DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT

Sherri is a native of the North Country and loves the opportunity Heartwood has brought, enabling her to stay connected with her local roots. She has years of experience in the field of education, holding NH certifications in K-12 General Special Education, K-8 Elementary Education and K-12 Educational Leadership. She worked for many years at Lancaster and Jefferson Elementary Schools holding different positions (special educator; elementary educator; principal) and has been with Heartwood since its opening in 2022.  Being from the North Country, Sherri loves reconnecting with families and students and welcoming Heartwood newcomers! When not at Heartwood, she enjoys spending time with her family, her beloved furbaby Ninja (cat), loves to read, play board games, solve logic puzzles, cook (Sherri-A-La Specialties) and spend quiet time alone outside on her land enjoying the beautiful view of Mt. Washington.  Additionally, Sherri is a supporter of food pantries and animal shelters.

DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION &
GRADE 2 TEACHER

Kelsey graduated from Plymouth State University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She is also licensed by the state of New Hampshire to teach grades K-6. Before joining Heartwood, Kelsey taught kindergarten at Berlin Elementary School for two years. Since coming to Heartwood, she has taught kindergarten, a K/1 combo class, first grade, and second grade. Additionally, Kelsey has served as a teacher mentor for the past two years.

When not in the classroom, Kelsey enjoys spending time outside with her partner and their dogs, Maple and Daisy, reading, creating pottery, and exploring new places. She looks forward to seeing what the next school year will bring for the Heartwood community as a whole.

DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS

Bethany, a North Country native and Heartwood founder, is a mother and educator who taught at the college level for 15 years before Heartwood opened. In addition to working in education, she has managed a medicinal herb farm office, led a small vegetable farm and community supported agriculture program, and has utilized her formal training to provide affordable web design to artists, farmers, and herbalists. She considers her most important work to be raising her children, who she also homeschooled for three years. Both parenting and teaching over the years have inspired her to do her best to contribute to the cultivation of vibrant and resilient communities, of which she believes education is at the root. When not working, she enjoys taking photos, time in the garden, being with her family, and adventuring in nature.

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Forest Kindergarten teacher Ann Ranger is a seasoned educator who enjoys working with children outdoors. She believes that there is no better place to learn, and she hopes to inspire more teachers to take lessons and activities out into the fresh air.

She recently relocated to the White Mountains from Massachusetts, where she taught Forest Kindergarten on a woodsy, suburban campus. She is excited to share her enthusiasm for nature-inspired pedagogy with the Heartwood community.

When she is not teaching, Ann enjoys reading, writing, yoga, running, hiking and skiing.

GRADE 1 TEACHER

Christina holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and brings extensive experience in both place-based and nature-based education. She previously taught kindergarten, first, and second grade at Juniper Hill School for Place-Based Education in Maine and later taught at a nature-based co-op school. Her teaching focuses on building meaningful relationships, fostering creativity and curiosity, and supporting the whole child through storytelling, songs, rhythm, outdoor exploration, and hands-on learning.

Christina has completed professional development in place-based education and has trained with leaders in the field, including David Sobel. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, and exploring new places with her family. She is also a proud mother of three and is excited for both herself and her family to become part of the Heartwood community.

GRADE 3 TEACHER

Dana was raised in the Pacific Northwest in Washington state and moved to New Hampshire in 2018. She loves living in the White Mountains. Her journey in education began in 2013 at a small Waldorf cottage school, where she discovered her passion for teaching young children. Dana has homeschooled her four children for a decade and, in 2021 opened a micro school in her home, teaching students from Kindergarten through 8th grade for three years.

With 20 years of experience as a photographer, Dana also has a deep love for art and sewing. She is dedicated to fostering creativity and learning in children and believes that Heartwood is a special place that greatly benefits the community.

GRADE 4 TEACHER

Jessie is a North Country native, White Mountains Regional High School graduate, and a Natural Resource program completer. She is a proud alumnus of the Paradice FFA chapter and National FFA organization, and holds her FFA American Degree. Jessie was an active NH 4-H member and represented Coös County for several years at the Eastern States Exposition with her Tunis sheep and mentoring younger members of her 4-H club., and is now the 4-H leader of our after-school club, the Heartwood Hares. She is currently in the process of obtaining her Master's degree in Education. In her free time, she’s off exploring with her family or tending to her small farm of sheep and goats. Jessie is excited to share her agriculture experience and passion with others inside and out of her classroom this upcoming year.

GRADE 5 TEACHER

Originally from Massachusetts, Alex attended the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. After graduating, he began working in schools and quickly discovered a passion for connecting education with the outdoors. Alex believes in the power of outdoor learning to help students build confidence, develop new skills, and discover their potential.

In addition to his classroom experience, Alex is currently working toward teacher certification through NHTI’s Teacher Education Certification Program (TECP). His enthusiasm for nature-based learning and commitment to student growth make him a wonderful addition to the Heartwood community.

Outside of work and school, Alex enjoys backcountry skiing, riding anything with pedals, and playing sports with friends.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER & WELLNESS COORDINATOR

Genavieve grew up in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and recently relocated to the North Country. She holds an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Science in Child Development Psychology, with additional studies in Child and Adolescent Development Psychology.

