Faculty & Staff

Director of Elementary Education

Roots Micro School was born out of a desire to create a safe, nurturing, and individualized environment for young students that values social emotional development, free play and exploration, and academic rigor in equal measure.

Drawing from her formal education in Science and Economics, training as both a Montessori Early Childhood and Lower Elementary educator, and many years teaching students of all ages in a variety of settings, Jackie believes in finding a balance between honoring the innate ability of children to learn and grow through play and employing progressive technology and evidence based practices to support an individualized approach to each child’s education.

Jackie’s continued vision for our Elementary and Studio Programs is ambitious:

“In our classroom you will find children building with their hands, creating art with a variety of mediums, practicing their writing through the telling of their own ancestral stories, and employing what they have learned to solve complex problems. And, perhaps most importantly, at the core of it all, children will be supported in their journey to understand who they are, where they fit into their school and global community, and how they can use their individual talents to leave the world a better place.”

Jackie looks forward to welcoming your family into our community, and growing together for years to come.

When she’s not in the classroom or studio, you will find Jackie blending an herbal tea, cooking for friends, or outdoors - in the forest or by the ocean, with her husband and two children.

Recent Continuing Education:

Educator Observer Day, Juniper Hill School

Summer Institute For Early Childhood and Elementary Educators: Teaching With Nature (August 2021)

Navigating Anxiety in Children with Jennifer Harper Cohen

Curriculum Development: Creating Effective Yoga + Mindfulness Programs for Youth with Argos Gonzalez

Practices to Build Resilience in Children with Linda Graham, MFT

Diploma, Montessori Lower Elementary (ages 6 - 9 years old)

Diploma, Montessori Early Childhood (ages 3 - 6 years old)

Woodlands Assistant Teacher + Place Based Educator

Cede is a recent graduate of Colorado College, where she earned her degree in education. Raised in Rhode Island, she has returned to the shores of New England with a reignited love for woodlands and coastlines, and is now based in Portland, Maine.

While studying in the Rockies, Cede’s love for leading children in the outdoors blended with a growing passion for guiding young people through academic inquiry. She worked with elementary, middle, and high school students in various environmental education settings—learning alongside them in mountains, prairies, and indoor classrooms how our earth can be our best teacher.

Cede believes that place-based education is a key ingredient in fostering empathy for both the human and natural worlds. She continues her work by connecting children to the natural world through play, inquiry, and exploration.

When the school day ends, she can be found playing on the water, making music, and spending time with her loved ones.

Cede is certified as a Master Environmental Educator and Project Learning Tree Educator.

Lower Elementary Educator

Sarah has been an elementary educator for 15 years. She believes in building a nurturing, child-centered community and creating learning experiences that are inviting and joyful. Sarah is passionate about nurturing young children, inspiring them to love learning, and providing them with individualized, engaging instruction so they can thrive.

Sarah has taught kindergarten through third grade in a variety of public schools over the years, in California and in Maine. She has worked as a classroom teacher in Castroville, California, Cape Elizabeth, Lisbon, Windham and Westbrook. She was the Co-Lead Junior/Senior Kindergarten teacher at a Montessori school for three years, and she has also worked as a Literacy Specialist and learning center director.

Sarah has an undergraduate degree in Archaeology from Stanford University and a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from the University of Southern Maine, where she focused on skillfully guiding children’s emergence into literacy. She holds a professional Maine Elementary Teacher Certification (K-8) and a Professional Maine Literacy Specialist Certification.

When she is not surrounded by children, Sarah loves to spend time with her husband, her two daughters, and their Jack Russell Terrier. She hikes, runs trails, and spends as much time near the ocean as she can!

Lower Elementary Educator (Woodlands Class)

Upper Elementary Educator (Alpine Class) and Music Program Coordinator

I grew up in Grafton, Massachusets, attending Montessori and outdoor education programs throughout my schooling. This sparked my dream of becoming an educator in a child-led, nature-based setting. I studied elementary education in college, with focus courses on PBL and incorporating nature into curriculum. Upon graduation, I began my teaching career in California. I have been a substitute teacher, reading tutor, and most recently, an elementary classroom teacher.

