Meet Our Staff

Fred Cole,
Principal and Technology
Fred Cole is a longtime educator and leader on the Blue Hill Peninsula, including time as a teacher and principal at Blue Hill Consolidated School, development director at The Bay School, and principal at Surry Elementary School. Mr. Cole took the helm as Adams School principal in 2022. In 2023 he added the role of Adams School technology coordinator. He is a graduate of Colby College, and the University of Maine, where he earned his Masters in Educational Leadership.
Mr. Cole lives with his wife Stephanie on the western shores of the Salt Pond, at the Cole family compound, where they enjoy time spent with their children and grandchildren.
Lindsey Hildreth,
1st & 2nd Grade Teacher
Lindsey grew up in a Connecticut River Valley town in Hartford County. After earning her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, she returned to her hometown of Windsor Connecticut where she taught grades 1 and 2 for the next 9 years. Lindsey joined the Adams School family in the 2016-17 school year when she relocated to Maine. In 2020, Lindsey earned her M. Ed. with a focus on sustainability from Antioch University in Keene, NH. When Lindsey is not working, you can find her living out her true passions as an outdoor adventure enthusiast fishing, hiking or biking her way around the great Pine Tree state.
JOB OPENING:
5-8 Science Teacher, 5 Math, Interventionist
The Adams School in Castine is seeking a certified teacher, with a strong science background, to instruct students in grades 5-8. Competency in mathematics, solid classroom management skills, great references, and demonstrated skills in developing and delivering high impact lessons are all desired. The chosen candidate will join an experienced and talented staff, instructing well-behaved and engaged students, in a culture of high achievement.
The Adams School is a small pre-k to 8th grade public school, supported financially and practically by the appreciative Castine community. This is an opportunity to teach in a setting largely unimpeded by many of the challenges facing public schools today.
Applications close when the ideal candidate is found, so submit your application soon. We would love to find someone able to begin teaching prior to the end of this school year, but for the right candidate we would be open to a start date at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
This position requires appropriate Maine DOE Certification, or obtainable, and current Maine Department of Education CHRC (fingerprinting).
To apply contact Susan Duddy at sduddy@schoolunion93.org, or 374-9927, or stop in at 20 Hinckley Ridge Rd., Blue Hill Monday through Friday between 7 and 4 pm.
For more information contact Principal Fred Cole at fcole@castineschools.org or (207) 266-6696.
It is the policy of the Adams School not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.
Deletra Schamle,
Special Education
Deletra Schamle graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a B.A. in Psychology. She also completed the Fifth Year Credential Program to earn her teaching degree. She later earned her certificate for teaching Special Education from Point Loma Nazarene College. She has taught for several years on the border of California and Mexico and earned a certificate in English Language Learning. Since moving to Maine in 1994 she has raised a family of two children and began teaching again as the Special Education Teacher at the Adams School in 2001. She has continued her own learning taking many classes at both the University of Maine at Orono and the University of Southern Maine. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. As an artist, a teacher and life long learner she enjoys sharing her own love of learning and creativity while encouraging students to reach for the best in themselves.
Nyah is a service dog that works with Deletra Schamle as a diabetic alert dog. She was born in Las Vegas, Nevada at 4E Kennels and trained for her service dog position for almost a year on a small farm in Sacramento, California. She has been scent trained to alert for high and low blood sugars. She enjoys recess and being read to by children.
Georgia Zildjian
Music Teacher, Drama Club
Georgia Zildjian (Choral Music, Performing Arts) is a theatre artist, educator, and dramaturg-historian who grew up in Castine and graduated from the Adams School ('05) She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University's School of Theatre, and is completing a Masters of Education in Place Based Education from Antioch University, New England. She is currently the Manager of Museum Learning at the Wilson Museum, an an affiliate teaching artist in the Ellsworth High School Visual and Performing Arts Academy (VPA), and founding member of Tandem Theatre Collective, based in Portland, Maine. Ms. Georgia lives in Bucksport with her partner and their beloved menagerie of animal friends. In her spare time she is an avid reader and ocean-swimmer. She is honored to have the privilege to teach at the school she grew up in!
Mary Kuhar,
School Nurse
Hello! My name is Mary Kuhar. I have been a nurse since
2002. I worked as an LPN from 2002-2007 and as an RN since
2009 onward. I have worked in many fields: Forensics,
Medical/Surgical, ICU, Hematology/Oncology, College Nursing,
Women’s Health, and Geriatrics. My nursing career is a calling
from God to help others; it has brought me joy, tears,
frustration, and fulfilment through the years. I look forward to
meeting and caring for all the people and kiddos here at the
Adams School.
Tracy Lameyer,
Pre-K & Kindergarten Teacher
Tracy Lameyer teaches pre-k/kindergarten, and holds a Master’s Degree in Literacy Development from the University of Maine, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study from Antioch New England, in Waldorf Education. Seeing the individuality of each student before her, Tracy pursues creating a classroom environment that is nurturing and engaging, focusing on the whole child and brings breadth to practical activities, (such as gardening, and handworks,) as well as the arts, (painting, music, drawing,) which are integrated into the academic curriculum. Tracy is currently pursuing an outdoor education certificate, which will showcase the many aspects of Castine’s beautiful and natural environment as an extended classroom.
