Teaching Staff
Monique Simard
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Mrs. Simard earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Special Education from Rivier University. She came to The Birches Academy in 2013. She was Mrs. Cox’s teaching assistant for two years and has been the Kindergarten teacher since we opened the grade in 2016. Before coming to Birches she was a Kindergarten-based learning, STEAM opportunities, and sensory play for her little learners. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her two young daughters, creating sensory bins, reading, and shopping at Target! She comes to us from Hudson, NH.
Lindsey Angelis
Preschool Teacher
Mrs. Angelis went to Salem State University and majored in Elementary Education and Psychology and got her Medical Assisting certification from Lincoln Tech. Prior to coming to the Birches, she worked in special education for years as a para and Registered Behavior Tech. She loves spending time with her family, especially her two children, Noah and Lexi, and all her nieces and nephews, spending the summers at their campground in Vermont, and watching her kids play all the sports they love. Mrs. Angelis lives in Salem with her husband, kids, dog, and two guinea pigs.
Kelly LeBlond
Kindergarten Teaching Assistant
Mrs. LeBlond joined The Birches Academy community in 2015. With her ability to serve in multiple capacities, she has collaborated effectively in classrooms throughout the school, demonstrating her adaptability and passion for education. Mrs. LeBlond's professional background includes a bachelor's degree in English, complemented by a minor in Art, allowing her to bring a unique perspective to her teaching practice.
Outside of the halls of The Birches, Mrs. LeBlond enjoys all things art and photography. She lives in Windham, NH with her husband, daughter and three French Bulldogs- Frank, Beans, and Burger.
Grade1/2 Teaching Assistant
Jessica Comrie
Mrs.Comrie is in her second year at The Birches Academy. As a mother of four, she brings a wealth of real-world experience and empathy to her teaching. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to teach and lead in a variety of educational settings: home educator, tutor, soccer coach, and founder and operator of a micro-school. These experiences inspired her to pursue and earn a B.A. in Elementary Education from WGU.
She is thrilled to continue growing alongside the amazing team at The Birches Academy. Outside the classroom, Jessica enjoys cooking, watching sports, and attending local concerts.
Kathleen Cox
Grade 1/2 Lead Teacher
Ms. Cox has been at The Birches Academy since its opening year in 2012, coming to us from Derry, NH. She has lots of experience in preschool, Head Start, grades K-2, and was a Title I reading tutor at Pollard Elementary in Plaistow. In addition to her M. Ed. in Early Childhood Development and experience with literacy and math curriculums, Ms. Cox has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mass College of Art and is insanely creative. She also teaches courses at Nashua Community College in Foundations of Early Childhood Education and Emergent Literacy.
Jessica Grover
Grade 1/2 Teaching Assistant
Mrs. Grover has been a member of The Birches Academy community since 2017, beginning as a dedicated parent volunteer before joining the staff in 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and is LETRS certified. Over the past four years, Mrs. Grover has worked alongside Mrs. Cox as a teaching assistant and now also serves as the lead teacher for 1st Grade Math and Fundations. She brings more than 17 years of experience working with children in a variety of educational and community settings.
Outside the classroom, Mrs. Grover enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite days are those spent relaxing at the beach or embracing all the cozy fun that comes with fall in New England. She lives in Windham, New Hampshire, with her husband and three daughters.
Natalie Cassady
Grade 1/2 Lead Teacher
Ms. Cassady joined Birches Academy for her first year in 2023. She received her Early Childhood Education degree from Rivier University. She attributes her love of working with children to living at summer camps with her family. In her free time, Ms. Cassady enjoys reading and playing board games with her family and friends turning family game night into an unofficial club they named “Things are Getting Dicey.”
Dan Themeles
Grade 3 Teaching Assistant
Mr. Themeles joined the team at the Birches Academy in 2024. For the previous ten years he and his wife owned a cafe where they organized and hosted local farm and art markets. He is also the proud father of a Birches Academy student.
