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.
Bridget Cloutier (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program) graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/ Management. She has been a substitute teacher for the Cape Elizabeth school system for 8 years focusing on grades K-8th. Bridget has also worked simultaneously for Cape Community Services instructing many classes after school for K-4th grades including gymnastics, flag football, basketball, soccer, dodgeball and cheerleading. She also coordinated birthday parties for K-6th grade playing different sports or easy play time for toddlers emphasizing self-esteem, respect, safety and sheer enthusiasm to play a sport and enjoy the moment.
Carrie Chapin (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program 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) and also a member of the CELT education committee.
Ellen Berg (5+ Head Teacher) graduated from Colby College in 2005 with a degree in American Studies. In 2008 she completed the Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP) from the University of Southern Maine which earned her a K-8 teaching certificate. The following year, she received her Masters in Applied Literacy from the University of Southern Maine. She was named to the Maine Registry by Maine Roads to Quality in 2012. This registry recognizes Ellen’s experience, training, education and volunteer contributions to the early childhood professions. Ellen has been an active member of the Junior League of Portland, Maine for over 10 years. Six of those years were spent working on the Kids in the Kitchen initiative, a nationwide program designed to educate and prevent against childhood obesity.
Jennifer Concannon (3 Year Old Half Day Program Head Teacher, 4 Year Old Half Day Program Co Teacher) 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 seventeenth 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 (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program Head Teacher) has joined the Maiden Cove Staff this year after relocating to Maine from Atlanta where she taught Pre-K for the past 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 enjoyed serving on the board of two Atlanta area preschools and has a passion for outdoor education- often volunteering her time at a wildlife rescue/rehabilitation center and is a member of the Natural Teachers Network and Green Teacher. Since relocating to Maine, she enjoys volunteering within the Cape Elizabeth school system where her son now attends.
Paula Schonewolf (3 Year Old Half Day Program Assistant Teacher, 4 Year Old Half Day Program Co Teacher) graduated from Champlain College with a degree in Communications. This is her sixth year in early education. Previously, she was an Ed Tech in a kindergarten classroom in Westerville, Ohio.
Bridget Cloutier (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program) graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/ Management. She has been a substitute teacher for the Cape Elizabeth school system for 8 years focusing on grades K-8th. Bridget has also worked simultaneously for Cape Community Services instructing many classes after school for K-4th grades including gymnastics, flag football, basketball, soccer, dodgeball and cheerleading. She also coordinated birthday parties for K-6th grade playing different sports or easy play time for toddlers emphasizing self-esteem, respect, safety and sheer enthusiasm to play a sport and enjoy the moment.
Carrie Chapin (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program 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) and also a member of the CELT education committee.
Ellen Berg (5+ Head Teacher) graduated from Colby College in 2005 with a degree in American Studies. In 2008 she completed the Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP) from the University of Southern Maine which earned her a K-8 teaching certificate. The following year, she received her Masters in Applied Literacy from the University of Southern Maine. She was named to the Maine Registry by Maine Roads to Quality in 2012. This registry recognizes Ellen’s experience, training, education and volunteer contributions to the early childhood professions. Ellen has been an active member of the Junior League of Portland, Maine for over 10 years. Six of those years were spent working on the Kids in the Kitchen initiative, a nationwide program designed to educate and prevent against childhood obesity.
Jennifer Concannon (3 Year Old Half Day Program Head Teacher, 4 Year Old Half Day Program Co Teacher) 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 seventeenth 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 (3&4 Year Old Full Day Program Head Teacher) has joined the Maiden Cove Staff this year after relocating to Maine from Atlanta where she taught Pre-K for the past 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 enjoyed serving on the board of two Atlanta area preschools and has a passion for outdoor education- often volunteering her time at a wildlife rescue/rehabilitation center and is a member of the Natural Teachers Network and Green Teacher. Since relocating to Maine, she enjoys volunteering within the Cape Elizabeth school system where her son now attends.
Paula Schonewolf (3 Year Old Half Day Program Assistant Teacher, 4 Year Old Half Day Program Co Teacher) graduated from Champlain College with a degree in Communications. This is her sixth year in early education. Previously, she was an Ed Tech in a kindergarten classroom in Westerville, Ohio.
