The Gorham School Department has a few new faces around its schools this year. The following staff have been hired for the start of the 2018/19 school year.

Rebecca Ambrose is a districtwide gifted and talented teacher in a new position. She received a B.S. and M.S. in music education from the University of Southern Maine (USM) and has completed graduate work in gifted and talented education from the University of Maine at Farmington.

Abigail Bartlett is a K-5 literary specialist at Village Elementary, replacing Jackie Lortie who retired. She received a B.A. in communication from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and M.Ed. from UNH.

Ellen Berry is a guidance counselor at Great Falls Elementary, replacing Michael Lortie who retired. She received a B.A. in business management from Columbia College; a M.S. in recreation administration from George Williams College of Aurora University; and a M.S. in school counseling from USM.

Kate Bishop is a fourth grade teacher at Narragansett Elementary replacing a teacher who left the district. She received a B.S. in business administration from the University of Mass. Amherst and a M.Ed. at USM.

Amy Brassard is a Kindergarten teacher at Great Falls, replacinga retiring teacher. She received a B.S. in early childhood education/psychology from Keene State College and a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University.

Rosemarie Dyer is a one-year special education autism teacher at Great Falls, replacing Susan Hodgson, who is out on a one-year unpaid leave. She received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) and has completed graduate courses in special education from USM.

Wayne Farrington is a one-year 1/5 Spanish teacher at Gorham High School (GHS) in a new position. He received a B.S. in secondary education from the University of Maine at Farmington.

Hilarie Fotter is a district-wide school psychologist, replacing Cheryl Rainforth, who took another position outside of Gorham. She received a B.A. in elementary education from University of Maine at Farmington; a M.S. in educational psychology from USM; and a Psy.D. in school psychology from USM.

Carlie Geiger is a full-time speech pathologist at Great Falls, replacing Betsy Beaven, who retired. She received a B.A. in psychology from Holy Cross University and a M.S. in speech, language, and hearing sciences.

Jessica Groleau is a fifth grade teacher at Great Falls, in a new position. She received a B.S. in elementary education from the University of New England (UNE).

Sara Hampton is a social studies teacher at GHS, replacing Scott Caulfield who retired. She received a B.A. in secondary social studies education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Erin Hanson is a second grade teacher at Village, replacing a teacher who is retiring after one-year of unpaid leave. She received a B.A. in psychology and education from Wheaton College.

Liz Henry is a K-5 literacy specialist at Great Falls, replacing Gigi McAllister who moved on to another position outside of Gorham. She received a B.A. in teaching of English from the University of Illinois and M.S. in literacy from USM.

Alisha Johnson is a Kindergarten teacher at Village, in a new position. She received a B.A. in elementary education from UNE and a M.A. in literacy from USM.

Lisa Larrabee is a K-12 504 strategist, in a new position. She received a B.S. in communication disorders from College of Saint Rose and
a M.S. in special education from Russell Sage Graduate School.

Dustin J. Levesque is a one-year elementary music teacher at Narragansett Elementary, replacing a teacher taking a one-year unpaid medical leave of absence. She received a B.A. in music education from UMO.

Samantha McCoughry is an eighth and ninth grade transition specialist (guidance counselor) at GHS. She received a B.S. of music in music education from Keene State College and a M.A. in school counseling from Fairfield University.

Stephanie Nichols is a second grade teacher at Narragansett, replacing Lori Gurney. She received a B.A. in history and a M.Ed. from St. Joseph’s College.

Catherine Paul is a .80 English teacher at GHS, replacing Brian Garrity. She received a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies from UMO and a M.Ed. from Salem State College.

Nicole Poole is an assistant director of special services, in a new position. She received her B.A. in childhood studies from Plymouth State University and a M.Ed. in school leadership from St. Joseph’s College.

Heather Putnam Hurd is a first grade teacher at Village, in a new position. She received a B.S. in elementary education from UNE and a M.Ed. in special education from Grand Canyon University.

Melissa Ransom is a school nurse at Narragansett, replacing Carrie Chasse, who moved to Village. She received a B.S. in nursing from St. Joseph’s College.

Rita Schlegel is a speech language pathologist, replacing a retiring speech pathologist. She received a B.A. in communication disorders from UMO and a M.S. in communication disorders from Emerson College.

Emily Stevens is a behavioral specialist, replacing Larilee English. She received a B.A. in sociology and gender studies from Colby College and a M.Ed. in special education from Temple University.

Kimberly Walker is a one-year elementary special education resource teacher, replacing Anne Foden, who is out on a one-year unpaid leave. She received a B.S. in psychology from USM.

Hannah West is an art teacher at Gorham Middle School (GMS), replacing Vicki Bove who retired. She received a B.A. in communication and design from the Pratt Institute and a M.A. in teaching from the Maine College of Art.