Outside of school, she can often be found skiing, hiking, mountain biking, writing poetry, or bird watching. She is drawn to time outdoors and the ways it fosters curiosity, reflection, and connection.

In the classroom, Genavieve is passionate about helping students experience science as a process of exploration and discovery. She works to create a learning environment where curiosity is encouraged, questions are valued, and mistakes are seen as an important part of growth.

She is also passionate about mindfulness and its role in everyday life. She enjoys sharing mindfulness practices that support self-awareness, self-management, and overall well-being, and believes these skills help people of all ages build resilience, strengthen relationships, and move through the world with greater intention.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA & SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

Madalyn grew up in Southern Connecticut and has resided in the North Country since 2015. She first pursued a career in theater, studying musical theater at both the Hartt School of Music and Southern Connecticut State University. After teaching theater and dance to students of all ages for many years, while also working in Special Needs classrooms at the elementary level, Madalyn went back to school to study another one of her passions: history. She now holds a BA in History, with a focus on Early American and African American History from Southern New Hampshire University. She is passionate about providing a classroom where all students can develop a lifelong love of learning and find their true passions. Madalyn enjoys traveling, reading, and the arts, and continues to teach dance and theater locally.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER

Richard Bond was privileged to teach mathematics in New Hampshire public schools for over forty years. During his teaching career, he taught math and science, with courses ranging from basic math and earth science to advanced placement Calculus. He enjoyed every group of students he had the pleasure to work with.

He earned his B.A. in Mathematics from Plymouth State College where he had his first teaching experience working as assistant to the math department. Later, he completed my M.S.T. from Lyndon State College.

Richard now spends most of his time gardening where he finds that nurturing plants is very much like nurturing children – the end product brings a brightness to this world.

NATURE EDUCATOR / ENRICHMENT COORDINATOR

Julie was first introduced to education in 1997 when she started working at a small child care center in Sandwich NH. That small school in the woods was the beginning of a wonderful journey to bring the love of learning in a natural environment to young learners. She has worked with children of all ages for over 25 years in multiple settings, from everything from being a Postpartum Doula to teaching children's fitness. In 2009, Julie opened Natural Beginnings, a nature inspired preschool in VA. She closed the door of that school after 10 years and then helped two other forest schools in VA to get started. Her dream has always been to move back to NH from VA, and in June she did just that. Julie has 3 children as well as Kais, her family’s adventure dog! Her family enjoys learning survival skills, camping, hiking, finding swimming holes and finding the best ice cream in any given town. She believes that Heartwood will be another part of her never ending Journey to keep the love of learning in our kiddos.

ASSISTANT TEACHER

Ellen, a recent transplant to New Hampshire, moved to the beautiful North Country with her husband, Michael, who is also a teacher, and their Cattle Dog, Howl. She is an avid traveler, reader, nature lover, and foodie. Before purchasing her first home in New Hampshire, Ellen spent several years traveling the country in a bright green converted school bus and has visited 45 states, hiked in countless national and state parks, and hopes to visit the final five someday.

Ellen previously worked as an Assistant Teacher in early childhood education and hopes to complete a degree in Elementary Education or Psychology in the near future. She grew up on a small farm in New Jersey, completed high school in the Middle East, and has visited more than 13 countries across five continents. Although she misses her large family, she already feels at home in New Hampshire and is excited to be part of the Heartwood community. She hopes her love of adventure and dream-chasing inspires students to follow their own passions wherever life may lead.

TITLE I TEACHER

Julie lives in Waterford, Vermont, and enjoys driving into New Hampshire each morning and seeing the beautiful White Mountains.

Julie graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1990.  She then graduated from Saint Michael’s College in 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She worked as a paraprofessional in Title I for three years in Burlington, Vermont, and then stayed home for many years to raise her five kids. Her oldest son was born with congenital heart disease and needed seven heart procedures at Children’s Hospital in Boston.

Julie is an avid knitter and crocheter. She has sold her sweaters, afghans, etc. at craft fairs for over 25 years. Her favorite fair is the Lancaster Fair! Julie has three orange tabby cats.  They love to watch all of the beautiful songbirds that come to the feeders.

Julie was hired by SAU36 last November to work as a Special Ed. paraprofessional at Heartwood. She enjoyed working with Heartwood students and was hired as the Title I Teacher this year.  She is excited to work with the students!

SAU 36 STAFF: SPECIAL EDUCATION

Valentina grew up in Eastern Europe. After living on the West Coast of the US, she moved to Maine, where she worked in a preschool while earning her Master’s degree in Special Education. Valentina then moved to New Hampshire, where she worked at Jefferson Elementary School in different roles: special education, Title 1, and ESOL teacher, and most recently, ran a self-contained classroom in Woodsville, NH. Valentina now supports the special education needs of SAU 36 students at Heartwood. She is thrilled to join the Heartwood’s nature and place-based community, as she believes in experiential learning. She is the current Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year in the state of NH. 

Valentina resides in Whitefield, where she cares for a big garden filled with flowers, herbs, and veggies in the summertime. She also has a herd of Highlander cattle in Vermont. In her spare time she loves making soaps, candles, lip balms, and body scrubs & butters.