Lizbet Carroll Fuller - Faculty Adviser/Co-Founder NLS

B.A. Wesleyan University- Studio Art/English, M.Ed. Antioch New England Graduate School

Lizbet moved to Nantucket from Irvington, NY and taught 1st and 2nd grades at NES. She established her own preschool/kindergarten program, A Small School, after leaving the public school and worked on her art in the summers. Lizbet's philosophy of education is inspired and informed by the work of Rudolf Steiner (founder of Waldorf Education), the Integrated Day approach of the Antioch New England Graduate School, the social curriculum and philosophy of the Mead School, her background in the arts, and her practical experience in the classroom. With Elizabeth Sundell, Lizbet co-founded the Lighthouse School in 2000.The children from her original Small School were amongst the first Lighthouse graduates. Lizbet is married to Chris Fuller and son Eli happily attends Lighthouse.

Classroom Teachers

.

Forest Bell, 5/6 and 7/8 Math Teacher-Lighthouse Downtown
B.A. University of North Carolina -- History and Political Science, M.Ed. Fitchburg State, JS and MSEL Vermont Law School

Forest grew up outside of Baltimore, Maryland.  He attended college at the University of North Carolina, majoring in History and Political Science. After travelling through Europe and living in Alaska, Oregon, and North Carolina, Forest decided to continue his education and relocated to Vermont to attend law school.  After receiving his law degree from Vermont Law School in 2005, Forest moved to Nantucket with his wife and infant son.  He practiced law on Nantucket for about three years. He made the decision to pursue his true calling - teaching. Once enrolled in Fitchburg State University's education program,  where he met fellow graduate students Alisa Allegrini and Kate Pelletier, Forest took a position at the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club as a co-coordinator of the learning center. Since receiving his Masters of Education degree, Forest has worked at the Cyrus Pierce Middle School coordinating the after-school tutoring/homework program. He continues to tutor middle and high school students. Forest lives on Nantucket with his wife, three children and dog, Ringo.  

Jessica Goodenough Heuser
B.A. Washington University

Jessica Goodenough Heuser is delighted to be joining the teaching faculty at Nantucket Lighthouse School. She is multi-lingual and looking forward to sharing her love of languages with Lighthouse students. Jessica has been teaching private voice lessons for over ten years and has also taught science and art classes. A professional singer, she began voice training at the age of 14 at Washington University in St. Louis, where she went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance. She specialized in Baroque vocal technique and went on to the University of North Texas for graduate study. She then returned to St. Louis to begin her professional singing career. Last summer, Jessica moved to Nantucket to become the Artist in Residence at the First Congregational Church. She decided to remain on island for the winter and is teaching voice lessons for the NCMC and directing NIAM's Stars Youth Chorale.

Alicia Keller - Small School Teacher
B.S. Hartford College/Central Connecticut State -- Arts Education

Alicia developed and taught the Children's Art Program at the Creative Arts Center in Chatham, MA. An accomplished weaver, cook, and avid boater, Alicia raised and home-schooled her two sons Carl and Noah here on Nantucket with her husband Carl Keller. Alicia has taught art programs at at NISDA, the Maria Mitchell Museum, and the Nantucket Atheneum. She has taught art and served as a Teaching Assistant a NES. Alicia joined the Lighthouse faculty as a Small School teacher in 2004 and continues to develop the SS program after taking a year leave for a sailing adventure in the Caribbean.

Kim Konevich - Lower Primary Class Teacher
B.A. University of New Hampshire -- Political Science and History, M.Ed. University of Phoenix

Kim grew up in Massachusetts and attended the University of New Hampshire. After college she travelled throughout Europe for a year and then landed back in the states and began teaching middle school. She taught middle school history and special education for two years in Massachusetts before moving to California. During her five years in San Diego, she worked within the Mira Mesa school system and completed her Master's in Education. Kim moved to Nantucket two years ago and worked at Small Friends as the Lead Teacher in the Pre-school classroom. She has a wonderful dog named Louie.