Project-based learning (PBL) lies at the heart of my teaching style and philosophy. I participated in the PBL Works “Out of the Gate” program, where I received training in the creation and implementation of PBL units. To me, the magic of PBL lies in that it is student-generated and led, driven by the interests and questions of the students. It encourages curiosity, collaboration, and creation as the primary tools for learning. It allows children to connect with their community and environment in a truly authentic way.

Creating a learning environment where children feel truly safe to explore, to try, and sometimes fail, is deeply important to me. As a teacher of intermediate elementary students, I understand the key role independence plays in building a student’s confidence in their abilities and their own unique intelligences. As a teacher, I believe mindfulness practices, having a flexible learning environment, and a strong class community are what makes this possible.

The outdoors and creative practices are near and dear to my heart. When I’m not teaching, I love to hike, run, practice yoga and paint. I’m so looking forward to meeting your children and learning more about what sparks their interest, curiosity, and love of learning.

Assistant Director - Middle School Education and Coordinator of Experiential Learning

Lindsay graduated from Syracuse University in 2004 and has been learning alongside her students for the past 20 years.  Her journey has brought her from Boston to the mountains of Colorado, and home to the coast of Maine.  Lindsay is a passionate partner in learning who believes that the truth belongs to all of us and that it is always revealing itself.  

In her time at the Telluride Mountain school she realized her passion for experiential education.  She planned multi-day trips through the southwest, and came to understand how shared experiences, both challenging and rewarding, can shape both a person's identity and that of a group.  When students and teachers feel safe taking risks and caring for eachother in the world, those values are strengthened in the classroom, and real learning, centered on the strengths of individuals and the group as a whole, is possible.  

Here in Maine, she taught at both Breakwater School, and most recently, the Friends School of Portland.  She has a passion for Place Based Education, and believes that time spent exploring one's place- their backyard, neighborhood, and town lead to an intrinsic and reciprocal relationship with the land and those we share it with, and a desire to steward those relationships.  

At the heart of her practice, Lindsay holds a deep commitment to social emotional learning and community-building; child-led, emergent, and authentic learning experiences; and a commitment to honoring the gifts of each student. 

Lindsay lives in South Portland with her husband and two kids, Henry (8), and Lucy (5).  She loves gardening, xc skiing, mountain biking, and running.

Coordinator of Community Engagement

Math Specialist

I am very excited to be joining the Roots Academy middle school team this year as the math teacher!  Over the past (nearly) 30 years, I have worked as a middle school teacher, math interventionist, and elementary math instructional coach.  I am enthusiastic about bringing my passion for math education to what I see as an incredible learning community at Roots. I love guiding students as they deepen their understanding of math concepts and improve their number sense.

I have lived in New England all of my life, growing up in Massachusetts, attending UVM for college, teaching in Massachusetts and southern Maine.  I live in Scarborough with my husband, Hugh, two daughters, Natalie (17 and off to college this fall!) and Julia (16), and our dog, a feisty and sweet Havanese named Chelsea.  In my free time, I enjoy biking on the Eastern Trail, walking anywhere outside, reading, and practicing yoga. 

I look forward to reconnecting with the students I met during my spring visit and to meeting the other students, as well as all of the families!  

Kindergarten Asst. Teacher + Place Based Educator

Kara graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2024 with an Environmental Studies degree and a Place-Based Education Certificate. During her time at UVM, she was a member of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. She served as Co-Captain in her final year, where she developed strong leadership and collaboration skills, which led her to be involved in coaching local swim teams in Vermont, fostering her passion for working with children.

While earning her Certificate in Place-Based Education (PBE), Kara developed strong enthusiasm for engaging young minds in their local community and environment through action-oriented learning. She believes the mission of PBE inspires lifelong learning and empowers positive change-making in our communities. 

After graduation, Kara worked as a Sea Kayak Guide in Homer, Alaska, where she took her commitment in environmental education to gain real-world experience learning about Kachemak Bay ecology and history from the local community. She then had the opportunity to translate her teachings to diverse audiences in wilderness settings. 

In her free time, Kara loves exploring nature trails, writing, practicing yoga, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. 

Kara is looking forward to building new “roots” in Maine and is eager to connect her passion for the environment with empowering learners to develop a strong sense of place in their learning communities and beyond!

Place Based Educator + After school Guide