About Us

After spending several summers in his wife’s childhood home in Belfast, Geir and Jo decided to move from California in the winter of 2015 and have not looked back (but miss their avocado tree). Their son Alexander was a Chickadee, and their daughter, Bixby is a Robin. Geir has been a technologist and information architect for many years, and owns a small web design firm, which allows him to work from home. The last years have been spent in helping start an incubator and accelerator in DC for technologies designed to aid in the conservation of wild places and the creatures that live in them.

Mike and I arrived in Belfast in 2014 after careers in independent secondary schools, she working in admissions and college counseling and me in teaching, coaching, and administration, both as head of a year abroad program in France and a financial aid director. One grandchild is a CMS alum and one is in the Raven classroom. We first came to Cornerspring as part of the Journey Home Campaign team and I became a board member, currently serving as Vice President.

Jen originally hails from Jefferson, Maine, where her family has lived for more than 200 years! She is a graduate of High Mowing School in Wilton, NH, a Waldorf boarding high school, and Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She is a branch manager and employee-owner at ReVision Energy in Liberty, where she’s worked for over a decade. Jen lives in Brooks with her husband Hans and son Turner (a student in the Raven classroom). Favorite things include growing flowers, drinking strong cups of coffee, and sailing aboard her 35 foot cutter, Sea Pea.

As the grandfather of two Cornerspring students, I’ve really enjoyed watching the school grow and thrive over the last 12 years. After joining the trustees three years ago, I’ve focused my efforts on helping with classroom building projects and planning for the middle school space. I worked with the Middle School Building Team to get all the pieces in place for the construction on the exciting new space.

Meg is mom to Wyatt and Etolin. She is passionate about nurturing a healthy and trusting sense of community. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice offering psychotherapy services to older youth, adults, and families; she has been in the business of helping others for almost 15 years. Meg has a wide array of experiences, including specializing in childhood development and trauma, community action planning, restorative justice initiatives, domestic violence prevention & treatment, and mindfulness-based practices to generate whole-hearted living.

Meg is motivated to build upon Cornerspring’s foundation of care, compassion, and appreciation within it’s school community. Since being a Trustee, Meg has helped to start the Cornerspring Parent Organization, which is an effort to engage parent interaction & participation in all-things Cornerspring. Equity & inclusion are touchpoint values that help to guide Meg’s contributions to Board decision-making and short-term and long-term goals. Meg feels grateful to be a part of Cornerspring’s Board of Trustees, in which we are preserving the integrity of the Montessori values & ethics and also adapting to social and environmental needs and initiatives.

Meg, Tim, Etolin and Wyatt live in Belfast and run a modest homestead with pigs & chickens. They love living in the outdoors, especially getting out on the water and into the mountains. Meg particularly enjoys making delicious food for her family, practicing yoga, and walks with friends.

Jennifer Paul, MD is a local pediatrician and mom. She is passionate about keeping kids healthy, getting kids/teenagers to spend time outdoors, and promoting health equity in MidCoast Maine.

She lives in Belfast with her husband (Russ), two children (Owen and Maren), and dog (Lola). She enjoys swimming, skiing, and biking around town. Prior to becoming a doctor, she worked in public health and education.

Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm is the Executive Director of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, which publishes The Maine Monitor. Micaela joined MCPIR/The Maine Monitor after retiring as a Senior Foreign Service officer. Micaela represented the United States around the world for 26 years, leading U.S. diplomatic teams, and advancing U.S. principles of democratic governance, most importantly, the importance of a free and vibrant press. Micaela spent most of her career in the Middle East and Southeast Europe and served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia, and at the U.S. embassies in Zagreb, Cairo, Baghdad, Tunis and Kathmandu and at the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem, where she led the Public Affairs Section and was the Consulate Spokesperson for four years. Micaela holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Brown University and a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies from the National War College. A native of southern New England, Micaela, her husband Todd, and three children have called Maine home since 2017. When not avidly devouring news reporting, you might find her and her family sailing in Penobscot Bay, hitting the ski slopes across Maine, or hiking new paths with their two rescue dogs.