Julia Kuratek -- Small School Teacher
B.A. Columbia University -- African American Studies

Julia grew up on Nantucket. She graduated from Columbia University where, as an extension of her American / African studies, she took part in the Harlem Restoration project and a program in South Africa, tutoring children in language, writing and life skills. Julia has worked as the Activities Director for Sankaty Head Golf Club and as an event planner. She began at Lighthouse leading the Extended Day program and substituting throughout the School. Julia now teachers her own Small School class.

Sandy Mitchell - Primary 4/5 Class Teacher

B.S. Gordon College of Education- Elementary Education, Massachusetts Certified Reading Consultant K-12

Sandy taught in the Gloucester and Rockport public school systems and at Lyndon Hill, a private school for dyslexic students. Moving to Nantucket with husband Carter Mitchell, Sandy taught as a reading specialist at NES for 12 years. She has tutored students ages 4- adult for over 20 years in reading and the language arts. After working in the Weezie Library for Children, she came to Lighthouse to teach the newly formed Primary 5 class in 2005. Sandy has two children, Caleb and Emily and her sister is our very own Cheryl Evans.

Courtney Nemeth - Middle Primary Teacher
B.A. Ohio University -- Early Childhood Education, M.Ed. -- Reading Education and Diagnostics

Courtney grew up in the Mid-West and landed on Nantucket after studying in London and securing an internship with Maria Mitchell Association in environmental education. She then returned to Ohio to finish her B.A. in Early Childhood Education at Ohio University and taught for a year while earning her M. Ed. in Reading Education and Diagnostics. She searched for a school where she could share her love of nature with children and fulfill her wish to educate the whole child. She found and joined the Lighthouse School in 2010. Courtney tutors children privately, chairs the Youth Committee for the Nantucket Triathlon Club, and co-owns and runs Nantucket Bike Tours. She loves to run, read, bike and cook.

Kate Pelletier - MIddle Primary Teacher
B.A. Lafayette College -English/Art History, M.Ed.Fitchburg State University

Kate was born on Nantucket and would return to the island in the summer to nanny. She moved back year-round after living in Brooklyn NY, where she was painting and taking classes at Parsons School of Design. Kate worked for island architects and designers, commuted to RISDI to take classes in interior design, and fulfilled her goal of traveling internationally before deciding to pursue her interest in working with children. She felt right at home walking into Lighthouse and became a Primary Class Teaching Assistant before teaching her own Small School class. Kate now teaches middle primary, paints, and plays with her dog Nelson.

Barrie Fee Sanders - Kinderclass Teacher

B.A. University of New Hampshire - Communications

Barrie grew up in Nantucket. She moved to Boston where she worked in Account Management in the advertising industry for 10 years. She moved back to Nantucket with husband Grant Sanders to raise their two children, Madison and Owen. Barrie taught with Rhonda Pollock in the Pollock's Polliwogs program and then worked at NES as a teaching assistant in the Kindergarten and 1st grade.

Rachel Schneider, Extended Day Teacher
B.A. Sarah Lawrence College -- Liberal Arts  
Rachel grew up on Nantucket, enjoying the ocean and the smell of the fresh air. She went to Sarah Lawrence College where she studied literature and writing. She spent time on the west coast, primarily in Portland, Oregon. The Atlantic called and she rejoined the island community wholeheartedly. In addition to leading the Extended Day program, Rachel also works as a gardener, loves to cook, and spends time with her family and friends. 

Lindsey Toft, 7th/8th Grade Teacher- Lighthouse Downtown
B.A. Hunter College of the City University in New York -- Anthropology
Lindsey is an anthropologist, herbalist, gardener, and a scholar of the natural world. Beginning as a studio art major in New York City, she transitioned her focus to Cultural and Physical Anthropology, minoring in Russian Literature. Lindsey's curiosity in the humanities led her through a range of diverse experiences; from art galleries and printing presses, onto international Human Rights organizations and local hospital programs. She began working with primates after graduation to fulfill a childhood dream of "becoming Jane Goodall," performing field research with wild monkeys in South Africa and then at a chimpanzee sanctuary in the Netherlands. She has worked on organic farms in Europe and Cape Cod and has taken up botanical folk medicine, recently making and selling her herbal body-care products at Sustainable Nantucket's Farmers and Artisans' Market. 

