faculty and staff

Sarah Boys is the art studio specialist for Brixham. Sarah attended Johnson State College and holds certificates from both the Montessori Assistant’s Overview and the Advanced Assistant’s workshop through the Northeast Montessori Institute. Sarah enjoys art, live music, trail walks, being creative on a daily basis, and spending time in Downeast Maine. Sarah lives in South Berwick, ME with her husband, John, and their son, Porter (13), and daughter, Althea (9). Porter and Althea attended the toddler, primary and elementary programs at Brixham.

Coralie works in the aftercare program and assists in the afternoons in both the primary classrooms and the toddler classroom. She completed her Montessori Assistant training in 2019. She enjoys swimming in the ocean, dancing, and sunsets. An avid gardener, she is also the owner of a local specialty cut flower business. She lives in York with her husband, Peter, and her two teenage boys, Sylvain and Stefan.

Lisa joined us from a local elementary school in 2021 where she worked in special education, pre-k and kindergarten. She is excited to be a part of the Brixham Montessori community.  She is a teaching assistant in the Toddler Classroom.  She received her BS in Environmental Geology from Salem State University and completed her Montessori Assistant training in 2021. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends at the beach and on the slopes.

Whitney is a lead teacher in the primary program. Whitney is a graduate of Gordon College (Masters of Education), the University of New Hampshire  (B.S. Environmental Conservation) and Northeast Montessori Institute (pre-primary 3-6). Whitney spends her free time enjoying the outdoors with her husband, Travis, her son, Jackson (10) and her daughter, Aggie (8). Jackson and Aggie attended the toddler, primary and elementary programs at Brixham.

Kim Vachon is the office administrator. Kim completed her Montessori Assistant training in 2013 and helps on occasion in the 3-6 classrooms. She also takes Brixham’s school portraits. Kim is a 200 RYT certified yoga instructor, enjoys travel, photography, hiking, being out on the water or in the mountains and is an active volunteer in the community. Kim lives in York, ME with her husband, Louis, and has three children, Jack, Louie, and Marcus. Louie and Marcus are both Brixham graduates of the Primary program.

Alica Johnson-Grafe  is the founder and Head of School. Alica has been a Montessori teacher since 1996 and an administrator since the school’s inception in 1997 as Orchard Street Montessori Friends School. Alica is a graduate of the Northeast Montessori Institute (pre-primary 3-6) and the University of New Hampshire (M.Ed. Elementary Education and B.S. Family Studies/Early Childhood). Alica attended the Center for Montessori Education /NY program for School Management and Administration, completing her administrator’s credential in 2010 and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. Alica is active in the Maine Montessori Association (MMA) and currently serves on the MMA Board of Directors as the Board’s President.  She is also an active member of the accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the American Montessori Society (AMS). Alica loves to travel, read, and spend time with her family. Alica’s sons, Dylan (32) and Ben (30) are Brixham graduates of the elementary program.

Jessa Sullivan is a lead teacher in the toddler program. Jessa completed her Montessori Assistant training in 2013 and completed her Montessori Infant/Toddler training in 2016 (Northeast Montessori Institute). Jessa has taught in the toddler program for the past ten years at Brixham and has worked as part of our administration team and as a sub in the primary program. Jessa has five children: Melia, Rowan, Kai and Gunnar attended Brixham’s toddler, primary and elementary programs, and Arc is a first year student in the elementary program.

Meg is a lead teacher in the primary program. She is a graduate of Cornell University (B.A. English), the University of NH (M.A. English: Writing), and the Northeast Montessori Institute (pre-primary 3-6). She came to Brixham in 2007. Before that she worked in hospice for many years, taught at a boarding school and worked for several outdoor education centers. She enjoys being outdoors (especially on or near water), cooking, gardening, reading and art. Meg lives in NH with her husband, Carl, and their children, Finn and Claire who are both Brixham graduates.

Alex Krauth is Brixham’s choral director for the elementary program. Alex received a BA in Music for Elementary Teachers from Keene State College and is a member of the National Association for Music Education and American Choral Directors’ Association. She has taught music to students of all ages in a variety of settings, including autism programs, adult education classes, and the tutoring program at Keene State. She also offers private lessons in piano, voice, ukulele, music theory, and aural skills from her home studio. Alex has performed with various local choruses and ensembles, such as Voices from the Heart, Amare Cantare, and the Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group. In addition to her love of all things music-related, Alex enjoys surfing, kayaking, reading, writing, and studying world languages and cultures. Alex lives in Eliot, Maine with her family.

