About Our School: Faculty (Children's Center & K-8)

Children's Center Teachers:

Catherine Ayer teaches kindergarten in our new Amoskeag class. Catherine comes from Sunapee, and has a 5 year old daughter Amita who attends kindergarten in the Abenaki class. Catherine has been teaching 1st Grade, Kindergarten and Preschool since 1993, after she graduated from Keene State College with a degree in Elementary Education. Catherine spent summer 2007 as Camp Director at Camp Tuckernuck.
 

Beth Begin, assistant teacher in the Merrimack preschool class, worked for twelve years as a registered nurse at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Facility prior to moving to the Concord area. A preschool parent volunteer for 5 years, Beth has also been a Brownie/Girl Scout leader.
 

Sara Duval joined us in 2005 as the preschool teacher in the Pemigewasset class, and also as our health & fitness teacher. She now teaches the Abenaki Kindergarten class. Sara graduated with honors from Plymouth State College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Math. She is certified to teach Kindergarten through 8th grade. She previously taught public kindergarten in Weare.
 

Eileen Eber is our admission coordinator, and a co-teacher in the Quechee preschool classroom. Eileen holds a Master in Education degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She recently moved back to New England, bringing with her over thirty five years of experience working with preschool children. Her career has included experience as a school head, division director, admission director and classroom teacher. She served as president of a Connecticut affiliate of the National Association for Education of Young Children and has presented at both regional and local conferences. Eileen has a keen understanding of a child’s emotional, social and academic developmental needs and fosters a sense of wonder and inquiry in children of all learning styles.
 

Genna Lencsak, lead teacher in the Pemigewassett preschool class, comes to us from the Chapel School in Nashua. Genna has taught Kindergarten and Preschool since 2002. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Business Administration.
 

Kathy Lowe teaches music to preschool and kindergarten. Kathy has facilitated children's music in schools, libraries, and community centers for twelve years. She is also actively involved with music therapy and senior citizen group music while performing and recording. Kathy's rich experience as both musician and teacher adds a wonderful quality to our Early Childhood Program.
 

Helen Moquin is the assistant teacher in the Pemigewassett preschool classroom. Helen comes to us from Ireland, and she has lived in New Hampshire for 18 years. She has been engaged in childcare and early childhood education for more than 10 years as a private nanny, childcare assistant and daycare director. Helen also works with the children in our After School Program.
 

Cynthia Nelson came to us in the fall of 2000 with fifteen years of experience working with young children. Her gentle good humor helps her to create a calm and nurturing setting in the Merrimack preschool class, where she is the teacher. Cynthia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from UNH. She also works with the preschoolers in our after school program.
 

Lisa Whipps joined us in 2006-2007; she co-teaches the Quechee preschool class. (Her daughter, Ella, is a kindergartener here at H.I.S.) Lisa earned her Master's degree in elementary education, and she has extensive experience teaching in early childhood and elementary classrooms.
 

K-8 Teachers:

Marek Bennett joined the HIS staff in 2004, and currently teaches music and Spanish at all grade levels, and science with the Upper Grades. He grew up in nearby Henniker, attended John Stark Regional High School in Weare, and studied mathematics and music at Brown University in Providence, RI. In 2003-4, he took his Master's in Education in the W.E.L. Program at Keene State College, which involved a yearlong internship at Great Brook Middle School in Antrim. His past (and current) work includes multimedia design, cartooning, organic gardening, and of course, all kinds of teaching.
 

Cathy Chesley founded the Hopkinton Independent School in 1988 and continues today as our Language Arts teacher for the Upper Grades. Prior to founding the school, Cathy gained experience as a Middle School English teacher, Program Administrator and a Legal Advocate for children. Cathy earned her Master's in Education and her Doctorate in Administration and Social Policy from Harvard University. She also holds her Juris Doctorate from Franklin Pierce Law School.
 

Courtney Huff joined the HIS staff in 2004, and currently teaches the Ossippee class. She graduated from Colby-Sawyer College with a BS in Child Development, with Early Childhood Education Certification and a minor in English. Courtney has lived in Hopkinton for the past eleven years. Some of her interests include writing (creative and poetry), cooking, embroidery and reading
 

Donna Maguire teaches Upper Grades math, history, and homeroom. Before joining HIS, she taught at Brewster Academy for five years. She brings her passion for teaching and for math, science, and history to all her classes. Donna also coordinates our After School Enrichment Program.