Joanne DeFilipp Alex, Education Director and Head Teacher:

1998 Maine Teacher of the Year. Education Director and Head Teacher. Master of Education (Environmental Science Education) from the University of Maine, Orono, May 2001. BA in Art (Cum Laude) from Colby College, Waterville, ME, May 1976. Maine State Certified Teacher (K-8); Montessori Degree from St. Nicholas, in 1979; American Montessori Society certified in 1982. Joanne is on the Advisory Board for Chewonki Foundation, Wiscasset, Maine, Children’s First Scholarship Fund, and is an Early Childhood Education Advisory member for Eastern Maine Technical College (Eary Childhood Program). Joanne has taught in Montessori Schools for over 20 years and as a Kindergarten teacher in public school for 1 year. Joanne is an American Montessori Society Intern Supervisor, and presented numerous workshops and conferences. She also has student teachers and practicum students from The College of Education and Human Development, University of Maine, as well as from The Early Childhood Program, Eastern Maine Technical College. Joanne and her husband, Joe founded Stillwater Montessori School in 1983. Joanne serves as Treasurer, for the Maine Montessori Association, a teacher member of the American Montessori Society and North American Montessori Teachers Association. Joanne is a trained facilitator for STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) and teaches Parenting Courses. She is also a facilitator and workshop presenter for Project Wild and Project Wet. Joanne is a Regional Team Leader in Penobscot County for the Project Learning Tree Program. In 1993, Joanne attended the National Geographic Society’s Geography Summer Institute and in 1999 the NGS Alliance Leadership Academy both in Washington, D.C. For Maine Geographic Alliance (MGA), Joanne serves as a Regional Team Leader, Teacher Consultant. Joanne was Institute Director for the MGA Summer Geography Institute 2000 and Advance Geography Institute 2001. In 2003, Joanne was the Maine state coordinator for the National Geographic Society’s Habitat-Home Sweet Home Project. She is on the Steering Committee for MGA. She worked on the Acadian Series Project in the Bangor Daily News,Spring 2001. She has received the 1994 National Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year Award from the American Tree Foundation, the 1995 Maine Audobon Society’s Teacher of the Year Award from the Maine Association for Child Care for Outstanding Contributions for Quality Child-Care in Maine and a state finialist for the 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Education. The fall of 2002 Joanne wrote a book entitled, “I Wonder What’s Up There?” on cosmic education for young children.

Joanne and her family have been active in Children’s International Summer Village. She has been a leader for a village delegation to New Zealand January 2000 and Norway July 2004 and an interchange delegation to British Columbia in 1992. She has also serverd as Junior Branch Advisor.

Linda Hall, Full Time Teacher Assistant with Administrative Duties:

Full-time Teacher Assistant with Administration duties. Before joining Stillwater Montessori School in May 2000, Linda was Director of Children’s Circle Day Care in Bangor. She has worked in child care since 1982 including Penquis C.A.P. and Headstart in Bangor, ME and York County C.A.P. in Biddeford, ME. Linda received her CDA in Early Childhood Education in 1994. Linda is experienced in all aspects of administration and enjoys working with children. Her interest include children, reading, crafts, cribbage, and the ocean.. Linda has one grown son Daniel and grandson. Linda lives in Hermon with her husband, Norman.

Diane Johnston, Primary Assistant Teacher:

Maine Ed. Tech I Certification. After graduating from high school, Diane raised her daughter before returning to work. Diane has extensive experience working with a variety of children in educational settings in New York. Her assistant teacher responsiblities have included helping with individual instruction, classroom mangement and independently supervising children. Diane moved to Bangor five years ago to be able to see more of her grandchildren. She worked as an assistant teacher at Bangor Montessori School for the last three years.