Monique is a teaching assistant in our primary program with Ann. Monique is a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy (B.S. Marine Safety and Environmental Protection) and Northeast Montessori Institute (pre-primary 3-6). She has been learning and teaching alongside children in a Montessori setting since 2012, first as a parent volunteer and later as a teacher, at the school where her children attended. She enjoys being creative, spending time outside, and observing all life but especially that of fish and other aquatic creatures. She lives in Berwick, Maine with her husband Cyrus, son Cyrus and daughter Ella.

Dayna is a lead teacher in our primary program with Whitney. Dayna is a graduate of The University of Maine Farmington (B.S. Early Childhood K-3) and Center for Montessori Teacher Education (Infant & Toddler Birth-3 Years) and the Northeast Montessori Institute (pre-primary 3-6). Dayna was a lead teacher in Brixham’s toddler classroom for 6 years. In her free time Dayna loves to; run, hike, bike, and spend time with her family. During the summer Dayna enjoys gardening with a local landscaping company. 

Dorothy is the lead teacher in the Lower Elementary classroom. She is originally from Massachusetts, where, since 2005, she has taught in Montessori elementary classrooms. Dorothy is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts (B.A.) and the Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY (Elementary I Credential ages 6-9). Dorothy is a Credentialed Positive Discipline Classroom and Parent Educator. In 2017, she completed an 8-week MBSR training and has been practicing Reiki since 1999. Dorothy lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband Elliot and two boys, Edward, and Daniel.

Ann Merritt is a lead teacher in the primary program, as well as the afternoon extended day (Kindergarten) program. Ann is a graduate of St. Nicholas Montessori College (pre-primary 3-6), the University of Virginia (M.A. History), and North Park College (B.A. History). Ann has a special talent for baking, and also loves to knit, read, garden, hike, and simply spend time with family. Ann lives in South Berwick, ME with her husband Zach, and daughters, Magill (30) and Grace (26). Grace is a Brixham graduate of the elementary program.

Michael Stone is our in-house Orton-Gillingham trained Reading Specialist. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and the Center for Montessori Teacher Education/NY (Elementary 6-9). He has also earned his Orton-Gillingham Associate credential through the Orton-Gillingham Academy and the Carroll School in Waltham, MA. Michael is passionate about teaching students the patterns and generalizations of the English language. He enjoys spending time in the garden and at the beach. Michael lives in Kittery Point, ME, with his partner, Peter, and their spirited little dog, Dasher.

Heidi Salisbury-Finley divides her time at Brixham between teaching in the extended day (Kindergarten) program and working on the admissions team. “I love to be the first person to introduce children and families to our community, and to watch as they grow and change during their time here!”

Heidi completed her undergraduate studies at Wheelock College in Boston (BA, Human Development). Her work with Peer Play Therapy allowed her to participate in graduate work at Harvard School of Education and Lesley University. Heidi completed her Montessori training at the Maine Montessori Institute (Pre-primary, 3-6).  Prior to joining Brixham, Heidi taught at the Family Development Center at Boston Medical Center, a therapeutic preschool for children and families in crisis with abuse and neglect issues. Heidi also worked at New England Medical Center as a Child Life Specialist. Heidi was also a lead teacher (3-6) at Ithaca Montessori School in Ithaca, New York. Heidi enjoys nature, writing, horses and watching children discover the wonder of our world. Heidi lives in Kittery, ME with her husband, Gary and their children: Grace (21), Caroline (19) and Fin (16). Grace and Caroline are both Brixham graduates of the primary program and Fin is a graduate of Brixham’s elementary program.

Jenifer Weaver is the teaching assistant in the Lower Elementary program. Jenifer received her (pre primary 3-6) training from the Northeast Montessori Institute. She attended SUNY Purchase as a dance major, graduating from Empire State College (B.A. Dance). Jenifer loves being a teacher, dancing, gardening and spending time in nature with friends and family. Jenifer lives in North Berwick, Maine with her husband David, daughter Ruby, and a menagerie of well loved animals.

Angelika Weiser-Smith (Angi) is an associate teacher in a primary class. Angi is originally from Austria where she graduated from a College (Bakip Linz) to become a kindergarten teacher. She came to the U.S. and was an au pair for 2 years. She started working at Brixham Montessori Friends School in 2009 and completed her Montessori teacher certification through the Northeast Montessori Institute. She lives in Kittery, ME with her husband Jason and her two sons, Jonas (11) and Matteo (6). Jonas attended the primary and elementary programs and Matteo attends the Elementary program at Brixham. Angi enjoys hiking, biking, running, horseback riding and spending time with her family in the outdoors.