administration

Alfie-eden kerr / dean of students

Alfie joined Mountain Village Charter School with 20 years of education experience. She holds a B.S. in Early Child Development and Young Child Education and graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Before joining MVCS Alfie helped develop education programs for Georgetown University, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Agency, National Science Foundation, and Head Start. Alfie is dedicated to supporting MVCS as it continues to grow and stepped in for the 2016-2017 school year and lead as the Interim Head of School. Alfie currently lives in Plymouth NH with her wife and their yellow lab.

Lower Elementary Faculty

1st to 3rd grades

sophie carter / lead teacher

eaglets

Sophie has a master's degree in education from Plymouth State University and has spent the first few years of her career in different roles from special educator to classroom teacher. While she's enjoyed all of her experience with children of all ages, she's found her happy place in 1st-3rd grade. Sophie is a product of Montessori education herself and feels like her few years in the Montessori environment positively impacted her love of learning.

As a life-long learner, Sophie hopes to continue her own professional development by deep diving into Montessori practices and learning from her nature-knowledgeable peers here at Mountain Village. A nature lover, her favorite nature-based activities include walks with the dog, canoeing down the Baker River, and plant identification. Sophie is so excited to be working in such a special school that values the whole learner with all of their learning preferences and needs.

kenzie ewing/ assistant teacher

eaglets

Kenzie grew up in New Hampshire and attended a Montessori school in early childhood. With a passion for working with children, she is
spending her gap year as the Eaglets’ Assistant Teacher; she will be
attending college in this upcoming 2023-2024 school year to pursue
studies in education in the Early childhood Ed and Special Ed program at UNH. As a high schooler, she was a part of the Early Childhood Education Program and participated in student teaching in a preschool setting. During her senior year, she spent time in the fourth grade classroom for
student teaching. At MVCS, she has found a home at Lower El, where she has been able to embrace her love for the outdoors.

Kenzie recently relocated to Thornton, NH after spending most of her life on the other side of the White Mountains. She loves to hike with her pup and go on adventures in the woods to see what she can discover on any given day. and she is looking forward to being a part of the MVCS team for years to come!

Dawn Grant / lead teacher

saplings

Dawn has had the privilege of being a member of the MVCS staff since 2015. Her passion for education was first discovered while teaching English as a Second Language in South Korea for three years. Since that experience, Dawn has earned her M.Ed in Integrated Learning from Antioch University, where she was introduced to and developed a passion for nature-based education and integrated curriculum. Joining the MVCS staff has given Dawn the opportunity to utilize her educational philosophy of whole child education and hands-on learning, which are at the core of the Montessori philosophy. In the summer of 2017, Dawn completed Montessori training through the Seacoast Center for Montessori Education in Stratham, NH, earning an Elementary I credential. Dawn also has a background in Theater and cherishes any opportunity to integrate the arts into the classroom.

pauline mcclain / assistant teacher

saplings

Pauline and her family have been involved with Mountain Village Charter School from its first days. Her family chose MVCS for their children's education and two of her children are MVCS graduates. Pauline has filled different roles at MVCS over the past six years, including volunteering to run small group lessons for children working on early literacy skills in Lower El, substitute teaching in all classrooms, and occasional office support. She was a long-term substitute in the Loons classroom during the 21-22 school year, which led to her current full-time role as an assistant teacher. 

In her home life she loves to make art. She enjoys creating a world of wild beauty and joy in her garden and sharing her love for the natural world. 

upper elementary faculty

4th to 6th grades

krystal elder / Lead teacher

black bears

Krystal has been involved with MVCS since 2016 as a parent, substitute and para-educator. It has long been a dream of hers to be in the classroom as a full time staff member. Her three oldest children currently attend MVCS in both upper and lower elementary.

Krystal recently graduated from Granite State College with a concentration in Education and Child Development; she has almost completed the Alt 4 path through the NH Department of Education to become a licensed teacher. She plans to begin the Montessori certification process at the beginning of the summer. She believes that promoting the wonder and magic of early childhood is essential to growth and loves to support families in their journey toward health and wholeness.

Throughout the last decade Krystal has taken on various roles in working with children. She has worked in the traditional public school setting as both a one-on-one aide and a shared para-educator at Wentworth and Campton Elementary schools. She opened her own childcare and preschool program in order to have more opportunity to educate the whole child. She directed Under The Elder Tree Nursery School which provided care for children ages 18 months to 4 years.

Krystal is also very active within her church community and enjoys serving in nursery, children’s church and Vacation Bible School during the summers.

jenna lewis / assistant teacher

black bears

Jenna is a New Hampshire native and grew up exploring and developing a passion for the mountains. Since a young age she has cherished the therapeutic value of nature. She recently graduated early from Plymouth State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology. She has worked with kids of all ages since she was 15, from summer camps to nannying. She has taught many nature-based lessons within her career. Working with children in nature is her calling, making MVCS a perfect fit for her. She plans to further her education in psychology and continue to work with kids outdoors. Working at MVCS as a full-time assistant teacher in an outdoor-focused classroom has set Jenna on the right path to the career that is not only perfect for her, but aligns with her core values and is rewarding as well.

