidelity programming, coupled with an ethos for collaboration and growth ensure that each year we all grow together.
Elizabeth Hoffman, LE 1 Head Teacher
Contact Us
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Kennebec Montessori School
38 Sheridan Dr
Fairfield, ME 04937
Phone: 207-453-6055
Fax: 207-453-8155
Email: info@kennebecmontessori.org
Hours:
Monday - Friday
7:15 AM - 5:30 PM