MEET OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Teacher Dorothy Habecker (grade K/1)
Teacher Dorothy is in her 27th year of teaching young children. She has taught in Friends education for 14 years, public education for 10 years, and has also worked in day care and as an educational consultant for an early intervention research project. When she's not at school, she loves to be outside - hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, and gardening. When she can't be outside, she loves to sew, quilt, knit, read and hang out with friends and family. She also plays a mean game of Scrabble! Dorothy has a B.A. in sociology, teaching certification in early childhood, and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction. She has been a member of State College Friends Meeting for 25 years. Dorothy has years of experience as a trainer and facilitator in conflict management, and she treasures the time she has spent doing the Alternatives to Violence Project trainings in communities and in state and federal prisons. Dorothy loves teaching young children because she gets lots of hugs and gets to laugh every day.
Assistant Teacher Elizabeth (Elli) Bragg (in Teacher Dorothy's K/1 class)
(photo coming soon!)
Teacher Elli joins us as an assistant in Teacher Dorothy’s classroom. A PSU alum, Elli holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies. After working for two and a half years as a family and youth counselor with the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, Elli returned to Penn State to complete a graduate certification program in Elementary Education. Elli’s student teaching experience was in a 3rd grade classroom at Penns Valley Elementary School. Before joining the staff of the State College Friends School, Elli also worked for several months as a services worker for Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. Elli is excited to return to the State College area and to the classroom. Welcome, Teacher Elli!
Teacher Lisa Gamble (grade K/1)
Teacher Lisa's passions have always been studying and spending time in the natural world and working with children. She loves to learn about the many fascinating plants and animals with which we share this earth and discover the interrelationships of all living things. Spending time outside hiking, canoeing, backpacking, or just observing helps her maintain (or regain) an inner strength and serenity. Lisa finds sharing her love of nature with children exciting because they have such a natural sense of wonder and children also make each day more fun and exciting. Before becoming a classroom teacher, Lisa worked as an environmental educator and was later a full time mom, home schooling her children for their first few years of elementary school. Lisa has a B.A. in Biology and an M.S. in Experiential Education.
Assistant Teacher Marilyn Mishock (in Teacher Lisa's K/1 class)
Teacher Marilyn truly believes that the Friends School Quaker environment allows for Divine expression of the highest good in each of us for the benefit of all and that children are among those who light the way to a more peaceful world. Marilyn began volunteering at Friends School in 1987 when her son enrolled in kindergarten. Marilyn is an avid, curious reader/student and always has a new learning project emerging, usually based upon an aspect of children's education or the emotional and spiritual well-being of children. With a background in Montessori education, she has worked part time at two local Montessori schools and the Easter Seals program over the years. Teacher Marilyn has been an Assistant Teacher at Friends School since 1993. Marilyn has been involved with the Quakers Alternatives to Violence Program as a trained facilitator and shares nonviolent conflict resolution strategies with the broader community. With a deep commitment to learning and teaching peacemaking, Teacher Marilyn shares her love of learning with our youngest students. Marilyn still loves her job after all these years, and embraces what Friends School children share with her: to remain hopeful and enthusiastic about our world and to never waste a chance to play!
Teacher Sarah Cooper (grade 2/3)
Teacher Sarah joined us last year, bringing with her nine years of teaching experience from two independent elementary schools, The Prairie School, Racine, Wisconsin and St. Matthew's Parish School, Pacific Palisades, California. Sarah taught second grade for eight of those nine years and her areas of expertise include designing and implementing thematic units, creating school museums, and organizing and facilitating grade level and school wide community service projects. One of Sarah's many teaching strengths is in the orchestration of differentiated classroom instruction providing for flexible groupings to accommodate for learning needs. Additionally, Sarah is the co-founder of St. Matthew's Student Environmental Organization and has written and directed elementary school musical productions. Sarah holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Teacher Kelly Corradini - (grade 2/3)
This year we are happy to see Kelly move into the position of classroom teacher in one of our 2/3 classes. She will be working side by side with Tr. Sarah until November, when Sarah will go out on maternity leave and Kelly will become the lead teacher. Teacher Kelly is in her second year at Friends School. She joined us last year as an assistant teacher in our 3/4 and 5th grade classes. Kelly received her degree in elementary education from Penn State and has worked as a substitute in the State College Area School District. In October 2006, Kelly had the opportunity to step into the role of a full-time third grade teacher, and successfully led the class for the rest of the year. Kelly also has experience as a library skills instructor and in developing summer day camp programs. In addition to her teaching experience, Kelly is familiar with the Friends School through her duties as a Jazzercise class monitor. She lives in Pine Grove Mills with her husband, dog, and three turtles.