Lindsey began as a volunteer at Lighthouse School in 2010 and became a substitute teacher. This past year she headed up our Extended Day Program, integrating nature activities with arts, crafts, gardening, stories and games for children after school. Lindsey is a true believer of teaching by example and shares her strong connection to the earth and commitment to educating others about sustainable-living. She feels truly blessed to have the opportunity to guide children and to work alongside them within such an inspiring, beautiful, and dedicated community of teachers and families composed of individuals who consistently cultivate, question, and take part in the magical celebration of life that is the Lighthouse School.  

 

Carole Watson - Small School Teacher
B.A. UMass/Amherst -Psychology/Developmental Disabilities

Carole grew up on Nantucket. While at UMass/Amherst earning her degree, she worked with toddlers in the lab school at UMass/Amherst. She returned home to Nantucket and has been working with children ever since. Carole provided childcare for families before joining the Lighthouse Faculty in 2001. She served as a Kinderclass Teaching Assistant for one year before taking on her own Small School class. Carole returned to Lighthouse after taking a very busy 2 year leave to have her two children, Ethan and Ava, with husband Michael Watson.

 

Visiting Teachers:

Mollie Glazer -  Music Instructor, Small School, Primary
Mollie Glazer is the Artistic Director of the Nantucket Community Music Center.  She studied cello and viola da gamba at New England Conservatory and The Royal Conservatory of The Netherlands. Mollie performs regularly on Nantucket with fellow Lighthouse school teacher, Andy Bullington, guitar and also with Mary Keller, harpist.  She is a regular guest soloist at The Bethlehem Bach Festival in Pennsylvania and
has performed and recorded with many of this country's early music ensembles.  In addition to her teaching at NLS, she also teaches "Music with Mollie" and the Nantucket Atheneum and teaches cello, piano, ukulele and string
ensemble for NCMC.

Also a composer, Mollie has written scores for the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Emmy award winning film "If the Walls Could Talk."

Mollie's son, Isaiah Williams, 13, has been a student at Nantucket Lighthouse School since day one of preschool!

 

Andy Bullington - Music Instructor, Upper Primary, Primary 5/6 and Middle School

An alumnus of the Berklee College of Music, Andy has been a composer, guitarist, and teacher for over 25 years. He lives year round on Nantucket with his wife, photographer Cary Hazlegrove, and daughter Virginia. Andy can often be found performing on-island in solo and ensembles, most recently with the Shingles. He teaches children and adults privately in addition to his work in Nantucket classrooms.

Sheila Carroll Fee - Handwork Instructor, Primary 4/5 and Middle School

Skilled in all manner of handwork, Sheila is an expert craftsperson and knitting instructor at Sheep to Shore. She has sold her beautiful wares on island and contributed her creative vision  to the establishment of our Yuletide Fair. She is married to Matt Fee and they are the parents of two of Lighthouse's first graduates, Ruby and Henry. Sheila has taught handwork at Lighthouse since 2004.

Chris Getoor - Strong Wings Adventure School, Primary 4/5

Strong Wings provides an activity and adventure-based program for island children through which they learn about the island, the environment, and their relationship to the natural world. Current SW Director and instructor Chris Getoor is our trusty guide for the Primary 5/6 kayaking and rock climbing units. Interestingly, Strong Wings Founder John Simms earned his Masters degree in Environmental Education at Antioch New England Graduate school as did some members of our Lighthouse faculty.

Jeffrey Lewis - Woodworking Instructor, Primary 4/5

Jeffrey has lived on Nantucket and worked with wood for the past 19 years. He is a certified educator with an interest in Rudolf Steiner and Waldorf education, having lived in and worked with Anthroposophical communities in New England.

Past Primary 5/6 Unit Studies Instructors have included Town Biologist Tracy Curley, MassAudobon Director Ernie Steinauer, Waterman Chris Fuller, Carpenter Andy Bennett, and Furniture Maker Carter Mitchell.