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Teachers & Staff
Kat Gillies, Visual Art Teacher Kat holds a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in 3D/Ceramics and Art History (with Honors) from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She founded Maine's own Bread and Roses Art Collective and does outreach in schools, community centers and hospitals. Most recently, she served the Brooklyn Center for Ethical Culture in Brooklyn, NY. Kat designs and implements art programming for 4-12 year olds, with an emphasis on collaborations, roots of the elements, principles of design, and advocacy of the liberated moment "swallowed whole". She says the children at Cricket Hunt "are constantly in pursuit of creative fun and ideas which is on playback to what they love doing with materials and aesthetics. We look forward to experimenting with murals, nature looms, masks, gelatin printing, cianotype, felting and wheel throwing. We work with the seasons and dip into the classroom curriculum for holistic balance."Kat is also director of a summer art programs on Cousins Island, in Yarmouth, called Island Art Attack and works year round at the Community House and public schools in Yarmouth. She sits on the advisory board and presently serves as program coordinator of Firehouse Arts. Kat has a lovely 23 year-old daughter, who is public policy coordinator for Resilience Advocacy Project in New York City, and an equally lovely son who is finishing his Bachelor's degree at B.U. while running a brewing and tee shirt business. "The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives." -Einstein Kayleigh Navarro, French Teacher Kayleigh earned her Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs with a concentration in French from the University of Maine. While in school, she participated in the PMFQ study abroad program and spent two semesters away at the Université d'Angers and the Université de Nantes. She has had the opportunity to work abroad teaching English in a French high school and the pleasure to teach French in her home state of Maine. Kayleigh currently resides in Cumberland with her husband and enjoys playing in her garden. Matt Loosigian, Music Teacher Matt has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College, with a major in biology and a minor in music. He has spent the last six years as a music teacher and children's performer. His CD, Hungry for the Sun, has received much praise as being enjoyable for adults and kids alike, and it won a Kids Music Award in early 2011. In addition, local families may be interested to know that he performs at children's birthday parties! Matt lives in Harpswell with his wife, Eli. They are expecting their first child in late November. Sue Tefft, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Sue joined the Cricket Hunt team in September 2005 as a part-time assistant teacher in the Pre-K classroom. After co-teaching in the Pre-K classroom with lead teacher Linda Ashe-Ford for several years, she took over as the lead teacher in the Pre-k classroom in September 2010. Sue holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Early Childhood Studies. In addition to teaching at Cricket Hunt, she has held a position as a nanny for a local pediatrician since December 1997. Sue's teaching philosophy is that developmentally appropriate practice is the best model for early childhood education. Sue believes that play is a powerful tool that benefits children's intellectual, social, emotional, physical and language development. She has found that children learn exceptionally well when in an environment that encourages play and exploration, and believes that incorporating early learning concepts in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere encourages each child to feel free to venture into new experiences within a comfortable environment, and allows for greater retention and teacher/child interaction. Mary Ann Biberstein, Early Release Teacher & Classroom Aid Known as "Miss Annie" by most of our students, Mary Ann has brought sunshine to classes at Cricket Hunt School for almost a decade (about eight years). She floats between classrooms and helps with whatever teachers and students need during the day, and we are glad to have her on board! Moriah Salter, Administrative Assistant Moriah has worked with children in many different locations, from New Mexico (her home state) to Maine, where she has worked in the Cricket Hunt School office since August of 2011. She also serves as co-founder of a non-profit project called ReTreeUS (www.retreeus.org), which plants orchards in schools and mentors home gardeners. Her innovative career, which combines education with environmental sustainability and social justice, began when she was hired as Education Coordinator for a Tennessee land trust in 2005. Meanwhile, Moriah earned a B.S. in Environmental Science/Sociology, mentored children in an urban neighborhood, and taught art classes for low-income families. It was during this time that she developed a passion for education. Moriah went on to teach environmental education in Alabama, New Mexico, and California, before moving to Maine and starting ReTreeUS with her fiancé, Richard Hodges. Along with Richard and the families of Cricket Hunt, Moriah will help install an educational orchard on our school grounds in the spring of 2012.
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