Teacher Sunna deForest (grade 2/3)
Teacher Sunna joined us as a lead teacher last year, bringing an extensive background in teaching, conflict resolution, yoga, and Quakerism. Before joining us at Friends School, Sunna lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she taught at Chinook Montessori Charter School, Elicarvicuar School, Pine Creek Elementary School, and the Alaska Boreal Forest Council. Sunna’s areas of expertise include service learning, environmental education, adventure learning, behavior intervention, and integrated curriculum development. Additionally, Sunna minored in Russian and Russian literature and is proficient in French, Peace Games, and computer applications. Sunna and her husband Russell are attenders of State College Friends Meeting.
Assistant Teacher Rebecca Rumble (grade 2/3)
(photo coming soon!)
Teacher Rebecca will join our staff as an assistant teacher in the 2/3 classrooms. Rebecca is a PSU graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Parks. She has worked for over 7 years at the Shavers Creek Environmental Center. She has served as the Assistant Director of the outdoor school, taught summer camps, and facilitated teambuilding workshops for student and adult groups. Rebecca is also a certified yoga instructor and leads classes at the Center for Well Being in Lemont. We welcome her and her family to Friends!
Teacher Tim Austin (grade 4)
Teacher Tim grew up in State College, Pennsylvania and graduated from State College High School; however he has called many other places home during his life. Tim has lived and worked in England, South Africa, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Texas. Teacher Tim currently lives in Centre Hall with his wife Deborah. During his travels he has come to understand that although each person is a unique individual, all have the same basic needs in life. As a teacher, Tim’s goal is to prepare his students to meet their own needs, whatever those needs may be, and get them ready to lead happy lives. Tim believes that a teacher’s most important job is to create an environment that stimulates and encourages children’s intrinsic need to learn. He feels that because successful learning is rewarding, the desire to learn grows with each year a child spends in a setting that values their efforts. As a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Friends School he has had the opportunity to help his students learn how to learn, how to solve problems, how to adapt to changing situations, and how to have positive relationships with other people. In his spare time Tim enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking with his wife and four dogs. When the weather forces him indoors he likes to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren! Tim spends his extra time restoring old Yamaha motorcycles. Tim received a BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, in May 2004, and joined the Friends School in the fall of 2006. As part of his continuing professional development Tim is currently taking a Pennsylvania Department of Education sponsored course titled: Using Graphic Organizers: Tools for Organizing Thinking.
Assistant Teacher/Part-time Librarian Laura Kemper (in Teacher Tim’s 4th grade classroom)
Teacher Laura stepped into her first classroom over 35 years ago at The Foote School in New Haven, Ct. Over these years she has met many wonderful children and talented, committed colleagues! Laura has taught most subjects in grades 3-6; directed an elementary Gifted and Talented program in a small district in rural Wisconsin; taught and developed curriculum for the Hands on Science program; and taught in two elementary school computer labs. When asked to be the librarian at Friends School in 2003, Teacher Laura found that the job opened a whole new arena to her. Kids and books-what's not to like? Returning from a glorious sabbatical year in Boston, Tr. Laura is very excited to be moving back to the classroom and daily contact with the same group of children. In Laura's relaxing time, she enjoys being outside digging in the dirt! She has also always loved camping, canoeing and hiking. Of course, Teacher Laura reads a lot and loves to find and share interesting facts and stories about most anything. Laura has a B.A. in Sociology from Oberlin College, an M.S. in Education from Southern Connecticut State College, and an M.S. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
MEET OUR UPPER SCHOOL TEACHERS
Teacher Bailey Klinestiver (lead teacher)
Teacher Bailey grew up in the small town of Tidioute, Pennsylvania located on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest, canoeing, exploring, and collecting insects. Bailey still loves insects, animals, and the outdoors. Much of her free time goes toward caring for her ever-growing menagerie, which currently includes two Great Pyrenees dogs, three cats, a hamster, and fish (at home) and a turtle, fish, two hamsters, cockroaches, and a chinchilla (at school). More recently, Bailey has taken an interest in astrophysics and is reading her way through the Richard Feynman canon. Bailey is thankful every day that she works at Friends School, a place where she can share her love of science with others and where animals, experiments, and adventures of all kinds are encouraged. Teacher Bailey's undergraduate degree is from the Forest Sciences program at Penn State, and she also earned an M.S. in Entomology from Penn State.
Teacher Christy has taught for fourteen memorable years at Friends School. When she was interviewed at the school, her immediate reaction was, "What a wonderful school!" She was impressed that the students were being taught how to learn, not what to learn and that they were doing instead of passively listening. Teacher Christy embraces the Quaker testimonies that guide the school and values the teaching practices where students are given opportunities to perform community service, and are taught how to use words rather than fists to settle conflicts.
Christy's love of gardening, sculpting, Asian cultures, martial arts and music have found a home in the themes she has taught over the years.
Having always loved language arts, Teacher Christy earned a degree in secondary English education from Lock Haven University. She lives in Bellefonte with her husband, John, her daughter Kathleen, and her cat, Blue. Teacher Barbara Stoicheff (social studies)
(photo coming soon!)