Kathy Johnston, Primary Assistant Teacher/ AMS Intern:

Kathy attended the University of Maine at Orono and received her B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations. She taught Kindergarten in Downeast Maine for five years. While there she was recognized as an innovative teacher by the State of Maine. Kathy began her work with children between birth and age five when she worked in Amhurst, NH. as an education specialist working with families and their delayed children. She developed care plans and activities to help their children acquire the skills needed. Kathy then returned to Maine and worked for Child Development Services (CDS) in Bangor where she coordinated services for children ages birth to five years. Most recently she was employed by Penquis CAP and worked as a Child Development Supervisor of Early Head Start and Head Start programs. While there, she oversaw the NEAYC accreditation of two sites. This past summer, Kathy attended the NorthEast Montessori Institute and will be working towards her Montessori Certification and her Masters degree in Early Childhood with minor in Montessori Education. Personally, Kathy is a mother of a fabulous 4 year old and step mom for a 17 year old daughter who lives in Sweden. Kathy is an Usai Reiki Master and enjoys trips to the beach, the lake , going on picnics and making homemade jam. She lives in Orrington with her husband James and son Neil, who attends Stillwater Montessori School.

Astrid Frank, Primary Assistant Teacher:

Received B.A. in anthropolgy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in May 2007. Astrid grew up in Orono, Maine. Her mother is from Finland and her father is Swiss and now living in Austria. Astrid speaks Swiss German and German fuently and is now learning Finnish. Due to her internatinal background, she has traveled extensively around Europe. During High School, Astrid spent a semester at Chewonki ‘s Maine Coast program. While in College, she spent a semester abroad at the University of Jyraskylz in Finland, yaking this opportunity to strenghten ties with relatives and her heritage. After graduating from college, Astrid moved back to Orono. And has a dog and cat. She loves all animals and spending time outdoors, fishing, camping, hiking and gardening. Indoors she likes to read and cook. Astrid is excited to learn all she can about Montessori and her educational method.

Albert J. Duplessis, Lower Elementary (6-9) Teacher:

Lower Elementary (6-9) Teacher. B.A. in Education from the University of Maine, Orono,ME in 1989; BS from Husson, Bangor, ME in 1980; Maine State Certified Teacher (K-8); Elementary 6-9 Montessori Certificate from Center for Montessori Teacher Training, an American Montessori Society program in New Rochelle, New York in 1991. Al was born and raised in Old Town, Maine. He is a retired Naval Reservist and presently a Softball Umpire. He has taught at Stillwater Montessori School for 18 years. His other interests include computers, fishing, racquetball, photography, golf, and tennis. Al lives in Old Town with his wife Laura and has four children; Mark, Scott, Luke, and Rachel and 3 grandchildren, Joie Katerine, Carmen Theresa and Josef James.

Irene Jackson, Upper Elementary and Middle School Teacher:

Upper Elementary and Middle School Teacher. B.A. Brown university, RI 1983, M.A. English, University of Maine1998, along with courses taken at University of South Carolina, University of Arkansas. Irene is certified in Maine for Secondary English and Social Studies, General Elementary and Endorsement for English as a Second Language. She has taught gifted and talented programs in both Bangor and Camden/Rockport Schools. She has been a tutor and math curriculum consultant in Camden/Rockport Schools and an English as second language instructor. Irene has also been a classroom teacher at alternative schools; Toddy Pond, Belfast, Maine, Bay Community School, Brookhaven, N.Y. and American History teaher at School One Alternative High School, Providence, R.I. She has taught English Composition at the University of Maine, Orono and has worked at the Hudson Museum. Her hobbies include writing and producing plays, writing poetry, folk dancing, gardening, canoeing, x-country skiing, hiking and camping. Irene lives in Veazie with her husband Robert and daughter Sylvia,who attends Stillwater Montessori School.

Katie Priest, Elementary Assistant Teacher:

B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine in Orono in May 2007. Focus on Ecology. Katie grew up in Howland and now lives in Bangor. She loves all outdoor activities including hiking, camping and fishing. She also loves to read and spend time with friends and family. She’s very excited for this school year and learning about Montessori education.