Hannah is a graduate of Ithaca College with a degree in Music Education, K-12. She has worked as a Music Together teacher in the greater Boston area, as well as a private instrumental/vocal teacher around the Northeast. She plays and teaches all wind and brass instruments, along with piano and voice. In addition to a growing private studio here in midcoast Maine, she spends my time practicing, volunteering, and learning!

“My work is to create a container for young musicians to take charge of their learning in the music-making journey. My focus is to help students develop a relationship with music, sound, movement, and play that allows for a lifetime of growth and exploration. Along the way, I’m here to guide their learning and provide support when needs, interests, and wants arise.”

A native of southern Minnesota, Sue grew up on a farm on the prairie. She holds a BS in Home Economics Education with an emphasis on Family Life and Child Development from Minnesota State University—Mankato. Sue has worked in early education for over thirty years, serving as a parent educator, preschool teacher and administrator. She currently lives in the woods in Searsport with her husband Jeff and beagle Chewie. Her two grown children live in the NYC area and visits with her grandchildren Jackson, Eloise, Teddy and Hank are the highlights of Sue’s vacations. Sue also enjoys baking, sewing, crocheting, gardening, hiking and a good snowstorm.

Amanda received her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Beal College and certification from Northeast Montessori Institute. Amanda has worked in the Puffin, Chickadee and Cardinal classrooms and is excited to return the Cardinal classroom this year. Amanda lives in Monroe with her husband Terry and son Jayden. She enjoys swimming, dancing, taking care of her horses and other farm animals.

Wiola has worked with kids for over 20 years, including time teaching in Poland, where she was raised. Wiola began her employ with Cornerspring as the Assistant Teacher in the Chickadee classroom, and now is the Lead Teacher as she completes her Montessori teacher training. Wiola lives in Camden with her husband Ethan and their son Tristan, and is committed to making your child’s Montessori experience productive, stimulating and fun!

Lori has over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, including 10 years as a head teacher in the aftercare program at Montessori Discovery School in Norwich, CT. She is glad to be returning for her 11th year at Cornerspring as Assistant Teacher in the Chickadee classroom. Lori lives at Swan Lake in Searsport and loves baking, especially anything chocolate! When not baking, she can be found kayaking, gardening, weaving, crafting or just relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea.

Now in her sixth year at Cornerspring, Haley is excited to be the Lead Teacher in the Robin Classroom and she recently completed her Montessori Elementary Teacher Certification. Before moving to Maine, Haley managed a 120-acre organic CSA farm while earning a degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studied linguistics, Spanish and education. Here in Maine, Haley continues to farm, while also working at her local fire department. When she is able to grab some free time, she likes to sit on her porch in Morrill, enjoying the evening with her partner Emily and their cat He-Man.

Alex holds a Masters in Education in Montessori Elementary Education from Loyola University and has earned Elementary 6-12 certification from the Association Montessori Internationale as well as primary certification from the North American Montessori Center. She has over fifteen years experience in Montessori classrooms and lives in Camden with her husband Scott and two daughters.

With a Masters in Chemistry, over 20 years of experience in scientific laboratories, and professional teaching certification from the University of Maine, Susan has been the science teacher at Cornerspring for ten years. When the school needed a Middle School Teacher, she was the perfect fit!  She lives in Stockton Springs with her husband Frank, their son Isaias and two dogs. Susan enjoys swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing and gardening.

Annabelle is a graduate of Mount Desert Island High School. She has attended the Music Education program at the University of Southern Maine. As a performing artist, she loves to sing and was selected as a 2018, 2019, and 2020 Maine Allstate Vocalist. Annabelle is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Kennebec Valley Community College and plans to graduate in May 2024. She has successfully balanced full time classes on top of her work schedule, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Following the completion of her Associate degree, Annabelle will begin her Montessori training. When she’s not having a ball with the toddlers at Cornerspring, you can find Annabelle baking, making music, or exploring in nature.

Casey is a transplant from Pennsylvania, drawn to Maine for the farming community. She graduated from Unity College with a BS in Sustainable Agriculture. She has six years of experience working on small organic farms and is an avid gardener. Before she discovered farming, art was her passion. Now she has a chance to share both her love of art and growing food with the kids at Cornerspring. You can find Casey in the garden, snowboarding down a mountain, curled up with a sketchbook, and planning her next adventure.