Her passions include traveling, skiing, and hiking

Kelsi Lessard / lead teacher

loons

Kelsi has worked with children full time for six years as a one on one, a classroom paraprofessional, and as a camp counselor. This is her second year at MVCS, but as a Lead teacher for the Loons. Prior to her career working in schools, she worked at River House Farm for three years where she worked with horses and became a barn manager. While there, she was invited to learn and be a part of the Mountain Valley program that helps young teenagers find coping skills to help with their anxiety or depression. This led to her finding her passion of working with children and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then a Master’s in Psychology with a focus in childhood and adolescent development and a deeper focus on autism. Kelsi has an out of box thinking when working with children using a psychological approach. One day, she will further her studies and earn a Doctorate.

While at home, she enjoys spending time with her children, growing many different types of plants and vegetables, art, reading, athletics, hiking and paddle boarding.

gretchen d. helmers / Upper El assistant teacher

Gretchen grew up in New Hampshire, exploring the woods with her siblings which fostered her love of environmental science. She spent most of her summers at camp where she first started leading nature programs. After Gretchen graduated from Allegheny College with a BA in Environmental Science and a minor Education, she returned to New Hampshire. Gretchen traveled around New England for a couple of years, working with various environmental and outdoor programs such as a partnership with Acadia National Park through the Schoodic Institute. When she isn’t working, Gretchen enjoys hiking, creating stories, playing games, or spending time with her family.

Middle School faculty

7th and 8th grades

Steve terrio / lead teacher

brook trout

Steve grew up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for most of his life and still happily calls it home. Originally planning to work in the forensic science field, Steve surprisingly found he had a stronger love for reading and writing, deciding to switch tracks during his first year in college. He graduated with a BA in English Literature with a double major focusing on secondary education, allowing him to leave with all the experience needed for a teaching certification. Since graduation, Steve has been an ESL tutor, the director of a leadership program for teenagers at Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp.

When Steve came to Mountain Village Charter School in 2020, he started out as a substitute assistant to help the Brook Trout with their math classes and day-to-day routines. Over the course of the year, though, he eventually took over teaching part of the math curriculum for half of the eighth grade, and helmed each of the science units. Now in the lead teacher role, Steve is eager to keep creating engaging and modernized lessons for his students, all the while trying to fit in as many pop-culture references as possible into each day. When Steve isn’t spending his time at MVCS, he is using those spare moments to catch up on his many backlogs of books to read, shows to watch, stories to write, and games to play.

lisa diener / assistant teacher

brook trout

Lisa has spent the last four years homeschooling her children with a focus on authentic, active learning while providing diverse educational experiences for her sons. During that time, she also taught homeschool classes for students of various ages. She grew up in Wisconsin, but has since lived everywhere from Rhode Island to San Diego to Washington DC and even spent a semester abroad in China.

She earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Secondary Education and has been a New Hampshire certified teacher since 2009. She previously taught English for seven years at the middle and high school level within multiple educational environments.

After recently moving back to NH, she discovered MVCS as the perfect option for her own children. Lisa was also granted to wonderful opportunity to work with the Brook Trout Team. She looks forward to experiencing the unique nature and family atmosphere of MVCS.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running long distances, and traveling.

MICHAEL CUDDIHY / ASSISTANT

brook TROUT

danielle Zecker-Hannon /

student assistance program

Danielle Zecker-Hannon is passionate about using creative arts, movement and nature as a vehicle to help kids navigate challenging socio-emotional issues. Danielle is a NH Licensed School Counselor and a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. She completed her Master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Psychology from Antioch University in 2006. She has worked with Elementary, Middle and High school students in NH as a Creative Arts Therapist and as a director of a Student Assistance Program. She is also a certified Yoga and Pilates teacher, and currently teaches at Plymouth State University and Synergy Dance School. In addition to counseling and teaching, Danielle is a dance choreographer, creating dances and teaching master classes for students across NH and beyond. Her love of Nature and the outdoors runs deep as well, as Danielle was an outdoor educator for many years before having children and is still a Registered Maine Guide. Danielle has three daughters (two are still at MVCS and one is a recent graduate), and she loves to garden, hike, ski and find quiet meditation time outside. Danielle is at MVCS 12 hours/week and really enjoys being part of the MVCS team!!   

monica moscillo / Special education

after school lead

Monica joins MVCS with 6 years of experience in the field of special education. She has worked with students in grades PreK-12 in a variety of settings, including private, public, and residential schools. Monica loves to help students reach their goals and finds great pleasure in developing a love of learning in her students. Monica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Thomas Edison State University, a Master’s degree in Childhood Education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Inclusive Special Education from SUNY Potsdam. She is extremely passionate about helping students with varying disabilities and challenges and is excited to work with the students enrolled at MVCS. 

Currently, Monica lives in Concord and is happy to have found a home in New Hampshire. She has lived in many states throughout the country (and abroad!) but feels most at home amongst trees, mountains, and the ocean. She has four children, two of whom have graduated high school. Monica lives with her two youngest boys who attend MVCS and her two aging cats, Izzy and Boomer. In her spare time Monica enjoys many hobbies including hiking the 48, kayaking, crafting, playing the bass guitar, and traveling.

Photos by Kimberly Davis