It is both exciting and sad to see the school year come to a close, as sad as I am to be saying goodby to our 8th grade class as well as Steven Smith, Maria Squire, Noelle Gorman and retirees Meg Franks, Helen Skelly and Judy Barton (a big collective *sniff) , I could not be more excited for what lies ahead for us as a school. We will be welcoming back Jen Pratt after her hiatus teaching in Sweden, and welcoming four new faculty members. We will also be working over the summer on several projects which we will unveil in the fall. One in particular has me really excited - our Design Lab -which you can read all about here. As my 12th year at the Lyme School comes to a close I could not be more excited and optimistic for the future growth and success of our school. We continue to attract outstanding teachers to our school whenever we have an opening and our student body is, as usual, amazing to work with. As children they are always learning and making mistakes, some of which are upsetting to them or others, but even in these moments they possess a great willingness and desire to improve. To me that is the most important trait, as the strength of one’s character is not measured by mistakes, but how we respond to them. Thank you for sharing your family with us. I can’t wait for next year to begin !
Jill Collins - Middle School Humanities
I am thrilled to be joining the Lyme School community as an ELA and Humanities teacher. Previously, I taught high school social studies in Vermont and Maine for a number of years before taking a break from the classroom to be at home with my own young children. I spent this past year at the Upper Valley Educators Institute teaching at both the Richmond Middle School and Hanover High School. I live in Norwich with my husband, three children and dog Milo. Outside of the classroom I enjoy running, skiing, reading, coaching and spending time with my family. I look forward to a busy and rewarding year at Lyme.
Laura Abbene - Design Lab/ Technology Director
New England is the ideal home for me. The mountains, winding roads, and lakes create the perfect environment to ski, bike and paddle. My activities change with each seasons from one outdoor activity to the next while fitting in time for family, friends and reading. I am very excited to be part of the new direction of the Lyme School technology program. I can’t wait to get started this summer.
Rachel Stanton - Student Life Coordinator/Counselor See Article
I am thrilled to be working with the Lyme School students, staff, and families as the Coordinator of Student Life/School Counselor! My husband and I will be making a move to the Upper Valley this summer from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. I had the privilege of living in Lyme for two years while working at The Ray School, so I am looking forward to returning to this innovative, active, and supportive community!
I love the outdoors; triathlons, trail running, backpacking, mountain biking, nordic skiing, yoga, hanging in my hammock by the water are some things I enjoy (especially with company!) I like to bake and cook and also play the ukulele. I loved coaching the 5th/6th-grade girls Hanover/Lyme lacrosse squad and hope to get back to supporting young athletes as a coach. In this role at The Lyme School, I hope to support our students holistically so that they feel empowered to discover and develop their best self and live with intention. I look forward to making connections, building relationships, and learning with this fantastic community!
Karen Dubois - Lower School Reading Differentiation
I've been teaching for 15 years, as a classroom teacher and as a literacy interventionist, most recently at the Ray School in Hanover. I hold a Masters in Education as well as additional graduate study in the areas of reading and early literacy. I grew up here in the Upper Valley, and I live in Etna with my husband, our two teenagers, a dog and a rabbit. We're all avid alpine skiers and New England Patriots fans. When I'm not at school, you'll find me outdoors - skiing, hiking, and running with friends, or lying in a hammock with a great book!