New Country School

    
   
                                           

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Staff Biographies

                
                               
               

(Click on a program name to visit its page)

                
                                                 
 

Jennifer Martel-Pettit
Elementary Teacher (Head Teacher)
 B.A. Sociology with minor in Music, University of Southern Maine.
Advanced coursework in Child Development and Early Childhood Education.

  
  Jennifer has been working in education as a teacher for 15 years as a nursery school and preschool teacher, NAEYC childcare teacher, teacher of young children with developmental needs, and within the public schools in special education.; and has worked for 4 years as Elementary teacher at New Country School.  Jennifer is also a member of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). Her special interests and talents include combining the areas of art, science and music for children, creative movement, child language development and literacy.  She enjoys encouraging creative writing and storytelling by guiding children to develop their own ideas and imaginations.  To Jennifer, childhood is a wondrous time filled with new ideas and "magic," and the role of a teacher or parent is to provide opportunities to discover, explore, play, imagine and create.  Jennifer also has a background in music and is a member of several local choral groups and a past member of the University of Southern Maine's choral groups and concert band.  She brings her musical background to the classroom in various ways as a tool for learning and universal enjoyment.  She lives in Limerick with her husband Jerry, and 10-year-old daughter, Jane, who also attends NCS.  Jennifer volunteers her time to serve on several NCS committees such as fundraising, NCS hiring committee, and leads all NCS family functions and school presentations.  
                                                 
  Rhonda Newcomb
Early Childhood Education Teacher
B.A. Psychology with minor in Developmental Disabilities, University of Maine, Orono.
Teacher Certification Program K-8, University of New England.		  
  Rhonda comes to New Country School with an extensive background in Children's Services, Developmental Disabilities, Social Services and Education. She has worked with various agencies providing and coordinating in-home support, working as a Training Specialist for agency employees working with children with developmental disabilities, and has taught within the public schools as an Education Technician III for elementary students receiving special education services. Rhonda resides in Sebago with her husband, Eric, and their 2 children, Ethan and Ella, that both attend New Country School's ECE program. As a mother and an educator of young children, Rhonda finds early childhood to be filled with "WOW" moments, full of curiosity and discovery. Her classroom is filled with many opportunities to explore, create, discover and make-believe, providing children with a "first school" experience that encourages life-long learning.  
                                                 
 

Julie Yarbrough
Volunteer Office Manager
B.A. History, University of Southern Maine

 
  Julie has been volunteering at New Country School for 3 years as a parent of NCS Middle School Student, Cari, and active supporter of NCS programs, philosophy and mission. Over the years, Julie has led our fundraising committee helping our school raise the much-needed dollars in order to keep our tuition low for families.
Her devotion to the school's programs and serving our NCS Board of Directors led her to volunteer to work part time in our school's office, providing our families with a positive and efficient lead office contact person. With the help of volunteers in our office, Marilyn Hopkins (NCS Board Treasurer and NCS Alumni parent) and Jerry Pettit (NCS Board President and parent of current NCS Elementary Student), Julie manages our daily office needs effortlessly.
In addition to her work in the office, Julie can also be found volunteering her time in the classrooms. As a professional artist, former home-schooling mom, and owner of Kick the Moon Farm in Hiram, Julie has also shared her knowledge with our students teaching the basics of fiber arts, pottery and glasswork. The children have made beautiful items, gifts and artwork with Julie, which have instilled a love of art and inspired students outside of the classroom.		  
                                                 
  Leslee Hartwell
Yoga Instructor		  
  Leslee lives in Hiram, with her husband and four children.  A former home schooling mom, home school support leader and early childhood educator, she enjoys teaching children of all ages.  Her love of yoga started eight years ago when she became a student of Hatha Yoga.  She received her certification from Yoga Teacher Training, and began teaching at New Country School school in 2006.  Her other experiences with " Yoga for Kids" are sessions held at several public libraries, the annual Portland Peace/Yoga Festival, and classes at the Maine Children's Museum in Portland.  She teaches weekly classes at NCS, in both Elementary and early childhood classes, and believes children are natural to physical yoga.  Along with yoga postures her " Yoga for Kids" classes incorporate, stillness, focus, and flexibility for both mind and body health.  The classes are fun and age appropriate using song, movement and story, and the older kids enjoy learning Sanskrit, the original language of Yoga.  
                                                 
 

Board of Directors
Jerry Pettit, President
Lenny Jean, Vice President
Marilyn Hopkins, Treasurer
Julie Yarbrough, Secretary
Jennifer Pettit, Staff Representative
Rhonda Newcomb, Staff Representative
Heather Silvia, Community Member