Our Staff

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.

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.