School Staff
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Kate Dwyer
School Coordinator
It's a privilege to see learning in action. Our students' observations about the material we offer them are so often insightful and profound. It just reaffirms our premise that the instinct to live in harmony with this planet is present in everyone. My job as a teacher at Cuvilly is to encourage and cultivate this connection.Number of Years at Cuvilly: 18Additional Experience: I taught Child Development in the Hampton, N.H., public school system for three years at Winnacunnet High School, and five years at Tilton's Winnisquam Regional Middle School.Special Interests: Knitting, sewing, hiking and boating, especially on Squam Lake in N.H.I was born and raised in New Hampshire, where I lived until I got married in 1986 and moved to Beverly, Mass. I have three daughters: Janna who is in South Korea teaching in a private school, Breezy who is currently a sophomore at St. Lawrence University, and Chapin, currently a junior at Beverly High School. I am married to Steve Dwyer, who works in Peabody as an accountant.
I attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for undergraduate school and have taken classes at UNH and Salem State in administrative work and teaching reading. I continue to attend as many classes and workshops as possible to further my education and stay current in my field.
In addition to my career in education, I founded and ran my own business designing and sewing wedding dresses when my two oldest daughters were little. Once I enrolled my oldest daughter Janna in Cuvilly's pre-school program, I realized how much I missed teaching and accepted a position as a teacher at Cuvilly as well. I have been connected to Cuvilly for 20 years, two as a parent and 18 as a teacher; I have served as the school coordinator for the past 13 years.
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Rene Jamerson
Teacher
I've always thought of teaching as the art of helping others on their journey of discovery. There's nothing more satisfying or enriching as watching the children I teach make connections for themselves.Number of Years at Cuvilly: I joined Cuvilly's teaching team in the Fall of 2009.Additional Experience: I have been teaching for the past 14 years. I taught second grade in the Franklin Public School System in Franklin, La., and kindergarten, sixth grade and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Valencia, Venezuela. I also taught pre-school in Georgetown, Mass., before accepting my position at Cuvilly.Special Interests: Gardening, traveling and spending lots of time with family and friends.I had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout my childhood as well as throughout my married life. After an early childhood spent in the Boston area, I attended schools in New Hampshire, New York and Florida before finally graduating high school in a tiny town called Iva, South Carolina. I then attended Anderson College in Anderson, South Carolina, before returning to my roots to complete my bachelor of science degree at Salem State College.
After marrying Tom Jamerson, an engineer with Cabot Corporation, I traveled with him and, later, with our two children - daughter Kelsey, currently studying at Emory University, and son Kyle, currently attending Pingree School. My husband's assignments took us to Missouri, Louisiana, Venezuela, Georgia, Texas and Canada.
I am very fortunate to have been able to teach in so many different states as well as Venezuela. I also have had the opportunity to meet so many different people and learn from them about their cultures, languages and customs, something I have enjoyed immensely and draw from daily as a teacher.
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Tina McCoy
Teacher
I love working in the Cuvilly gardens and teaching our students about the natural world. I thoroughly enjoy exploring, planting and harvesting with them. It's amazing how much their classroom learning is enhanced by their direct observations and interactions with the Cuvilly animals and our outdoor adventures.Number of Years at Cuvilly: 6Additional Experience: I taught pre-school and kindergarten in the Essex Public School System, Essex, Mass., for 10 years and privately taught a series of nature workshops called "Discoveries" as an enrichment program for small groups of children.Special Interests: Gardening, knitting, reading, cooking, boating on the Essex River and Chebacco Lake.I live in Essex, Mass., with my husband Alan and our two dogs, Manny and Ruby. Our three children, Anna, Dan and Caroline grew up there; we are currently host parents to Cody, a student at Pingree School. My daughter Caroline is currently living in Israel. Last summer, my husband I traveled there to see her. We saw so many beautiful places (my favorite was the Dead Sea) and met lots of friendly and generous people.
Chebacco Lake, where my daughter Anna lives and my boys Dan and Cody love to fish, is one of my favorite boating destinations. Wintertime finds me snuggling with my Pit-bull mix, Manny, and, of course, enjoying our wonderful New England snows.
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Nicole Sazin
Teacher
At Cuvilly, we meet children when they start coming to our pre-school when they are almost three years old. We watch them grow until they are five and ready to go on to kindergarten. Just knowing I have become a small part of their lives makes me happy.Number of Years at Cuvilly: 10Additional Experience: Birth to Three Family Center in Ipswich, Mass.Special Interests: Walking in the woods, listening to music, reading, and being with family.I come from Gloucester, Mass., but have been living in Ipswich for the last 14 years with my husband, Scott, and two children - Joshua and Amanda. I also share my life with two cats, Carl and O'Malley.
I had always dreamed of becoming a teacher, but never had the monetary means to attend college. Cuvilly gave me the chance to reach that dream by encouraging me to attend North Shore Community College. As a result, in 1999 I received my teaching certification through the State of Massachusetts. I continue to attend as many teachers' workshops as I can to learn new creative methods and strategies for classroom teaching.
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Lisa Thomas
Teacher
Cuvilly's philosophy regarding the sacred nature of the earth and the importance of preserving diversity in all aspects of life reflects my own. I am grateful to have the opportunity to not only live it, but teach it.Number of Years at Cuvilly: 7Additional Experience: I have worked as a substitute teacher for a variety of local pre-schools and did my practicum in a kindergarten classroom at Pinegrove Elementary in Rowley, Mass. In addition, I worked as a full-time nanny for four years, caring for and sharing learning adventures with two children.Special Interests: Painting with watercolor, spending time with friends and family and walking in the woods with my dogs.I have lived in Ipswich for most of my life and am still discovering and finding new places and things to do here. I have two beautiful girls, Whitney and Jacklyn. Both are Cuvilly "graduates." I am currently finishing my degree in early childhood education at North Shore Community College. While not at work or studying, I love taking my dogs, Ollie and Emma (my other children), for long walks in the woods.
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Erika Gorgenyi
Environmental Education CoordinatorAt Cuvilly Arts & Earth Center, I've enjoyed collaborating with others to raise awareness of ecological issues and educating people about sustainable living practices.Number of Years at Cuvilly: 4Additional Experience: Twelve years experience in outdoor and experiential/adventure education; rock climbing instructor; organic farmer.Special Interests: Climbing, hiking, running, biking, kayaking and traveling.For more than twelve years, I have facilitated groups of all ages in outdoor, team-building and challenge course experiences. Additionally, I have led wilderness backpacking trips and international trips with students. I currently teach rock climbing on the side, as well as run a small, organic community supported agriculture farm.
My job here at Cuvilly is to design and promote new environmental education programs for the community in an effort to make Cuvilly's mission known beyond the pre-school/kindergarten audience.