Peyton Deastlov
Grade 1/2 Teaching Assistant
Miss Deastlov joined the Birches Academy in 2024. She is working on her undergraduate degree in Art Therapy at Seton Hill University with the intention of earning a master's degree in the same subject. Miss D lives in Hampstead and enjoys painting, listening to music, and going on long walks while listening to music.
Jen Madden
Grade 3 Lead Teacher
Mrs. Madden is a dedicated educator whose passion lies in project-based learning and STEAM education. With a firm belief in preparing students for the technologically advanced real world, she strives to instill the necessary skills for success. Known for her creativity and career transformations, she fosters an innovative and engaging learning environment and believes in the importance of encouraging problem solving and critical thinking skills. Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Madden enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and 4 dogs (Thor, Finn, Apollo, and Francine). She has a master's degree in education and a master's degree in Learning Experience Design and Education Technology. She also completed a two year foundational program (LETRS) to further her knowledge of the Science of Literacy.
Bethany St. Aubin
Grade 3 Lead Teacher
Mrs. St. Aubin earned her bachelors in Theater with a focus on youth drama and using the arts in education from the University of New Hampshire. She stayed at UNH to complete her masters in Elementary Education. Mrs. St. Aubin worked with a variety of grade levels as a Title 1 math teacher, a preschool and kindergarten teacher at a private school, and a 3rd and 4th grade teacher several years at Pelham Elementary School. Outside of school she spends time with her three boys, husband and two dogs (Trooper and Luna). When she has a moment to herself, you can find her curled up with a book and a cup of tea or outside hiking or biking through the woods.
Heather Black-Ward
Grade 4/5 Lead Teacher
Mrs. Black-Ward has been at The Birches Academy since 2013. She lives in North Andover, MA but originates from Maine. She graduated from the University of Maine with her B. A. degree and has been teaching ever since. She has taught the majority of her years in multiage classrooms in K-2 and 3-5. After being a classroom teacher for several years, she was an RTI teacher for math and reading in Windham, NH. She is so happy to be back in the classroom! One of Mrs. Black-Ward’s passions is writing – especially poetry. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and reading children’s books (they are the best books around!)
Jessica Kubarek
Grade 4/5 Teaching Assistant
Mrs. Kubarek joined The Birches Academy in September 2021. She grew up in Methuen, MA where she also previously worked as a substitute and a paraprofessional in the Methuen Public Schools. She is currently studying to get her BA in Early Childhood Education at Granite State College. In her spare time, Mrs. Kubarek enjoys hiking, kayaking, and being at the beach with her husband, children, and dog, Bagel. She loves reading in her down time.
Alison Lemoyne
Grade 4/5 Teaching Assistant
Ms. Lemoyne received her bachelors in 2017 with Early Childhood Education from Southern New Hampshire University. After graduating she spent time as a classroom assistant in many classrooms, grades K-3. Now she is currently working on getting her masters in Child Developmental Psychology and will graduate in August 2022. She has lived in NH her whole life, and hopes to someday venture somewhere new before settling down. Family and friends are very important to her! In her free time she loves spending time with the ones she loves, being outdoors, doing things like hiking and snowboarding, as well as going to the lake, shopping, karate and traveling.
Amy Kavalauskas
Grade 4/5 Lead Teacher
Mrs. Kavalauskas joined The Birches Academy in 2021. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education from Kansas State University. Her previous classroom experience has been mainly in special education settings at elementary, middle and high school levels. She is a New Hampshire native, but lived in Kansas for almost 20 years, moved to the west coast after college and finally made her way “home” again in 2004. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, playing cards, going to camp and listening to live music whenever she gets the chance.
Miranda Berube
Middle School English Teacher
Mrs. Berube joined Birches Academy in 2023. She earned a B.A. in English with a minor in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She has a background in special education, having worked as a paraprofessional. She especially loves reading and writing poetry. Her favorite part of teaching ELA is watching students learn to express their ideas with confidence and make real-life connections to what they read. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and staying active outdoors.