Teacher Barbara is our new social studies teacher for the upper school. Barbara holds degrees from Penn State and Lock Haven University. She was a student teacher at Bald Eagle High School and has several years of experience teaching the Upward Bound program at PSU. She is excited about getting the opportunity to teach at Friends. Welcome, Teacher Barbara!
MEET OUR SPECIALIST TEACHERS
Teacher Laura Adams (art)
Teacher Laura's extensive art background and knowledge of methods of infusing fine art and art history help to shape the Friends School art curriculum. Laura has experience as the art teacher at Centre Learning Community Charter School and has worked as a paraprofessional at Park Forest Elementary School. She has also worked in the Bellefonte Area Elementary Schools, the Cooperative Playschool, and Penns Valley Junior/Senior High School. Laura holds a B.S. in Art Education from PSU and is eager to share her fine art, designer, and graphic art background, non-violent physical intervention training and creativity with Friends School.
Teacher Mary Abbott (lower school music)
(photo coming soon!)
Teacher Mary is excited to start her second year of teaching at Friends School. Mary is a State College native and has her BS in Music Education from Penn State University. Her first teaching job out of college was at an international school in Kisumu, Kenya, where she taught for two years and where she met her husband, Kevin, who was there as a Peace Corps volunteer. This experience instilled in Mary a fascination with world music cultures and, upon returning to the States, she attended the University of Maryland where she received her Master of Music in Ethnomusicology with an emphasis in music education. As part of her studies, she actually learned to Hula! After graduation Mary accepted a job at Friends Community School in College Park, Maryland. This was her first experience with Quaker education and beliefs and she found that it really matched well with her own philosophy of education as well as her own personal spiritual journeying. Mary remained at FCS until the birth of her twin daughters who are now eight years old. In addition to teaching, Mary enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. She also works with her husband in the family business, Jabebo Earrings. The Abbott family lives in a wonderful old Victorian home in Bellefonte which is, much like the twins, a great source of joy and pride, yet constantly requires most of their time and resources.
Teacher Ann Clements (upper school music, Peace Choir)
(photo coming soon!)
Teacher Ann joins us this year as our upper school music teacher and Peace Choir Director. Ann is an Associate Professor of Music Education at Penn State. She has served as a junior high school music teacher and as director of music education for the University of Washington. She is excited about getting back into the classroom. Welcome, Teacher Ann!
Teacher Rebecca Lerner (yoga)
Namaste and Om are two of Teacher Rebecca's favorite words! She has been practicing yoga for over 30 years and teaching yoga to all ages from senior citizens, pre/post natal, to children. Rebecca has introduced yoga to many local groups including the American Lung Association, the Centre County Prison Society, HRB, SCASD Wellness Days, Delta Program, and the MS Society. Prior to entering the yoga world Rebecca was a jeweler, hand engraver and goldsmith. Rebecca has been an attender of State College Friends Meeting since 1988 and has sent three children through Friends School. Rebecca holds near and dear to her heart her 1001 fond memories of Friends School, gathered while being an active participating parent from 1988-2006. Teacher Rebecca began as a volunteer in 1988, teaching yoga to the k/1 students. Since that time, due to its success, yoga has become a weekly class for all students, grades k - 8. Yoga philosophy of non-violence, contentment, truthfulness and self-control are innately held within the Quaker testimonies of peace, simplicity and integrity. These parallels are shared within the yoga curriculum and stimulate amazing responses from the children. It is an honor and joy to teach with these children! Rebecca and her husband co-own and direct the yoga program at the Center for Well-Being (est. 1976) in Lemont, PA. She is a JR. Int. III certified Iyengar yoga teacher, as well as a Bradley childbirth instructor. Teacher Rebecca has traveled to India five times to study with her teachers. Rebecca continues her lifelong pursuit of yogic knowledge, natural healing with herbs, foraging for wild edible plants, good books, and cozy family times.
Teacher Ireida Grabill (spanish)
Teacher Ireida (pronounced Eraida) joined our staff last year as the k-8 Spanish Instructor. Ireida is a native speaker and has worked as a teacher’s assistant in Queens, New York and a drama and dance instructor in Puerto Rico. She also has experience leading and supervising youth volunteers. Ireida is excited to be working at Friends School and her enthusiasm comes through during her classes.
Teacher Cindy Hanczar (physical education)
Teacher Cindy is an experienced athlete who has played on high school and college volleyball, softball and track teams. Cindy describes her goals in PE as learning to play and understand popular sports, emphasizing the importance of fitness, agility and strength, encouraging good nutrition through a healthy diet and hydration…..but most of all, HAVING FUN! In addition to substituting with the SCASD, Cindy has had previous experience with youth at summer playground and art camps, as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and as a volunteer working for her son's school and religious education classes. She and her family, husband Gordon and son Jake, live in State College. In addition to physical fitness and sports, she enjoys art of all mediums.