Meet the Teachers...

Sandy Farris (Director/Owner) graduated from Gorham State College with a BS degree in Elementary Education/ Science. She earned a Master’s Degree in Literacy from Lesley University. For 37 years she taught kindergarten through 4th grade in the South Portland and Auburn school districts. Sandy piloted the first all-day kindergarten program in the state while at Redbank School. She has been a consultant and teacher trainer for hands-on science in Maine and New Hampshire. She developed the first 5+ and full day nursery school in Cape Elizabeth. Sandy has owned Maiden Cove, formally Cape Cottage Nursery School (1960-1982) since 1982.
Carrie Chapin (Full Day Program Co-Head Teacher) graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Special Education. She also received her Master's Degree in Special Education at the University of Northern Colorado. While in Colorado, she taught 3 year olds for 3 years prior to moving onto teaching high school for 12 years. Carrie taught in a private school in Cape Elizabeth for 5 years. She taught children with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and other social communication challenges. She holds a professional teaching certificate for the state of Maine. Carrie is a member of AANE (Aspergers Association of New England).
Jennifer Concannon (Half Day Program Co-Head Teacher and Enrollment Coordinator) graduated from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. She majored in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. Jennifer also received her Master’s Degree at Loyola as a reading specialist. She taught primary special education in the city of Baltimore for 5 years and then moved to Virginia where she was a reading specialist at an elementary school for 3 years. She began teaching at Maiden Cove in 2007. She was named to the Maine Registry by Maine Roads to Quality in 2010. This registry recognizes Jennifer’s experience, training, education and volunteer contributions to the early childhood professions.
Kathy Yantakosol (Travelogue & Wacky Wednesday Head Teacher) is heading into her twentieth year at Maiden Cove. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a focus on child and family. After working as a child advocate at Fair Harbor Emergency Shelter, she devoted herself to raising her two children and additionally enjoyed volunteering in the Cape Elizabeth school system, Thomas Memorial Library, and St. Bartholomew’s Church. Kathy was named to the Maine Registry by Maine Roads to Quality in 2010. This Registry recognizes Kathy’s training, education, and volunteer contributions to early childhood education. Kathy’s passion for children’s books is only exceeded by her love of sharing them with the children at Maiden Cove.
Lisa Labesky (Full Day Program Co-Head Teacher) is entering her tenth year as an early childhood educator. She joined the Maiden Cove Staff after relocating from Atlanta where she taught Pre-K for four years. Lisa is a graduate from Georgia State University with a degree in Commercial Music and undergraduate coursework in Child Development & Family Life. She has a passion for outdoor education and is a member of the Green Teacher Network.
Paula Schonewolf (Half Day Program Co-Head Teacher) has been a part of Maiden Cove since 2010, before that she was a kindergarten teacher assistant in Westerville, Ohio. She has great enthusiasm for early learning, especially enriching young minds through play and mindful experiences. Paula graduated from Champlain College in St. Lambert, Quebec with a concentration in social sciences. She lives in Cape Elizabeth with her husband and three grown children Xander, Katie and Lauren. In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling and spoiling her fur baby, Sadie.
Stephanie Bowe (5+ Head Teacher) graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Family Education with a focus on child development. She previously taught at Maiden Cove as a Co-Teacher in the 3 and 4 year old half day programs from 2008-15. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children as well as the Maine chapter of the same organization and recently received a certificate from Mindful Schools for their mindfulness in education program. She is also on the Board of Trustees for the Portland Symphony Orchestra and chairs their committee on Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning. She has lived in Maine for the past 20 years and Cape Elizabeth for the past 16 years where she and her husband have raised their six children.
Missi Piscopo (5+ Assistant Teacher) has lived in Cape Elizabeth for 35 years. She and her husband were the owners of Piscopo’s Bakery for many of those years. She has a son and daughter who have gone through the Cape Elizabeth school system which gave her many opportunities to be involved in the community. She has been a Girl Scout Leader, Cape Football Booster volunteer, fundraising coordinator for the Cape Elizabeth Little League program, co-president for High School Girls Soccer Boosters and parent volunteer at both Pond Cove and the Middle School.