Amanda Cullen
Art Teacher & Middle School Teaching Assistant
Ms. Cullen joined Birches Academy in 2024. She received her B.F.A. in Art Therapy from Endicott College in spring of 2023. She is currently obtaining her M.S. in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She has worked various roles in both the psychology and fine arts field in previous years, which introduced her to a passion of helping children make art. She is now transitioning into a teaching assistant role in the art room along with various other classrooms within the school. In her free time she enjoys making pottery, watercoloring painting, collaging, spending time outside, reading and attending kickboxing classes.
Kristin Sellitto
Middle School Science Teacher
Mrs. Sellitto began volunteering at The Birches Academy in 2015 and joined the staff in 2017. She comes to us with a diverse background. After receiving her B.S. in Biology from UMASS Amherst and her M.S. in Biotechnology from Worcester State College, she pursued a career in the pharmaceutical development industry. After having children, she took on the role as business administrator and owner of a family Landscaping and Property Maintenance business. She began working with preschool children in 2016 and is excited to continue her work with children here at The Birches Academy. She lives in Salem, with her husband and four children, and loves going to the beach and camping!
Middle School Teacher Assistant
STEAM Integration Coach & Teacher
Ryan Miller-Melancon
Middle School Social Studies Teacher
"Mr. M" joined The Birches Academy in 2022. He holds an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences and is currently working toward his Bachelor's in General Studies at Southern New Hampshire University, with the intent to complete his Master's in Education. He lives in Nashua with his wife and their two pets. He enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and practicing martial arts.
Alysa Mulligan
RTI Teacher
Mrs. Mulligan has been at The Birches Academy since its opening year in 2012. She spent 10 years as one of our Grade 1/2 Lead Teachers before becoming our Reading Interventionist in 2022. Previously she had been a kindergarten and first grade teacher at schools in Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Endicott College in Beverly, MA and a Masters in Education from American International College, which has a program strong in literacy. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.
Andrew Jones
Music Teacher
Mr. Jones has been teaching music at Birches Academy since 2020, where he leads K–3 General Music, 4th–5th Grade Ukulele, Concert Band, Rock Band, and Middle School General Music.
In addition to his work at Birches, he has served as a guest clinician in Graduate Music Education at Gordon College and has also taught ensembles, coordinated music programs, and provided private instruction at Brookwood School and Waring School.
Mr. Jones earned his Master of Music Education degree from Gordon College in 2019, as well as dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Drum Set Performance from Berklee College of Music. He has also studied at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Director Academy and holds certifications as a Massachusetts State Certified K–12 Music Specialist and in Conversational Solfège (Levels 1 & 2).
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Jones has served as Music Director, contributing author, editor, and arranger for the Blues Schoolhouse program at the House of Blues Boston, reaching thousands of students each year with the history of American music. He is Vice President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, host and creator of the podcast A Musician’s Life, and has worked as an adjudicator for regional jazz drum set auditions. His performance career includes appearances with national artists such as Esperanza Spalding, Ronnie Spector, La La Brooks (of The Crystals), and Charles Neville, as well as local artists like Peter Gammons’ Hot Stove All-Stars, in venues ranging from Fenway Park and Symphony Hall to The Blue Note NYC and Lincoln Center.
He is a proud member of NAfME, PAS, and MMEA, and outside of music, he enjoys coaching baseball in Beverly, MA.
Christine Moser
Chorus Teacher
Mrs. Moser came to Birches in 2023 after several years of freelancing as a music teacher and performer while her kids were young.
Prior to that, she taught elementary and middle school music and chorus in Belmont Public Schools (MA) for eight years. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Boston University and a Master of Music Education from Gordon College. She is currently the lead vocalist for the band Finding Molly, who can often be found performing at Tuscan Village right here in Salem, NH. When she's not making music, Mrs. Moser loves traveling, being outside, and spending time with her husband, her two kids, and their dog, Duke.