Tracy is the mother of 3, and relishes time spent with each of her children, where they reside at Dyce Head Lighthouse. Her days are a mixture of hiking, tennis, gardening, traveling, and all things Buffalo, NY, (her hometown.)
Heather Trainor,
3rd & 4th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Trainor graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Masters in elementary education. She met her husband in New Hampshire and then they moved to Alabama where she taught third grade for a year. In 2009 she moved to Maine, and she began teaching at the Adams School. She taught 1st grade and 2nd grade for many years, before moving up to 3rd and 4th grade. Mrs. Trainor and her husband have a daughter and two dogs. In her free-time Mrs. Trainor enjoys taking pictures and spending time on the water.
Kalista Farmer, 5th - 8th Grade English and Social Studies Teacher
After growing up in Gypsum, Colorado, Ms. Farmer earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She student-taught at Blue Hill Consolidated school and George Stevens Academy and decided the diverse scenery and community-focused people of the area, including her parents and siblings, were what she was looking for to start as a full time teacher. Her official career started at the Adams School in 2023 teaching the combined subjects of English Language Arts and Social Studies to 5th through 8th graders. Her passions for writing, debate, theater, and critical thinking propel her interest in teaching at the middle school level. Ms. Farmer is also an avid lover of puzzles.
Lindsey Vagt,
Interventionist,
Grades K and 1 Math
Ms. Vagt graduated from Davidson College with a BS in Psychology. She received her Masters in Special Education from Wheelock College in Boston and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Children’s Literature from Pennsylvania State University. She has taught since 2004 in Fairfax County, VA, Brookline, MA, Ellsworth, ME, New Orleans, LA, Charlottesville, VA, Boston, MA, and Portland, ME. She has a passion for children’s literature, writing, and photography, as well as tennis, the Red Sox, and the Pats. She lives in Castine with her daughter Sydney and is beyond happy to be a part of this amazing community.
Bella Weidner,
Art Teacher
I have a BFA in Painting from Montserrat College of Art and an MAT in Art Education from Maine College of Art. I taught art at Bonny Eagle High School, Lewiston Middle School, and worked at North Yarmouth Academy as an assistant to the primary school. Over the years, I’ve taught art workshops in a variety of settings for all ages. Most recently, I taught family process-based art classes out of my small gallery & studio in Searsport before closing shop in January.
I am a mom two two little kids, Uma (1) and Che (4). We live at Sandy Point Beach in Stockton Springs and operate a seasonal tiny cabin rental business on our property, Steamboat Wharf Cabins. When I’m not making art or playing with my kids, I’m also an avid runner and traveler and just generally love being outside as much as possible.
Stephanie Bennett, Secretary
I grew up in Prospect and, after graduating from Bucksport High School in 2020, I moved to Castine to be closer to my family. I've lived in Castine for three years and have worked at T&C Market, Dennett's Wharf, and as a nanny, where I fell in love with the kids' kind hearts and big personalities. I'm extremely excited to start my new journey as the secretary and permanently join the town.
Ben Thelwell,
Guidance
Benjamin Thelwell is a graduate of University of Maryland and University of Maine. He’s earned a B.A. in Philosophy, a B.S. in Business and Management, a M.Ed. in Counselor Education (completing the dual academic tracks of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling), and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counselor Education.
In graduate school, Ben was awarded The Thurgood Marshall Full-Tuition Merit Scholarship. He graduated with highest honors from both his Master’s program and his Certificate of Advanced Study program, and received at both year-end graduations The Outstanding Graduate Student Award, and twice-received University of Maine’s academic medal of honor.
Before working as a School Counselor, Ben enjoyed an extensive career in experiential education, which included working as an Outward Bound instructor, directing several outdoor adventure programs, and co-founding The Maine State Sea Kayak Guide Service. Ben was also a lecturer in psychology and sociology for The American University of Vietnam. His additional responsibility for that university was to design and implement its student and faculty counseling center, the first of its kind in that Southeast Asian country. He has also worked in private practice as a conditionally licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Maine.
Ben lists art appreciation and the study of classical mythology as his primary interests. He still enjoys off-shore sea kayaking and maintains his license as a Master Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide. Having led literally thousands of professional trips, Benjamin Thelwell remains one of coastal Maine’s most experienced guides.
Brogan Leppanen,
Ed Tech & Grade 3 Math
I grew up in Belfast, Maine. After graduating at Thomas College in 2019 with my bachelors in psychology and a minor in early education, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Moving to Castine and finding this school and community seemed a lot like what I was used to at home. I have worked with kids through the YMCA after school program/summer camp in Waterville, along with trying to become a BHP while in college, but that wasn't what I was looking for. I then tried being a Nanny for a few families in Southern Maine which I loved, before returning to Belfast, which then led me to Castine, where I live. I love working with kids and want to use my degree in psychology. I hope to further my education while also continuing with Adams School. In my free time I love going hiking, camping, yoga and photography. The beach is my favorite place to be when the weather calls for it.