Joanne DeFilipp Alex, Education Director and Head Teacher:

1998 Maine Teacher of the Year. 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 Early Childhood Education Advisory member for Eastern Maine Community College (Eary Childhood Program). Joanne has taught in Montessori Schools for over 30 years and as a Kindergarten teacher in public school for 1 year. Joanne is an American Montessori Society Intern Supervisor, and has presented numerous workshops and conferences at the local, state and national levels, including the American Montessori Society's 20th Annual Touring Symposia in 2005 and 2006 at various locations nationwide. 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 Community College. Joanne and her husband, Joe founded Stillwater Montessori School in 1983. Joanne serves as Teacher Education Boartd Member for the Maine Montessori Association. She is a teacher member of the American Montessori Society. Joanne is a trained facilitator for STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) and has taught Parenting Courses. She is also a facilitator and workshop presenter for Project Wild ( PW) and Project Learning Tree (PLT). She presently serves on the National Early Childhood Advisory Committeee for Project Learning Tree. For the new early childhood guides for PLT and PW, both just published in 2009, Joanne field tested activities . 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 Teacher Consultant for both MGA and National Geographic society ( NGS). She presently is Maine's Public Engagement coordinator for the National Geographic Society - led Campaign, My Wonderful World.org since 2006. For the last 3 years Joanne has written articles for the Bangor Daily's Newspapers in Education ExtraExtra Page highlighting geography topics. 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 and 2004 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 . And most recently was Director of CISV- USA's first International Youth Meeting in the spring of 2009. She also has severd as the Mosaic Chair and run a Passport to the world Summer camp since 2005. She has also serverd as Junior Branch Advisor. In 2005 she and her husband Joe were awarded the Rudie Memmel Chapter Volunteer Ward for CISV-USA. One of her passions is environmental education and she has runan afterschool environmental club since 2001. This year she is teaching the Early childhood Science methods course at UMAINE and having them work with the environmental club as part of the course. Joanne enjoys walking, biking, wildflowers, researching resources, wildlife, hiking, reading and art. and creating units for her classroom. She lives in Old Town with her husband Joe and has three children, Jessica, Joel and Julianna. Additional family members include two cats.

Linda Hall, Full Time Teacher Assistant with Administrative 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.

Crystal McArthur, Primary Assistant Teacher:

Crystal is a recent graduate of the University of Maine, Orono. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in music education, and a concentration in English. She has over 10 years of experience working with children in multiple venues, including all ages, learning styles, and various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. She has a specific interest in child development and behavior, and has worked closely with several students with special needs and learning disabilities. She plans on eventually furthering her education by returning to graduate school for Occupational Therapy and Behavioral Science. Her hobbies include composing and singing, writing poetry and children's stories, photography, and fishing.

Jackie Dimmock, Primary Assistant Teacher:

Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Three Rivers Community College, Norwich, CT in 2000. In August 2004, Jackie received her Associate Early Childhood Credential from the Montessori Teacher Education Institute at Three Rivers Community College. Jackie worked for seven years at Mt. Hope Montessori School in Mansfield, Connecticut both as an Assistant Teacher and a Head Teacher. She was also a child care accreditation observer for the state of Connecticut for five years. In 2007, Jackie moved to Maine with her husband, Greg and started working as a part-time assistant teacher in the Stillwater Montessori School's lower elementary program in January 2008. Last year, she moved to the Primary program as a full time assistant teacher. Jackie has two children, Jennifer, 25 and Jeremy, 22 and a daughter-in-law, Kacia, 21 and a granddaughter, Isabella born in July 2009! Jackie's many hobbies include, raising chickens, gardening, cooking, sewing and quilting. And for fun, she's starting to learn to paint!

Albert J. Duplessis, 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 (SCPO ) and presently a Softball Umpire. He has taught at Stillwater Montessori School for 19 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:

B.A. Brown university, RI 1983, M.A. English, University of Maine1998, along with courses taken at University of South Carolina and the 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.

Peggy Sockalexis, Part-time Elementary Assistant Teacher:

Peggy is originally from the Auburn/Lewiston area of Maine. She moved to Indian Island a few years back with her husband of 13 years this coming December and our two children; Gregory - 11 and Raven - 7. They have many non-human family members including a Chihuahua named Romeo, a Chihuahua/rat terrier named Benvolio, two cats - Mineux and Patrick, a cockatiel named April, a parakeet named Sweetgrass and many many guppies. Peggy is in her last semester at Eastern Maine Community College's two year associates degree in early childhood education. Becoming a part of the Stillwater Montessori family has been an adventure and yet a fairly simple transition because Peggy did her second placement practicum in Al's lower elementary classroom. She is very happy to be a part of Stillwater Montessori School!

Stella Ekholm, Assistant Teacher:

BA in Studio Art from the University of Maine, Orono, ME in 2008, and with credits in art education, she plans to further her learning of the Montessori educational teachings. She is a professional painter and does portraits and other commissioned works. She received best in show award at the Bangor Art Society show for a regional painting of Brownville Dam with Village. She grew up on a rural farm in Milo, Maine. She has lived in Germany and did works of art while living in the country abroad. Stella has raised 3 daughters, Stacia, Heather, and Colleen. She took care of a foster child and has done home schooling for the youngest daughter. Stella loves children and has always wanted to teach. She is excited to be working at a Montessori School. Stella now lives in Veazie, Maine.