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.) 

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. 

Ms. Irvine is a naturalist. She enjoys the beauty of Maine and Eastern Canada, spending most of her time out of school hiking, birding, and gardening. When forced inside she can most assuredly be found researching a favorite topic, knitting a sweater or cooking a delicious meal.

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Judy Park teaches art at the Adams School and holds a master’s degree in Art Education from the University of Northern Colorado.  Judy has been teaching at the primary, secondary and post-secondary level for over thirty years.  She began her teaching career in Jefferson County Colorado Public Schools and later, as an instructor at the Colorado Institute of Art.

She moved to the Blue Hill area with her family in 1998, primarily to raise their children in a safer, cleaner and more nurturing environment.  Now empty nesters, Judy and Lee have happily settled in Castine. 

Judy’s professional philosophy is that art and teaching are fundamentally creative processes, and believes art is the expression of imagination and product, and teaching art requires expressing creativity that inspires students to grow.  Additionally, she believes creative teaching must provide children with the care and guidance to reach their fullest potential.  In doing so, she encourages them to explore and discover the many facets and possibilities of art, it’s history and culture. 

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Judy is also a practicing textiles artist, with a forty-year history of professional gallery exhibits, installations and private sales. Judy is a devoted mother to daughter, Madeleine and son Ethan, both creative and talented college graduates with professional careers. Judy has been happily married to her husband Lee for over thirty-two years. Lee is an award-winning commercial and fine art photographer, computer technologist and secondary/ post-secondary teacher, with over forty-five years of experience.

Fred Cole is a longtime educator at various schools on the Blue Hill Peninsula, including Blue Hill Consolidated School, The Bay School, and most recently Surry Elementary School, where he served as the principal for seven years. He is a graduate of Colby College, and the University of Maine, where he earned his Masters in Educational Leadership.

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Mr. Cole lives with his wife Stephanie, at the Cole family compound, on the Salt Pond in Sedgwick. Combined, they have six sons, a daughter, and one grandson, all of whom live in New England.

From Penobscot, Tanya Astbury brings a wealth of nursing experience to our school. Tanya has extensive experience as both an emergency room nurse, and intensive care unit nurse. 

Alex Kay is a Penobscot resident, and has a wealth of prior culinary experience. Most recently, she was the executive chef at Parker Ridge, has been the evening chef at the Wooden Boat School, and operated her own catering business. She has a strong interest in serving "from scratch" meals that are both healthy and appealing to her clients. Adams School students, get ready for fine dining!

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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. 

Mr. Snow grew up on Holbrook Island and Cape Rosier and has loved hearing the Castine Harbor bell buoy from an early age. He returned to the Blue Hill Peninsula upon retiring from the Air Force after a 20 year career as a Space and Missile Officer. During this time he was stationed in Greenland, Montana, Alabama, Colorado, and Nebraska. Mr. Snow holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University, a M.S. in Military Arts and Science from Air University, and completed his teaching certification University of Maine Augusta. He is currently enrolled in a Graduate Certificate Program in Nature Based Education and Outdoor Learning. Mr. Snow began teaching at the Adams School in 2020. He works to find ways to connect the science curriculum to the local area and is interested in restorative ecology and sustainability. In his free time Mr. Snow enjoys cooking, hiking, birding, and photography.

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.

Katrina Dagan has been teaching health and physical education at the Adams School for 9 years. She also teaches at the Penobscot Community School. She graduated from Springfield College with a degree in Physical Education and a Master's Degree in Health Education. She lives in Castine and when she is not in school she likes spending time outside with her family. 

Chris Poulin has been a professional musician since 1992, in venues from Maine to Hawaii, and several cities between the two. He has also been teaching guitar and flute lessons, in his Castine studio, since 1992. He studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and holds a Master of Arts in Musical Performance from Youngstown State University. He is excited to try his hand at public school band instruction.

Elaine has been at Adams School since 2005. She began as an Ed Tech helping with the Math program in multiple grades, and then became the school secretary in 2010. She lives in Castine with her husband Paul on property that has been in her family for five generations. She has two children who also live in Castine.  Elaine is a graduate of the University of Maine. She likes gardening, cooking, reading and spending time with her family.

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.

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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.

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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.

We are currently seeking a custodian. Contact Fred Cole at fcole@castineschools.org for more information.

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.