Kelly Hawkes
Art Teacher
Mrs. Hawkes came to The Birches Academy in 2014. She lives in from Atkinson, NH with her husband, two boys and dog Tuka. Mrs. Hawkes’ love of art started at a very young age. She remembers getting in trouble for coloring on her babysitters house, and thinking she was only trying to make it more beautiful. Mrs. Hawkes has BA in art education from Colby-Sawyer College and an MA in creative arts from Fitchburg State. She is always finding some artistic project to work on like painting pet portraits, or hand painting dresser knobs for her “Hawkes Hollow” ETSY shop. Mrs. Hawkes has over 18 years’ experience teaching art and could not imagine loving another profession more.
Diana Andrews
RTI Teacher - Part Time
Mrs. Andrews may be a familiar face to some because she spent the 2023-2024 school year working as an IEP service provider for students at Birches. Now, she is very excited to join the wonderful Birches staff as an RTI teacher. She is a Massachusetts native who spent over 30 years living and working in Maryland. There, she taught special education for several years, before becoming a classroom teacher. Over the years, she has worked with students of all ages, with the majority of time spent in the primary grades. She is a certified Reading Specialist, and has received additional intensive training in reading from the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Educators and Practitioners, and is an Associate member of the Academy. Mrs. Andrews has two adult daughters who both relocated to the Boston area. In 2023, Mrs. Andrews and her husband decided to return to New England to be closer to their children and extended family. Now, they live in Londonderry NH. Mrs. Andrews loves reading, running, riding her bike, doing anything outdoors, and spending lots of time with her family.
Pamela St. Germain
Art Teaching Assistant
Mrs. St. Germain has been involved with The Birches Academy since 2018 as a parent volunteer and joined as a staff member in 2021. She has a degree in Special Education, which she earned in her home country of Costa Rica. Before moving to the United States in 2011, she spent five years working in a bilingual school in administration and teaching. She also spent a year working as a nanny in Massachusetts and New York. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, and helping others. She lives in Derry with her husband and her two boys.
Melissa Barowski
Grade 1/2 Lead Teacher
Mrs. Barowski graduated from Keene State College. She completed her M.A. in education and B.A. in studio arts. Before joining Birches Academy, Mrs. Barowski taught first grade in Milford, Nh and Vernon, Vt. In her free time, she enjoys taking walks with her husband and two dogs (Fig and Mocha). Her favorite art mediums include spinning clay on the pottery wheel and painting with acrylics!
Dr. Rae Tardif
Spanish Teacher
Señora Tardif joined the Birches Academy in 2022. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Masters of Education from UNH. She has been teaching all levels and grades of Spanish for over 20 years. She is also a teacher educator and university supervisor for the Education department at Rivier University. She loves to travel to Spanish speaking countries with her husband and 2 daughters. She also enjoys hiking with her dog and going to the beaches in Maine.
PE & Health Teacher
Olivia Mengold
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Oliva Megold earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State University, with minors in History and Math Education K-8. The following year Mrs. Mengold earned her Master's degree in Special Education while completing a residency program in Littleton, NH. After graduating she went on to teach fifth grade in Hollis, NH. Mrs. Mengold then joined The Birches in 2025. She loves to spend time with her husband, read, and go for walks, when it is not too cold!
Teacher Assistant/Aftercare Coordinator
Lisa Kelloway
Substitute Teaching Assistant & Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Kelloway joined The Birches Academy in 2021 as a volunteer and school photographer. Two years later, she became a Substitute Teaching Assistant and, most recently, has also become an Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the Birches team, she held positions within the consumer goods and services industries. She has also held roles working with the youth in church and outdoor settings.
She has a BS in Marketing Management with a minor in Professional Studies from Syracuse University. She also went to Boston College where she earned an MBA in Marketing. In addition, while at Boston College, she completed the Leadership for Change program and holds a certificate in Leadership and Organizational Change.
Mrs. Kelloway is a Ski Racing Coach at Bretton Woods, training with both the Ski Team and Trailblazers program. She is also a dance mom who loves cooking, reading, the outdoors and camping with her family.