Upper Valley Educator Institute

Mary Bagnato joins UVEI's cadre of supervisors after teaching kindergarten and early elementary classes in both public and private schools in the United States and oversees. While at the Marion Cross School in Norwich, Vermont, where she taught for 13 years, she served as a Master Teacher to interns. She is a graduate of Trinity College. 

Libbet Downs has taught in Kenya, Cambodia, and Thailand, as well as in the United States. Most recently, she founded and ran a small K-5 school in Vermont. She received a BA from Friends World College and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College. 

Pat Eastman recently retired after more than 25 years teaching at the State Street School in Windsor, Vermont. She received a Bachelors degree from the University of Vermont and an MEd from the College of St. Joseph. During her years teaching, she served as a mentor to many UVEI interns.

Susan Farrelly earned a BS in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire and an MEd in Secondary Teaching from Notre Dame College. She has been very active on the Concord School Board, a highly involved PTO member, and a soccer and softball coach. Sue has taught junior high, high school and adult education classes.

Sarah Glass taught art for 14 years before joining UVEI, first as a supervisor and then as Associate Director for Secondary Education.  She is currently teaching art at the Frances Richmond School in Hanover.  Sarah graduated from Brown University and received a Masters in Art Education from the Massachusetts College of Art.   

Bob Hagen began teaching English since 1968. He has taught in New Jersey and Massachusetts as well as in Vermont. He also spent six years as media generalist. He earned a BA from the University of Connecticut.

Christine Hawkins taught art in public schools in Vermont and New Hampshire for 20 years. She has led classes and workshops in the Upper Valley for many programs including ILEAD at Dartmouth College, the Hood Museum, AVA Gallery and St. Gaudens National Historic Site. Kit's artwork has been exhibited widely in galleries throughout the Upper Valley. She earned a BFA from Boston University School of Art and a MALS from Dartmouth College.

Carol Hosford has been an educator for over 40 years in the capacity of classroom teacher and principal. For four years, she was a Legislator in the Vermont House of Representatives, serving on the Education Committee. Since that time, she has authored novels for middle-grade students and shorter works for children's magazines. She received a BA from Wellesley College and an MAT from Yale University.

Betty LeRoy has been a classroom teacher (French and English), a department chair, a principal, and a curriculum coordinator. Since retiring, she has been involved in mentoring beginning teachers in local schools. Betty holds a BA from Middlebury College and an MEd and CAGS from the University of Vermont.

Margaret Parsons retired after teaching high school French in Westchester County, New York for 30 years. As department leader, she often worked with beginning teachers of foreign language. She received a.BA in French from the University of Connecticut at Storrs and an MA in Childhood and Adolescent Growth from West Connecticut University.

Gregory Renner recently retired after spending 34 years as a science teacher and administrator. In addition to working with many beginning teachers in a formal mentoring role during those years, he also served as a consultant and statewide professional development provider for the Vermont Department of Education. Greg continues to work closely with the Vermont DOE as an advisor in matters related to science curriculum and assessment. He received a BS from SUNY Oneonta and a Master in Science for Teachers degree from Lyndon State College.

Bruce Richards retired after 35 years as a Social Studies and English teacher. At the Oxbow High School, he served as advisor to the Scholars Bowl and the National Honor Society, and as advisor to the Literary Magazine at both the Blue Mountain Union School and Ocean Township High School. While he was still teaching, Bruce was a mentor teacher to four UVEI graduates. He received an MA from the University of California at San Francisco.

Cheryl Simard earned an MA in Counseling and an MEd in Secondary Education from the University of New Hampshire. At the University of New Hampshire and Antioch New England Graduate School, she supervised and taught critical skills for teachers, and has served as a seminar leader for K-12 education interns in multiple disciplines.

Margaret Snelgrove has 31 years of teaching and leadership experience in middle and high school and spent 15 years working with teachers at the graduate level. She is a graduate of Annhurst College and received an MA in Educational Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Marty Whitney comes to UVEI from the Winchester, Massachusetts public schools, where she taught sixth grade and served as a teacher-trainer and consultant for many years. She received a BA from Boston University and an MEd from the Graduate School of Education at Boston University.

James Wilson has taught history and economics for 49 years. At Loomis Chaffee School, he taught history, globalization and economics at the 11th and 12th grade levels. He is presently on the Thetford Academy Board of Directors, where he is involved in the school's strategic planning. He received BA from Yale College and a MALS from Wesleyan and Dartmouth College.